Eugraphus of Alexandria

Holy Martyr Eugraphus of Alexandria was the secretary of the Holy Martyr Menas and suffered for faith in Christ in the time of the Emperor Maximinus (305-313), together with Menas and Hermogenes.

Menas was sent by the emperor from Athens to Alexandria to calm the disturbances between Christians and pagans. Having the gift of speech, he began to preach the Christian faith openly and brought many pagans to Christ. Learning of it, Maximinus sent the eparch Hermogenes to Alexandria to judge the saint and cleanse the city of Christians. Hermogenes, though a pagan, was a pious man.

Astonished at the long patience of Menas in torments and at his wondrous healing after dreadful torments, he himself believed in the true God. Then Maximinus himself came to Alexandria. But neither the amazing strength of Menas and Hermogenes in torments, nor the wonders God showed in those days in the city softened the emperor, but hardened him all the more. With his own hand he cut Eugraphus, the secretary of Menas, to pieces, and ordered the heads of Menas and Hermogenes cut off.

The relics of the martyrs, thrown into the sea in an iron chest, were later found, on 17 February, and carried to Constantinople. The Emperor Justinian built a church in the name of the Holy Martyr Menas of Alexandria. Saint Joseph the Hymnographer composed a canon in honour of the martyrs.

The Synaxarion commemorates Menas, Hermogenes and Eugraphus on 23 December (new style).