Saint Mercurius (Abu Seifein)

Saint Mercurius was born in the early third century, possibly in Cappadocia, to a pagan family. He became a distinguished Roman soldier, known for his extraordinary skill and courage in battle. During a campaign against barbarians, an angel appeared to him before battle and handed him a shining sword, telling him to be brave. Mercurius led the Roman forces to a great victory.

When Emperor Decius rewarded him with honors, Mercurius confessed that the victory had come not from his own skill but from Christ, and he declared himself a Christian. The furious emperor ordered him arrested. Mercurius was tortured in multiple ways over days and miraculously survived each time — he even reportedly was carried to heaven during one night of torture and brought back refreshed. He was finally beheaded around 250 AD.

He is called "Abu Seifein" — Father of Two Swords — referring to the divine sword given by the angel and the sword of his martyrdom. He is one of the most popular military saints in the Coptic Church. A great church in Old Cairo bears his name in the ancient Coptic neighborhood of Fustat. His icon almost always shows him mounted on horseback with a sword, ready to defend the faithful against evil.