As outlined in his hagiography, Bashnouna served as a monk in the Monastery of Saint Macarius the Great in Scetes. During the rule of Caliph Al-'Āḍid, the Fatimid authorities apprehended him. Faced with the choice of converting to Islam or confronting death, Bashnouna opted to remain steadfast in his faith. Consequently, he endured the gruesome fate of being burned alive on the 24th day of Pashons, in the year 880 A.M. (equivalent to 19th May 1164 AD). Following his martyrdom, his remains were interred at the Church of Saint Sergius in Cairo.