Saint Menas, Patriarch of Constantinople (†552) — August 25 / September 7 (Julian Calendar)

On this day, August 25 according to the Julian Calendar (September 7 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates Saint Menas, Patriarch of Constantinople.

Saint Menas, Patriarch of Constantinople (536–552), at first served as a priest in Constantinople and was the overseer of the hospice for the infirm founded by the Venerable Sampson the Hospitable, during the reign of Saint Justinian I (527–565). Richly adorned with virtues, this valiant confessor of Orthodoxy was raised to the patriarchal throne of Constantinople after the deposition of the heretic Anthimus (535–536). His consecration was performed by Pope Agapetus of Rome (535–536), who was then in Constantinople. During the patriarchate of the hierarch Menas a miracle took place in Constantinople that became known throughout the whole city.

The child of a certain Jew entered a church and received the Holy Body and Blood of Christ. When he told his father about this at home, the father was terribly enraged, seized the boy, and threw him into a red-hot furnace, saying nothing to his wife. The despairing mother searched for her son for three days, weeping and calling aloud, until at last he answered her from the heated furnace. With difficulty the mother brought out the boy, who proved to be entirely unharmed. The boy related that a radiant Lady had come to him, quenched the heat of the fire, and brought him water and food. The hierarch Menas and Saint Justinian I learned of this. Mother and son were baptized, but the hard-hearted father, despite the great miracle he had witnessed, refused to repent of his sin. The emperor then handed him over to the court as a murderer, and he was put to death.

Patriarch Menas governed the Church of Constantinople for sixteen years. The famous church of Holy Wisdom (Hagia Sophia) was consecrated during his patriarchate. The holy hierarch reposed in peace in the year 552.