THE GREAT EGYPTIAN AND COPTIC MARTYR THE MIRACULOUS SAINT MENA The Martyrdom of Saint Mari-Mina , the Wonder Worker
On the 15th of Coptic day of the month of Hator - St . Mina , who is called the blessed faithful , was martyred . His father , Eudoxius , was a native of the city of Nakiyos ( Nikiu ) and was its Governor . His brother was envious of him and he brought charges against him before the Emperor . The Emperor transferred him to Afrikia and appointed him Governor over it . The people were pleased with him because he was merciful and God-fearing . His mother Euphemia had no children . One day she went to church on the feast of our Lady , the Virgin , the Mother of God , at Attribes . She saw the children in the church wearing their beautiful clothes with their parents . She heaved a sigh and wept before the icon of Our Lady St . Mary , entreating her to intercede for her before her beloved Son , in order that He would give her a son . A voice came from the icon saying , " Amen ." She rejoiced in what she had heard and realized that the Lord had heard her prayers . When she returned to her home and told her husband about it , he replied , " May God ' s Will be done ." The Lord gave them this saint and they called him Mina , according to the voice that his mother heard . When he grew , his parents taught him reading and writing and they reared him in a Christian manner . When he was eleven years old , his father departed at a good old age . Then his mother departed three years later . St . Mina devoted his life to fasting , praying and to living a Christian life . Because of everyone ' s love towards him and his father , they placed him in his father ' s position . In spite of that , he did not forsake his worshipping . When Diocletian had reneged Christianity , and issued his orders to worship idols , many were martyred for the Name of the Lord Christ . St .
Mina left his position and went to the desert , where he stayed many days worshipping God with all his heart . One day he saw the heavens open and the martyrs crowned with beautiful crowns . He heard a voice saying , " He who toils for the Name of the Lord Christ shall receive these crowns ." He returned to the city over which he was Governor and confessed the Name of the Lord Christ . Knowing that he belonged to a noble family , they tried to dissuade him from his faith and promised him honors and precious gifts . When he did not change his mind , they threatened him and the Governor ordered him to be tortured . When the Governor failed to turn him away from his faith in the Lord Christ , he sent him to his brother so that he might influence him but he failed also . Finally , he ordered his head to be cut off with the sword , his body to be cast in
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