Source: View original Google Doc Converted: 2026-04-22
Opening
We call upon the intercession of the saints not because they are gods, but because they are friends of God — alive in Christ, interceding before His throne. St. Anba Wanas is a beloved saint in the Coptic Church, known especially as the patron of those who have lost something precious.
His Icon
In his icon, Anba Wanas is typically depicted as a bishop holding a gospel book, with a serene and gentle expression. The icon invites us into his spirit: a man of peace, simplicity, and profound trust in God.
His Life and Martyrdom
The historical details of Anba Wanas’s life are preserved in the Coptic Synaxarion (hagiography). Key moments:
- He lived during a period of persecution of the Church
- He was known for his deep faith and pastoral care for his flock
- He suffered martyrdom for refusing to deny Christ
- The miracle of his head: After his martyrdom, his severed head was lost. It was miraculously found through the prayers of the faithful — establishing his reputation as the one who helps find what is lost.
Key events of his martyrdom:
- Arrested and brought before the persecutors
- Refused to offer sacrifice to idols
- Endured suffering with patience and without renouncing his faith
- Received the crown of martyrdom
The Miracle of the Lost Head
The most celebrated miracle associated with Anba Wanas is the miraculous finding of his severed head after his martyrdom. This miracle established the tradition of praying to him when something is lost.
The theological significance: God honors the bodies of His saints. Even in death, He demonstrates His care for every part of His servant — and through this care, He shows His care for every lost thing we bring to His attention through the saint’s intercession.
Modern Miracles and Testimonies
Coptic Christians around the world have testified to the intercession of Anba Wanas in finding lost objects — from car keys to important documents, from lost children to lost faith. These testimonies are not superstition; they are the lived experience of the Church’s teaching that the saints are alive and intercede for us.
“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” — James 5:16
The saints are righteous persons — fully alive in Christ — whose prayers are therefore powerful and effective.
Spiritual Reflections
What Does “Lost” Really Mean?
The miracles of finding lost objects point to a deeper truth: we are all, in some way, lost people whom God has found.
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” — Luke 19:10
The patron of lost things is ultimately an icon of Christ — the true finder of what is lost.
Three Things Worth Praying to Find
- Lost objects — the small everyday losses that teach us dependence on God
- Lost people — those who have wandered from the faith, from the Church, from themselves
- Lost ourselves — those moments when we have lost our way spiritually, when we feel far from God
Prayer to Saint Anba Wanas
O holy martyr Anba Wanas, you who gave your life for the name of Christ and whom God glorified even after your death by returning what was lost — intercede for us before the throne of God. Help us to find what we have lost, and more than that, to never lose the one thing necessary: our love for God and our place in His Church. Ask the Lord to restore what has been taken from us — whether objects, relationships, or faith — and to guide our feet in the path of His will. Amen.
Feast Day
The Coptic Church celebrates the feast of St. Anba Wanas on the 23rd of Bashans (May 31 in the Gregorian calendar).
Discussion Questions
- Have you ever experienced what felt like an answer to prayer when you were in need? What happened?
- How does the teaching on the intercession of saints help or challenge you?
- What is something “lost” in your life — spiritually, relationally, or practically — that you want to bring before God?