Archbishop
He was born around 346 in Thessalonica, Macedonia, to wealthy parents. At the age of 25, he left his homeland and went to Egypt, where he asceticized on the Nitrian Mountain under the guidance of St. Macarius the Great. Later, he traveled to Jerusalem to venerate the holy places and settled in the Jordanian desert. After falling into a severe illness, he received healing through a vision of Jesus Christ, who commanded him to keep the Honorable Wood of the Cross of the Lord. After this, he was ordained a presbyter and became the guardian of this Wood.
In 395, after the death of the Bishop of Gaza, the local Christians turned to Metropolitan John with a request for a new bishop. The Metropolitan called upon Porphyrius, who accepted the office with trepidation. In Gaza, he discovered three Christian churches and many pagan shrines. During a drought, the saint appointed a fast and held an all-night vigil, after which he went in a procession through the city, and rain fell abundantly. This miracle led to the baptism of 127 men, 35 women, and 14 children.
Despite this, the pagans continued to oppress the Christians. Saint Porphyrius and Metropolitan John went to Constantinople to seek protection from the emperor. Empress Eudoxia, wishing for a son, gave birth to an heir through the prayers of the saints. In 401, the emperor issued a decree for the destruction of the idolatrous shrines in Gaza and granted privileges to the Christians. The empress also allocated funds for the construction of a new church on the site of the main shrine.
Saint Porphyrius established Christianity in Gaza and protected his flock from the oppression of the pagans. Through his prayers, numerous miracles and healings were performed. He guided his flock for 25 years and reposed in 420 at an old age.
