Porphyry of Gaza
| Saint Porphyry of Gaza | |
|---|---|
| Bishop and Confessor | |
| Born | c. 347 Thessalonica, Greece |
| Died | February 26, 420 Gaza, Palestine |
| Venerated in |
Eastern Orthodox Church Oriental Orthodox Churches Roman Catholic Church |
| Major shrine | Church of Saint Porphyrius |
| Feast | February 26 |
| Attributes | vested as a Bishop with omophorion, often holding a Gospel Book, with his right hand raised in blessing |
Saint Porphyry (Latin: Porphyrius; Greek: Πορφύριος, Porphyrios; Slavonic: Порфирий, Porfiriy; c. 347–420) was bishop of Gaza from 395 to 420, known, from the account in his Life, for Christianizing the recalcitrant pagan city of Gaza, and demolishing its temples.
Porphyry of Gaza is known only from a vivid biography by Mark the Deacon and from a reference made by Archbishop John II of Jerusalem. The Vita Porphyrii appears to be a contemporary account of Porphyry that chronicles in some detail the end of paganism in Gaza in the early fifth century. However, the text has been identified in the 20th century as hagiography rather than history, and some elements of it are examples of the stereotyped fictional events characteristic of this literary form. On the other hand, the author was certainly intimately familiar with Gaza in late Antiquity, and his statements are of interest for reflecting 5th century attitudes. A street in the village of Zejtun, Malta, bears his name.
Gaza had a history as a place hostile to the early Christians. Several had suffered martyrdom there in the persecution of Diocletian (303-313), and the brief pagan revival under Julian (362-363) had seen the burning of the Christian basilica and various Christians put to death.
The people of Gaza were so hostile to Christians that the Christian church had to be built outside the walls, at a safe distance, and the Christian bishops of the 4th century were specifically termed "bishops of the churches about Gaza". The Christian community in Gaza then scarcely numbered 280, according to the vita of St. Porphyry, and the community-at-large resisted the closing of temples and destruction of pagan images which had started in more Christianized regions.
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