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== Later Years and Martyrdom ==

== Later Years and Martyrdom ==

After five years as a hermit, a vision seized him -  the angels crowning the martyrs with glamorous crowns. He longed to join those martyrs. While he was thinking about it, a voice came to him. "Blessed are you, Abba Menas, because you have been called for the pious life from your childhood. You shall be granted three immortal crowns; one because of your celibacy, the second because of your asceticism, and the third for your martyrdom"

After five years as a hermit, a vision seized him -  the angels crowning the martyrs with glamorous crowns. He longed to join those martyrs. While he was thinking about it, a voice came to him. "Blessed are you, Abba Menas, because you have been called for the pious life from your childhood. You shall be granted three immortal crowns; one because of your celibacy, the second because of your [[Ascesis|asceticism]], and the third for your martyrdom"

Immediately he felt as if the earth under him vanish from under his feet, a lightness of heart, and a great eagerness to fly to heaven. With valour in his heart, he hurried to the Roman ruler, declaring his faith. His sufferings, and final martyrdom in 309AD attracted many of the pagans, not only to the true Coptic faith, but also to martyrdom.

Immediately he felt as if the earth under him vanish from under his feet, a lightness of heart, and a great eagerness to fly to heaven. With valour in his heart, he hurried to the Roman ruler, declaring his faith. His sufferings, and final martyrdom in 309AD attracted many of the pagans, not only to the true Coptic faith, but also to martyrdom.