Holy Martyr Phocas the Gardener.
St. Phokas the Gardener lived near Sinope on the Black Sea, cultivating a small garden by the city gate and giving freely of its produce to the poor and to travelers, whom he received with open hospitality. In a time of persecution, soldiers were sent to find and kill the Christian Phokas; unknowing, they lodged with him, and he, having prepared his own grave in the night, revealed himself in the morning and received death for Christ.
He has long been honored as a patron of gardeners and of seafarers. He is commemorated on August 3.
Feast day
On the New Calendar, Phokas the Gardener is commemorated on August 3. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on August 16 of the civil calendar.
Who celebrates a name day
People with these names keep their name day on this feast:
Also commemorated on August 3
Dalmatos, Faustos and Isaakios
Venerable, Δαλμάτιος, Φαύστος και Ισαάκιος
Venerable Isaakios, Dalmatos and Faustos, ascetics of the Dalmatos Monastery in Constantinople.
Salome the Myrrhbearer
Holy Woman, Σαλώμη η Μυροφόρος
Holy Myrrhbearer Salome, mother of the Apostles James and John.
Theodora of Aegina and Theopiste
Holy Woman, Θεοδώρα και Θεοπίστη
Venerable Theodora of Aegina and her daughter Theopiste, nuns in Thessaloniki.
Anthony the Roman of Novgorod
Venerable, Αντώνιος ο Ρωμαίος
Venerable Anthony the Roman, wonderworker and founder of a monastery at Novgorod.
Theoklito the Wonderworker
Holy Woman, Θεοκλητώ
Venerable Theoklito the Wonderworker, a married woman of great charity.
Icon: public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.
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