View source for Manahen

{{short description|1st century teacher of the Church of Antioch}}
{{More citations needed|date=July 2022}}

[[File:Acts_of_the_Apostles_Chapter_13-3_(Bible_Illustrations_by_Sweet_Media).jpg|thumbnail|Manaen praying and fasting with [[Barnabas]], [[Simeon Niger]], [[Lucius of Cyrene]], and [[Paul the Apostle|Paul]]. illustrated by Jim Padgett]]
'''Manahen''' {{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|æ|n|i|ə|n}} (also '''Manaen''' or '''Menachem''') was a teacher in the first century Christian Church at [[Antioch]] who had been 'brought up' ({{langx|el|σύντροφος}}, ''syntrophos'', [[Vulgate]]: ''collactaneus'') with [[Herod Antipas]].<ref name=Drum>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09583b.htm Drum, Walter. "St. Manahen." The Catholic Encyclopedia] Vol. 9. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 4 November 2021 {{PD-notice}}</ref> 

According to the [[Acts of the Apostles]], he was among those who sent Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey. He was probably one of the founders of the church at Antioch.

==Biblical narrative==
Little is known of Manahen's life. He is said to have been 'brought up' with [[Herod Antipas|Herod]] the [[Tetrarchy (Judea)|tetrarch]]. He has been described as [[Herod Antipas|Herod]]'s 'foster brother'<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=DYJZEAAAQBAJ&dq=Manahen&pg=PA154 Butler, Alban. ''The Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and other principal Saints'', Vol. VI, 1866, p. 154]</ref> or as his 'life-long friend'.<ref>[[ESV]]</ref> According to the Acts of the Apostles he was one of the prophets and teachers who, under the influence of the [[Holy Spirit]], laid hands upon [[Saul]] and [[Barnabas]] and sent the two apostles on the first of Paul's [[Missionary journeys of Paul|missionary journeys]] ({{bibleverse||Acts|13:1|NKJV}}). 

{{Infobox saint|name=Manahen|death_date=1st century|death_place=Antioch, [[Syria]]|feast_day=May 23 (Eastern Orthodox Church)<br> May 24 (Roman Catholic Church)|honored_in=[[Catholic Church]]<br>[[Eastern Orthodox Church]]<br>[[Oriental Orthodox Church]]}}

As [[Saint Luke|Luke]], the assumed author of the Acts of the Apostles, was an [[Antiochene]], it is possible that Manahen was one of the "eyewitnesses and ministers of the word" ({{bibleverse||Luke|1:2}}) who provided Luke details which that writer has in regard to Antipas and other members of the [[Herodian]] family ([[Luke 3]]:1, 19, 20; 8:3; 9:7-9; 13:31, 32; 23:8-12; Acts 12). He may have become a disciple of [[Jesus]] with "[[Joanna (disciple)|Joanna]], the wife of Chusa, [[Herod Antipas|Herod]]'s steward" ([[Gospel of Luke|Luke]] 8:3).<ref name=Drum/>

==Early historian references==
In A.D. 39, [[Herod Antipas|Antipas]] left for [[Rome]] to gain the favor of [[Caligula]], but instead received an order of perpetual exile. (Jos., "Ant.", XVIII, vii, 2). During this time, the Church of Antioch was founded by [[Jewish Christians]], who "had been dispersed by the persecution that arose on the occasion of [[St. Stephen|Stephen]]" and had taught the Gospel also to the [[Greeks]] of Antioch, (Acts 11:19-24). It is quite likely that St. Manahen was one of these founders of the Antiochene Church.<ref name=Drum/> The date of his death is unknown, but he is supposed to have died at Antioch in Syria.

==Veneration==
Manahen is mentioned in many of the ancient Martyrologies.

His [[feast day]] is celebrated on [[May 23 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)|May 23]]<ref>{{in lang|el}} ''[http://www.synaxarion.gr/gr/sid/3338/sxsaintinfo.aspx Ὁ Προφήτης Μανὴν].'' 23 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.</ref> in the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] and on May 24<ref>[http://www.breviary.net/martyrology/mart05/mart0524.htm May 24] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012034246/http://breviary.net/martyrology/mart05/mart0524.htm |date=2011-10-12 }}. The Roman Martyrology.</ref> in the [[Roman Catholic Church]].

==See also==
*[[List of names for the Biblical nameless]]
*[[Portal:Catholic Church/Patron Archive/May 24|Saint Manahen, patron saint archive]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{catholic|wstitle=St. Manahen}}

{{Eastons|wstitle=Menahem}}

{{New Testament people|prophets}}
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[[Category:Year of birth missing]]
[[Category:Year of death missing]]
[[Category:1st-century Christian saints]]
[[Category:Early Jewish Christians]]
[[Category:Saints from Roman Syria]]