1. Saint Mercurius was born in the city of Eskentos in Cappadocia, in Eastern Asia Minor.
15 Facts About Saint Mercurius
1. 2.
Saint Mercurius was widely known by his Arabic-language name Abu-Sayfain, Abu-Sifin or Abu-Sefein in Egyptian Arabic which means "wielder of two swords", referring to the second sword given to him by the Archangel Michael.
3.
St Mercurius was born around 225 AD in Cappadocia into a family of Scythian descent.
4.
Saint Mercurius's parents were converts to Christianity and they called him "Philopateer" or "Philopatyr".
5.
Saint Mercurius gained a great reputation among his superiors as a swordsman and a tactician in many battles.
6.
Saint Mercurius was the son of Yares, an officer in the Roman army.
7.
Saint Mercurius was taken prisoner and was brought to their territory, where he was kept for seventeen months.
8.
The Archangel Michael appeared to Saint Mercurius and told him to remember God and not be fearful of persecution.
9.
Saint Mercurius then ordered Mercurius to be stripped of his rank and tortured.
10.
Saint Mercurius appeared to a poor man in the city and told him that he was "Saint Mercurius, the Martyr of the Lord".
11.
Saint Mercurius began to smell the scent of perfume, seeing the body of the saint.
12.
The latter asked him if Egypt could have part of the relics of Saint Mercurius to be placed in the church that bears his name in Egypt.
13.
On 9 Paoni, part of the blessed relics of Saint Mercurius were transferred to Egypt.
14.
Saint Mercurius asked God not to permit the emperor Julian the Apostate to return from his war against the Persians and resume his oppression of Christians.
15.
The image of the holy Great Martyr Saint Mercurius depicted on the icon became invisible, only to reappear later with a bloodied spear.