He was born in Nikiu (Niceous), about the middle of the third century. His father's name was Eudoxius, and his mother's name was Euphemia. His father was the governor of the city of Nakiyos (Nikiu).His brother Anatolius was envious of him and he brought accusations against him before the Emperor. The Emperor transferred him as governor to an area north of Africa - District of Marriot- and the people were pleased with him because he was merciful and God-fearing.

His mother Euphemia was a pious woman who prayed and fasted diligently. Because she was barren, she entreated the Lord Christ often to grant her a godly offspring. She fasted till the evening and offered a large amount of alms to the poor and the needy.

On the feast of Dormition of the Holy Virgin (21st of Tobe she went to the church of the Virgin at Attribes. She saw the multitudes entering the church in joy and jubilation and the mothers joyfully carrying their children. She heaved a sigh and wept before the icon of Our Lady St. Mary, entreating her to intercede before God to grant her a son. She heard a voice coming out from the icon saying, "Amen." She rejoiced in what she had heard. After the end of the Divine Liturgy, she returned to her home and told her godly husband Eudoxius about it, he rejoiced with her and said, "Our confidence in our God is great that He can fulfill, as you have heard."

Shortly after St. Euphemia conceived and she thanked God for this blessing. At the birth of the child they wanted to call him Blodianus after the name of his grandfather but his mother refused because of the word "Amen" that she heard from the icon of the Holy Virgin. She called him Mina, saying that the name Mina has the same letters as "Amen." There was joy and jubilation for his birth. Eudoxius gave many charities to the poor and the needy to celebrate this happy occasion.

His parents greatly cared to rear him up in a spiritual manner and instructed him with the church teachings. They always encouraged him to read the Holy Bible and they frequently took him to the church so he grew in piety and moral excellence.

When he was eleven years old, his father departed at a good old age in the year 296 A.D. Then his mother departed three years later. He inherited a great fortune; he distributed much of it on the poor and needy.

About the year 300 A.D., he was enlisted in the army. Because the commander was a friend of his father, he made him the second in command and everyone loved him for his gentleness and piety.

The two emperors, Diocletian and Maximianus, issued their edict commanding the worship of idols and persecuting the Christians. Accordingly, St.

Mina left his position and distributed the rest of his wealth to the poor and the needy. He went to the desert to be able to enjoy the divine commune with God in pure worship. He stayed in the wilderness for about five years worshipping God with many fasts and prayers by day and night.

One night he heard a voice asking him to go to the city and confess the Lord Christ before the governor.

The voice also foretold him that he would receive three crowns, one for virginity, one for worship and asceticism, and a third one for martyrdom.

When Mina heard this voice, he left the wilderness and returned to the city and publicly confessed the Name of the Lord Christ before the governor and in the midst of a great multitude of people. The governor was very amazed and ordered to very

apprehend and imprison him.

On the next day, he brought him and tried to appease him, since he realized his noble kinship, to worship the idols. He promised him honors and precious gifts. But the saint answered with all humility saying; "My only request from my God is to keep my life from corruption and to grant me the unfading crown.”

When the governor failed to persuade him to worship the idols, he started to torture him with many and different tortures. He flogged him with ox tail, hung him on the Hinbazeen, tore his body with hot iron rods, rubbed his wounds with haircloth, placed a burning torch to his side then threw him in prison.

The Lord Christ our Savior appeared to him, comforted, encouraged and healed his wounds.

When the governor was weary of torturing him, he wrote his decree, ordered to behead him, and burn his pure body in fire.

The soldiers took him to the place of execution where he raised his eyes to the heaven and prayed a fervent prayer then extended his neck before the swordsman who beheaded his holy head, thus he received the crown of martyrdom.

When they tried to burn his pure body, he stayed in the fire for three days and three nights which did not harm him in any way. Some believers came and took the body from the middle of the fire, shrouded it with expensive shrouds, then buried him with great veneration.

The blessing of the prayers of Mari-Mina be with us all. Amen.

Features of this Icon:

St. Mina is depicted raising his hands in prayer as he lived in the desert for three years praying and living the life of asceticism. It also serves as an example for us to live the life of prayer, and through prayer we can overcome anything.
He is depicted wearing white and red. White to symbolize his purity and red to symbolize his martyrdom as red is the color of blood.
In the bottom right we see palm trees. This is taken from Psalm 92:12 which states, “The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree.” This is to show that he was righteous in his life and became an example of righteousness for us to learn from.
In the bottom left is the main cathedral named after him at his monastery in Mariot near Alexandria, Egypt. This monastery was founded during the papacy of St. Kyrillos VI due to his great love for this saint. This site is near the ancient city named after St. Mina, known as the “Marble city”. This was a famous pilgrimage site built in the 4th century and had a great cathedral named after this saint. This cathedral and city were destroyed by the Arabs in the 7th century. The ruins of this city and cathedral still stand till this day right beside the current monastery named after this saint.
The two camels by his side symbolize the story of when they tried to move his body they put it on a camel and the camel stopped at a specific spot and wouldn’t move. They tried to put the body on another camel but he wouldn’t move either. They understood that the saint wished to be buried at that location. They buried his body there and that site is where the ancient cathedral was where its ruins still stand till this day.

Church Ceiling

Title ceiling icon