E07441: The late 4th to 6th century collection of Miracles of *Menas (soldier martyr of Egypt, S00073), ascribed to Timothy of Alexandria, recounts the story of a pilgrim who was massacred by an innkeeper on his way to the saint’s shrine, but his dismembered body was revived by the saint who appeared on horseback at the inn. Written in Greek in Alexandria.

Timothy of Alexandria, Miracles of Menas (CPG 2527, BHG 1256-1269)

Miracle 1: The pilgrim (BHG 1257)

Summary:

A rich man from Isauria arrives for private business in Alexandria, and, hearing about the miracles taking place at the saint’s shrine, he decides to visit it and pray. He crosses the lake and arrives at a place called Loxoneta where he seeks hospitality at a man’s store. During the night, the landlord murders him, and steals his purse of money. He cuts the victim’s body into pieces and hides it in a basket, intending to throw it into the lake. Immediately, the martyr Menas himself arrives on horseback, in the form of a spatharios, followed by a great crowd. The saint reveals the crime and the murderer confesses his act, begging for forgiveness and promising to give to the spatharios the victim’s money plus 100 pieces of gold, and to become a monk at the shrine of Menas. The saint asks him to place the basket before him, he prays and raises the dismembered man from the dead. Menas reveals himself to the victim and the murderer and disappears. Both men come to the shrine and make dedications. The murderer declares his act, while his victim is astonished to hear that he was slain. The murderer becomes a monk and lives at the shrine for another seven years, while the victim returns to Alexandria and declares the miracles, causing the conversion of many pagans and heretics.

Text: Pomialovskii 1900.
Summary: E. Rizos.