St. Menas

On November 11 the Orthodox Church celebrates the feast of Saint Menas, together with St. Martyrs Victor, Stefanida and Vincent and Rev. Theodore Studit.
Martyr Saint Menas was Egyptian and professed Christian faith. After a brief service in the army, under the command of captain Firmilian in III - IV century, Menas retreated into the wilderness near a city. During one celebration in honor of pagan deities, citizens staged a noisy spectacles and performed abominable sacrifices. Having learned about that, the hermit Menas entered the city and began to expose the pagans. He was captured, brutally tortured and hanged upside down. Warriors finally cut off his head, lit a fire and threw in his body. When the fire extinct, believers came to this place and gathered the remaining relics of the saint, wrapped them with clean- clothes and anointed them with incense. Soon they brought the holy relics in his hometown Alexandria and buried him in honors. Subsequently, at the same place was built a church in the name of the holy martyr and prayers to the saint in it brought many miracles. He is the patron and protector of all healers, warriors and people taking a long road. St. Menas protects women, so on this day they pray before the icon of the saint for the health of their children, joy and prosperity of the home. November 11 is the name day celebrated by Menas, Mina, Victor, Victoria, Vincent.