Synaxarium

On this day, Saint Mina the Monk was martyred. This saint was born in one of the regions of Akhmim to Christian parents who lived by farming. From his youth, his heart inclined to renounce the world, so he became a monk in one of the monasteries of Akhmim and stayed there fasting two days alternately, living ascetically in food and drink. Then he moved to the land of Ashmunein and stayed in a monastery there for sixteen years without leaving it. When the Arabs ruled the land and he heard that they denied that God has a Son of His nature and essence equal to Him eternally, this statement grieved him. He asked the head of the monastery for permission and went to Ashmunein, approaching the military commander and asked him, "Is it true that you say that God does not have a Son of His nature and essence?" He replied, "Yes, we deny this about God and disown it." The saint said to him, "We should disown it if it is about paternal generation, but our belief is that the Lord Jesus is God from God, Light from Light." The commander said, "In our law, this is blasphemy." The saint said, "Know that the Gospel says, 'He who believes in the Son has eternal life, and he who does not believe in the Son will not see life but the wrath of God remains on him.'" The commander became angry at this statement and ordered his soldiers to cut the saint into pieces with swords and throw him into the sea. The believers gathered his body parts, wrapped them in a shroud, and buried him, establishing a commemoration for him on this day. May his prayer be with us, and to our Lord be glory forever and ever, Amen.