The Martyr Saint Mena

Saint Mena, an Egyptian martyr who was martyred in 309 A.D., is considered one of the most famous martyrs in the east and west.  Numerous little clay bottles on which his name and picture are engraved, which have been discovered by archeologists in diverse countries around the world, such as Germany, Italy, Yugoslavia, France, and Sudan.  These flasks, containing water or oil from the Saint’s shrine, were carried by pilgrims, during the 4^th to 7^th centuries, back to their homeland, as a source of blessing.