St. Menas (285-309) is one of the most well-known Egyptian saints. At the age of fifteen, he joined the Roman army and was given a high rank. Three years later he left the army in order to devote his whole life to Christ. He spent five years as a hermit in the desert. He was martyred. The soldiers who executed him set fire to his body, but after three days, it was still not burned. His sister bribed the soldiers and took his body away.

Jesus and Abba Menas. A 6th-century icon from the Monastery of Bawit in Middle Egypt, currently at the Louvre. It is one of the oldest icons in existence.