Porphyrios

Bishop of Gaza.

St. Porphyrios was Bishop of Gaza at the turn of the fifth century. Born in Thessalonica, he lived as an ascetic in Egypt and the Holy Land before being called, against his desire, to the episcopate of Gaza, a city then still devoted to idols.

With patience and courage he labored to turn the city to Christ, obtaining the closing of its pagan temples and raising a great church in their place, while caring tenderly for the poor. He reposed in peace after many years of toil. He is commemorated on February 26.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Porphyrios is commemorated on February 26. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on March 11 (a day earlier in leap years) of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

People with these names keep their name day on this feast:

Porphyrios, Porfyrios, Porfyris

Also commemorated on February 26

• Photini the Samaritan Woman

  Holy Woman, Φωτεινή η Σαμαρείτις

  Great Martyr Photini the Samaritan Woman, Equal-to-the-Apostles, who spoke with Christ at the well.

  Name days: Photis, Fotini, Photini, Foteini, Fotoula, Fay, Svetlana

• Companions of Photini

  Saint, Ανατολή, Φωτώ, Φωτίς, Παρασκευή, Κυριακή, Βίκτωρ και Ιωσής

  Sts. Anatole, Photo, Photis, Paraskevi and Kyriaki, sisters of St. Photini, her sons Victor and Joses, and the duke Sebastian.

• John Kalfas

  Martyr, Ιωάννης ο Κάλφας

  New Martyr John Kalfas the cabinetmaker of Galata, who suffered in Constantinople.

• Theokletos the Martyr

  Martyr, Θεόκλητος

  Holy Martyr Theokletos, the former sorcerer who believed through St. Photini.

  Name days: Theokletos, Theoklitos

• Sebastian of Poshekhonye

  Venerable, Σεβαστιανός του Ποσεσόνε

  Venerable Sebastian of Poshekhonye, founder of the Transfiguration Monastery.

Icon: public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.