Meet St. Mena!

Tradition says life took a heavy turn for Mena when he was just 11. His father, Eudoxius, died, leaving a quiet void in their home. Three years later, at 14, his mother, Euphemia, passed away too, making Mena an orphan in a world that could feel cold and cruel. Yet, even alone, he held tight to the faith his parents had woven into his heart. Their wealth now his, Mena didn’t cling to it—he gave coins to beggars, food to widows, and hope to anyone who crossed his path, trusting God to fill the emptiness.

In Niceous, where Roman idols loomed, Mena’s faith stood out brightly. He’d slip into church at dawn, asking for Christ’s strength through prayer. One tale says neighbors whispered of a teen who prayed to Christ with great devotion. One tale says Mena found a hungry family hiding from soldiers. Risking trouble, he shared his last loaf and asked for Christ’s guidance in prayer, and the next day, through God’s providence, a kind stranger brought them supplies. His orphan years weren’t easy, but they carved a heart that chose love over loss.

This faithfulness made Mena more than a boy without parents; it made him a servant of Christ. In Coptic tales, he’s remembered as a youth who turned sorrow into service, while Ethiopian stories see him as a protector even then. Alone but never abandoned, Mena’s trust in God prepared him for battles bigger than any child could imagine.