The writer tends to believe that a joyful celebration is held in heaven on November 24th, 2009 – Hathor 15th, 1726 A.M. on the Coptic calendar- for the beloved of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Saint Menas (285-309 A.D.). Copts all over the world join this joyful celebration for the 1700th anniversary for the martyrdom of Saint Menas the Thaumaturge (Piagioc `Apa Myna pi;aumatourgoc), also known as, Saint Mena the Miracle Worker or (القديس ماري مينا العجايبي).
Saint Menas is one of the most beloved and popular saints among the Copts. Over the past few decades Saint Menas has been associated with Pope Cyril VI of Alexandria (1902-1971 A.D.) who was known for his devotion and friendship for Saint Menas. Prior to his consecration in 1959 as a Patriarch for the Coptic Orthodox Church, Pope Cyril VI was known as Father Mena the Anchorite.
As early as 1937 as a monk, Father Mena the Anchorite initiated a determined and energetic quest for the revival and new construction for a monastery at vicinity of the site of the world-renowned monastery of Saint Menes of late-antiquity at Meriotis, Egypt.
This long quest was ultimately achieved after his consecration as Pope, as he devoted a lot of energy and effort for the construction of a new Saint Mena Monastery in the vicinity of the remains of the late-antique monastery site. Among contemporary Copts the resurgent popularity of Saint Menes and Saint Cyril VI may be attributed to many miracles, healings from diverse illnesses and infirmities, and succor granted by the Lord God of all creation, to many people from diverse walks of life, Christians and non-Christians, who continue to seek His goodness and mercy through the prayers of the two saints.
Artifacts from the late-antiquity Monastery of Saint Menas are found among several collections of many of the museums in Europe . They were brought back by pilgrims from all over the Mediterranean and Europe , who used to visit Saint Menas Monastery. By way of example, a review (1) was presented by S. Bangert, a scholar at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford , Great Britain . Bangert studied the collection of the Menas water or oil bottles (ampullae) at the Ashmolean. Readers not familiar with the story of Saint Menas might want to refer to brief reviews for his life, e.g. the reading of the Coptic Synaxarium (2) of Hathor 15th and Wikipedia online (3).
The writer, in this posting, would like to present a testimony for the tender mercies which the Lord has bestowed upon him years ago. Perhaps this anniversary for the martyrdom of Saint Menas provides a good opportunity for this testimony. However, before narrating this story, it would be useful to preface by noting that the writer was originally educated in the engineering sciences and has spent a lifetime working in technical innovation and related areas.
Perhaps with this background, the writer should have joined the ranks of many so called “modern skeptics”; however he is most certainly not. Furthermore, the writer in his younger years had more than his share of attempting to avoid the Truth. Perhaps God in his grace answered the prayers offered on my behalf by family and friends, and in his time He granted me another opportunity to return back to his flock.
Before my return I was experiencing severe insurmountable problems, which persisted as a dark cloud overshadowing my very existence. The problems were so severe, to the extent that at times, I sort of- but not quite- despaired of getting out of them with my life and sanity intact.
As these problems persisted, I poured my heart out to the Lord in prayers beseeching his help. I recall praying and asking for the intercessions of Saint George, who is a very popular saint among the Copts and other Christians all over the world. Then one night after I really poured out my heart in earnest prayers to the Lord, I had a dream, in which I did not see anything or anybody, however I heard a voice comforting me and stating that all will be well with me through the prayers of Saint Menas.
I clearly recall that I didn’t mention or ask for Saint Menas’ intercessions in my supplications, however looking back at it, perhaps had the voice mentioned Saint George, I might have thought it the figment of my thoughts and imaginations. The dark cloud of problems besting me continued on for some time; however over a period of several months some unexpected changes started occurring in my life. Sure enough these entire problems melted away one after the other.
I am thankful to the Lord, Who over the years, has blessed my life with many blessing and success, which I would not have imagined possible.
Of truth all honor and glory belong to the Holy Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the ONE Triune God of all creation. I thank the Lord for granting me mercy, succor and blessing through the intercessions of His beloved Saint Menas, the Miracle Worker.
The peace of the Lord be with you all. Irene Passe.
References:
(1) Menas Ampullae & Saxon Britain, Coptic Objects in a Pagan Kingdom, by Susanne Bangert, Minerva, volume 17, number 4, pages 44-45, July-August, 2006.
