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== Biography ==
[[Image:StAbouSaifain.jpg|thumb|Old Coptic icon of St. Philopatyr Mercurius '''Abu-Saifain''']] St. Mercurius was born around 225 A.D. in Cappadocia (Eastern Asia Minor). His parents were converts to Christianity and they called him Philopatyr (a Greek name which means 'Lover of the Father'). They reared him in a Christian manner. When he grew (at the age of 17), he enlisted in the Roman army during the days of Emperor Decius, the pagan. The Lord gave Philopatyr the strength and the courage, and he gained a great reputation among his superiors as a swordsman and a good tactician for many battles. They called him Mercurius and he grew very close to the Emperor.
When the berbers rose up against the city, Decius went out to fight them, but when he saw how many they were, he became terrified. St. Mercurius assured him saying, "Do not be afraid, because God will destroy our enemies and will bring us victory." When he left the Emperor, an angel appeared to him in the shape of a human being, dressed in white apparel. The angel gave him a sword saying, "When you overcome your enemies, remember the Lord your God." (That is why he is called, 'of the two swords', 'Abu-Saifain', one is the military sword and the other is the sword of the Divine power.)