Memorial Day of Saint Porphyry, Archbishop of Gaza

On March 11, Christians remember Bishop Porfiry of Gaza. In a leap year, the saint's feast day falls on March 10. Porfiry is the bishop (bishop) of Gaza. Basic information about his life path is contained in the writings of Mark, who lived with him as a deacon. Porfiry was born into a noble family in the Greek city of Thessalonica. The boy received a remarkable education for that time. At twenty-five, the future bishop left for Egypt with the goal of becoming a monk. He lived for five years in the Skete desert, where he took monastic vows. He then went to the capital of Israel as a pilgrim. Having fulfilled his sacred duty, Porfiry settled in a cave near the Jordan. The ascetic life left its mark on Porfiry’s health: he became seriously ill. For this reason, he returns to Jerusalem again. However, the illness could not break him. Every day the man, bent over and leaning on a staff, walked around the holy places. Sometimes he completed his rounds on his knees, since he had no strength to walk. The monk Mark, who worked as a calligrapher at that time, became close to Porfiry and even became his attorney in inheritance matters. One day, Mark, returning from a trip on Porfiry’s business, was surprised to find him completely healthy. Porfiry told him that during an attack of fever, Jesus appeared to him and healed him. Having sold everything he had, even clothes and dishes, the man gave everything to the Egyptian and Jerusalem monasteries, and he himself began to work as a tanner. Porfiry's piety did not go unnoticed: he was appointed first a priest and then a bishop of the city of Gaza. There was only one Christian church in this city. But it was filled with idolaters who worshiped the lord of the rains, Marnas, and the goddess of love, Venus. The pagans beat Christians and did not give them the opportunity to hold public positions. Porfiry repeatedly appealed to Emperor Arcadius with a request to destroy pagan temples in Gaza. The positive decision was helped by the fact that Porfiry predicted the birth of a boy to the emperor’s wife. Together with Mark and the troops provided by the governor, the bishop destroyed all the pagan temples. The troops conducted searches in the houses: they confiscated the gold they found and destroyed the idols. On the site of the largest pagan temple, Porfiry erected a church, later named Eudoxieva in honor of Arkady's wife. On the day of remembrance of Porfiry, a service is held praising the pious life of the archbishop.