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The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity


from its origins to circa AD 700, across the entire Christian world


Name

Phokas, martyr of Sinope

Saint ID

S00052

Number in BH

BHG 1535-1540

Reported Death Not Before

70

Reported Death Not After

117

Gender
Male
Type of Saint
Martyrs, Bishops , Peasants and labourers, Miracle-workers in lifetime, Children
Related Evidence Records
IDTitle
E00097John Chrysostom delivers in Greek a sermon On *Phokas (martyr of Sinope, S00052), during celebrations for the transfer and depositions of the saint's relics in Constantinople. Two days of services and processions are held, attended by the imperial couple; the relics are deposed at a shrine by the sea. Written in Constantinople, c. 400.
E01232Rocks near Grammata on the island of Syros (the Aegean Islands) are covered with dozens of graffiti, mostly authored by ship-owners and sailors asking for a safe journey and invoking God as the Lord, *Phokas (martyr of Sinope, S00052), and unnamed *Apostles. The graffiti also contain references to ships named after *Mary (Mother of Christ, S00033). Probably 5th-7th c.
E01950Fragmentary and scarcely legible Greek inscription, once implausibly presented as referring to a martyr shrine (martyrion) of *Phokas (martyr of Antioch, S00413), *Bassos (martyr of Syria, S01127), and *Artemios (martyr of Antioch under Julian, S01128). Found at Umm el-Mais near Ḥimṣ/Emesa (northwest Phoenicia). Probably late antique.
E01961Asterius of Amasea, in his Homily IX, On *Phokas (martyr of Sinope, S00052), delivered during a service celebrated at a shrine in Amaseia/Amasea (northern Asia Minor) with relics of Phokas and other martyrs, recounts Phokas’ martyrdom, refers to his shrines, relics, and miracles, and claims that he is the most famous of all martyrs. Written in Greek in Amaseia/Amasea (northern Asia Minor), in the late 4th or early 5th c..
E01962The Greek Life of *Phokas (martyr of Sinope, S00052), of the 6th c. or later, recounts the birth and a series of miracles performed by the saint during his childhood; he is described as a healer, exorcist, and effective help for boats in danger. Probably written in Pontus (northern Asia Minor).
E01963Asterius of Amasea, in his Homily IX, On *Phokas (martyr of Sinope, S00052), mentions the saint’s shrines and relics in Sinope and Amaseia/Amasea (both northern Asia Minor), and the presence of his head in Rome. Phokas is especially venerated by seamen and barbarians; Roman emperors and barbarian kings dedicate offerings to him at Sinope; his miracles and oracles are superior to those of several pagan deities. Written in Greek at Amaseia/Amasea (northern Asia Minor), in the late 4th or early 5th c..
E02004The Life of *Melania the Younger (aristocratic ascetic in Jerusalem, ob. 439, S01134), by Gerontius, a monk at her monastery, recounts how she stayed at the martyrion of *Phokas (probably either the martyr of Antioch, S00413, or the martyr of Sinope, S00052) at Sidon (Roman province of Phoenice), in 439. Written in Greek or Latin , probably in Jerusalem, c. 450.
E03366The early seventh-century Georgian version of the Lectionary of Jerusalem commemorates on 30 August *Phokas (the martyr of Antioch, S00413, or the martyr of Synope, S00052) and *Babylas (bishop and martyr in Antioch, S00061).
E03729The Church Calendar of Ioane Zosime, compiled in Georgian in the 10th c., based however on 5th-7th c. prototypes from Palestine, commemorates on 4 May *Silvanos (martyr of the Phaeno copper mines, S00193), and his students, and *Pelagia of Tarsus (martyr, S01688), or *Pelagia (martyr in Antioch, S01093), *Menas (soldier and martyr of Abu Mena, S00073), and *Phokas (martyr of Sinope, S00052) or *Phokas (martyr of Antioch, S00413).
E03828The Church Calendar of Ioane Zosime, compiled in Georgian in the 10th c., based however on 5th-7th c. prototypes from Palestine, commemorates on 10 August *Elianos (martyr of Amman, S00889),*Laurence/Laurentius (deacon and martyr of Rome, S01229), and *Phokas (martyr of Sinope, S00052) or *Phokas (martyr of Antioch, S00413).
E03848The Church Calendar of Ioane Zosime, compiled in Georgian in the 10th c., based however on 5th-7th c. prototypes from Palestine, commemorates on 30 August *Phokas (martyr of Antioch, S00413) or *Phokas (martyr of Synope, S00052), *Jude Thaddaeus (Apostle, one of the Twelve, S01507), *Joseph of Arimathea (New Testament figure, S01787), *Babylas (bishop and martyr in Antioch, S00061), and *Alexandros (bishop of Constantinople, ob. 337, S01789), and the beheading of *John the Baptist (S00020).
E04537Augustine of Hippo, in his Sermon 375B, refers, for the sake of theological argument, to the martyrs *Stephen (the First Martyr, S00030) and *Phokas (probably Phokas, martyr of Sinope, S00052). Sermon preached in Latin in Hippo Regius (Numidia, central North Africa), sometime between 397 and 430.
E05579Bede, in his Martyrology, records the feast on 14 July of *Phocas (here 'bishop' and martyr of Sinope, S00052), whose relics are in the basilica of the *Apostles (S02422) in Vienne (south-east Gaul). Written in Latin at Wearmouth-Jarrow (north-east Britain), 725/731.
E05829The Greek Life of *Phōkas (martyr of Sinope, S00052) is translated into Syriac during the 5th or 6th century.
E07064Two clay bread stamps bearing an image and Greek inscription of *Phokas (martyr of Sinope, S00052) and mentioning a charity house (ptocheion) dedicated to him at Cherson (north Black Sea). Found during archaeological excavations at Chersonnesus/Cherson; 6th century.