E06942: The Greek Martyrdom of *Menas (soldier and martyr buried at Abu Mena, S00073) recounts the tale of the pious Egyptian soldier Menas, who deserts his regiment in Kotyaion (central Asia Minor) in order to avoid participating in pagan worship, returns later to declare publicly his Christian faith, and is martyred after being tortured at the hands of the local governor. The text was probably written around the 5th/6th century, probably in Kotyaion.

Martyrdom of Menas (BHG 1254)

Summary:

In the second year of the emperor Diokletianos and the first year of Gaios Valerios Maximianos, having taken over the empire after the slaying of their predecessor Numerianos, the new emperors rekindle the persecution of Christians. In Kotyaion, the metropolis of Phrygia Salutaris, whose governor is Argyriskos, while Firmilianos is tribune (ταξιαρχοῦντος) of the numerus (ἀριθμοῦ) of the Routiliakoi, there is among the regiment a soldier named Menas, who hails from Egypt. The letter of Diokletianos and Maximianos arrives, prescribing that regional governors (ἄρχουσι) and civic magistrates (κατὰ πόλιν στρατηγοῖς) should enforce the worship of their pagan patron gods by all, regardless of social status, on pain of death. As everyone is forced to partake of the sacrifices, Menas deserts his regiment and dwells alone in the wilderness, unwilling to take part.

Much later, at the instigation of the Lord's grace, Menas returns to the city and makes a sudden appearance at the theatre where the imperial birthday is being celebrated, interrupting the proceedings. The governor, Pyrrhos, asks who he is, and Menas declares himself a Christian. Members of the governor's retinue (τάξις) recognise him as having served under Firmilianos in the numerus of the Routiliakoi. Menas confirms that this is true and that he left the regiment in order not to partake in pagan rites. The governor has him imprisoned while the festivities continue. The following day Menas is brought before the governor's tribunal. Symmakhos, the assistant commentariensis (κομμενταρήσιος, i.e. court clerk) presents him to the governor officially. The governor questions Menas through the assistant about the episode of the preceding day, about his identity and previous whereabouts. Menas says he is Egyptian and left the army in order to serve the heavenly emperor. Until now he has lived in the wilderness alone.

Pyrrhos now commands Menas to perform pagan sacrifice in order to be forgiven for his crimes, especially for desertion due to Christianity, and promises to rehabilitate him. The saint refuses, declaring contempt for torture and punishment. The governor orders him to be flogged with ox tendons. As Menas' blood fills the ground beneath him, the governor's chief of staff (πρίγκιψ, princeps officii), Pegasios, tries to persuade him to sacrifice, but Menas refuses steadfastly. Pyrrhos now has him strung up on a wooden frame, and asks if he has had enough; Menas replies that the soldiers of the great emperor [most probably the Lord's angels are meant] help him withstand any torture. Pyrrhos commands his flesh to be lacerated, forbidding him to profess having another emperor than the one he has; the two engage in a verbal contest, the one invoking the authority of the earthly emperors, the other that of the heavenly one. Pyrrhos orders the saint's wounds to be rubbed with hairy cloth, but the martyr is completely oblivious to pain with the help of Jesus Christ. A new torture is then introduced and Menas is singed with burning lamps, but after two hours he does not respond, to the governor's amazement, merely citing psalms that support his resolve. Pyrrhos is impressed that he should know so much scripture despite being merely a soldier, but Menas quotes Matthew 10:19: But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. Answering the governor's question whether Christ foresaw that His disciples would suffer thus in His name, he explains God knows all in advance. Pyrrhos urges Menas once again to sacrifice and return to his military service, but Menas flatly refuses. The governor suggests he could be given a few days to think the matter over and reconsider, but Menas says he has already thought everything through and has chosen to remain loyal to his God.

Furious, the governor now orders iron caltrops to be spread on the ground and the saint, tied up, to be dragged along the ground on top of them. After hours of this torture, Menas still proclaims his defiance. He is next tortured by being struck with lead instruments (πλουμβάτοις) on the spine and the jaw, and when he still remains resolute, one of the governor's spies or agents (κουρίωσος, curiosus) named Heliodoros addresses Pyrrhos saying Christians are known for their unbreakable resolve and exhorts him to give up and execute the man as a deserter. Pyrrhos then attempts one last time to win over the martyr, promising to reinstate him in his unit with honours if he repents; but Menas hurls this promise too back in his face. The governor then has the saint removed from the scene and deliberates the matter with his council. The verdict orders Menas to be made an example of by being decapitated and his body burned. Menas is at once led away to the place called Potamia; the whole city rushes to the site, and the saint marches to the place of execution proudly and with a bright look on his face. Arriving there, he offers one last prayer to God, thanking Him for staying at his side throughout, and asking to be given the patience to finish his trial victorious. He is then decapitated, and his body burned on a great pyre. Saint Menas was of Egyptian stock and full of the Holy Spirit. Afterwards, Christians came and, collecting the saint's relics from the pyre, placed them in holy places of prayer (ἐν ἁγίοις εὐκτηρίοις) for the blessing of God's people at their prayer. The holy martyr Menas was martyred in Kotyaion on 11 November.

Text: Krumbacher 1907, 31–43 (reprinted in Detorakis 1995, 143-147).
Summary: N. Kälviäinen.