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JAKARTA – Saint Porfiryus, Archbishop of Gaza, is a little-known saint, but his contribution to the Greek Orthodox Church and Christianity is extraordinary.
He is known for Christianizing the pagan people of Gaza, as noted in his biography, Vita Porphyrii, written by the Roman Christian hagiographer Mark, the Deacon.
Saint Porphyry has a special place in the hearts of Christians, especially Palestinians, because he opposed polytheistic religions that had followers throughout Gaza and the Levant.
Born to a wealthy family in Thessaloniki in 346, Saint Porphyry received an extraordinary education. However, from an early age, he chose to live a monastic life. Reporting from Greek Reporter, Saturday (4/11/2023), he left Thessaloniki at the age of 25 and went to Egypt to live an ascetic life in the Nitrian Desert under the guidance of Saint Makarios the Great.
There, he met Saint Jerom and went to Jerusalem on a pilgrimage to the holy places in veneration of the Lord’s Life-Giving Cross. After that, Saint Porphyryus went and lived in a cave in the Jordanian desert to pray and increase his asceticism.
Saint Porphyry in the Holy Land
After five years of ascetic life, Saint Porphyry was stricken with a serious disease in his leg. He decided to go to Jerusalem again to pray for healing.
One day, he found himself lying half unconscious at the foot of Golgotha and fell into a state of understanding. He imagined holding Jesus Christ who came down from the Cross, who said to him, “Take this Stick and keep it.”
After returning to reality, he felt healthy and free from pain. He donated all his money to the poor and God’s churches, then began working as a shoemaker.
At the age of 45, Jesus’ words in his vision came true. The bishop of the city of Gaza in Palestine has died. The local Christians went to Caesarea to ask Metropolitan Johannes to send them a new bishop capable of fighting the pagans.
Pagans dominated Gaza and were extremely hostile towards Christians. Under the persecution of Emperor Diocletian, many saints died there. Additionally, a brief revival of paganism during Julian’s reign led the emperor’s soldiers to burn Christian cathedrals and execute many Christians.