From the Prologue of Ochrid
Both Menas and Hermogenes were Athenians by origin. Both lived in Constantinople, being held in great honor both by the emperor and by the people. Menas was known for his great learning and eloquence, and outwardly held himself as an unbeliever, but in his heart was a convinced Christian. Hermogenes was the eparch of Constantinople, and held to unbelief both outwardly and inwardly, though he was merciful and did many good deeds. When a certain dispute broke out between Christians and unbelievers in Alexandria, Emperor Maximinus sent Menas to calm the disturbance and to eradicate Christianity from that city. Menas went and established peace, but declared himself a Christian, and converted many unbelievers to the true Faith by eloquence and many miracles. Hearing of this, the emperor sent Hermogenes to punish Menas and suppress Christianity. Hermogenes brought Menas to trial, cut off his feet and tongue, and put out his eyes, then cast him into prison. In prison the Lord Jesus Himself appeared to Menas, healed and comforted His sufferer. Seeing Menas wondrously healed, Hermogenes was baptized and began to preach the mighty Faith of Christ. And Hermogenes was appointed bishop in Alexandria. Then the enraged Maximinus himself went to Alexandria and subjected Menas and Hermogenes to great tortures, which they bravely endured, aided by God's grace. Seeing the courage of these soldiers of Christ and God's wonders upon them, Eugraphis, the secretary and friend of Saint Menas, appeared before the tribunal and cried out to the emperor's face: *I too am a Christian! * The emperor flew into a rage, drew his sword and struck down Saint Eugraphis. Then the impious emperor ordered that the executioners slay with the sword Saints Menas and Hermogenes. Their holy relics, cast into the sea, by wondrous means floated to Constantinople, where the bishop, to whom this was revealed in a dream, solemnly received them and honorably buried them.
