MENA, patriarch of COSTANTINOPOLI, saint. - Born in Alexandria toward the end of the 5th century, died in Constantinople in August 552. He was director of the great hospice for pilgrims of St. Sansone in that city when, in 536, he was elected patriarch of Constantinople by Pope Agapito, Antimo I (v.).
On 22 April of the same year Agapito died, and M. presided over the Council that began on 2 May, at which Antimo was excommunicated together with other of his adherents. In the famous question of the “Three Chapters” (v.), M. signed, and induced the Eastern bishops to sign, their condemnation, and Pope Vigilio excommunicated him together with all the signatories. The controversy dragged on for a very long time; but M. acknowledged his fault and retracted what he had subscribed only through weakness. The Martirologio romano records his name on 25 August.