Is Abba Mina Ava Mina (abbot of St. Mina Monastery in Mariout) a saint yet?

By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10

No, Abba Mina Ava Mina (the late Bishop and Abbot of the Monastery of St. Mina in Mariut) has not yet been officially canonized as a saint by the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church.

While he is deeply revered by the faithful as a man of extreme prayer, asceticism, and spiritual depth, he does not yet meet the formal requirements for official canonization, primarily due to the 50-year rule.

Here is the context regarding his status:

• Departure Date: Abba Mina Ava Mina departed to the heavenly regions on December 11, 1996.
• The 50-Year Requirement: According to the bylaws of the Holy Synod for the canonization of saints, a minimum of 50 years must pass from the date of departure before the Church officially recognizes an individual as a saint. As of now, only 27 years have passed since his departure.
• Veneration: Despite not being officially canonized, he is widely regarded as a "living saint" during his time on earth by those who knew him. He was the private disciple of St. Pope Kyrillos VI, and many faithful visit his tomb at the Monastery of St. Mina (Mariut) to seek his intercessions; many have reported miracles through his prayers.

In the Coptic tradition, we continue to pray for his soul in the Diptych and the Commemoration of the Saints generally as part of the departed fathers, but we do not yet include his name in the Synaxarium or the Doxologies reserved for officially recognized saints. We wait upon the wisdom of the Holy Synod and the timing of God to formally acknowledge his sanctity when the time is right.