lundi 5 mars 2018

Saint PHOCAS le jardinier, martyr



Saint Phocas

Martyr à Sinope (IVe siècle)

Saint Phocas naquit dans la ville de Sinope, au bord de la mer Noire, d'un père nommé Pamphile, constructeur de bateaux, et d'une mère nommée Marie.

Dès qu'il sortit de l'erreur païenne, Dieu lui accorda la grâce d'accomplir des miracles. Il devint évêque de Sinope et amena, tant par ses paroles que par ses miracles, de nombreux païens à la vraie foi. 

Un jour, Dieu lui révéla que le moment du martyre était venu: «Une coupe a été préparée pour toi, tu dois maintenant la boire». Il comparut  devant le gouverneur Africanus et confessa avec audace sa Foi au Christ vrai Dieu et vrai homme. Comme Africanus avait blasphémé le Nom du Christ et fait torturer le Saint, il y eut un tremblement de terre. Le gouverneur mourut. Mais, à la demande de sa femme, le Saint, miséricordieux, le releva par sa prière. Il fut conduit à l'empereur qui le fit écorcher puis jeter dans un bain surchauffé, où le Saint remit son âme à Dieu.

Après sa mort, Phocas fit encore de nombreux miracles.

A lire: Homélie de saint Jean Chrysostome, bibliothèque monastique en l'honneur du saint martyr Phocas et contre les hérétiques ainsi que sur le psaume CXLI: «j'ai crié vers le Seigneur, j'ai fait entendre à Dieu ma prière.»

Jardinier, il souffrit de multiples outrages pour le nom du Rédempteur à Sinope sur la Mer Noire, au IVe siècle.

Martyrologe romain

SOURCE : https://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/saint/1510/Saint-Phocas.html

Phocas le jardinier

† 303

Sur s.Phocas, les avis ne sont pas concordants, quoique les légendes pourraient sans doute s’accorder.

Phocas, donc, naquit à Sinope (auj. Sinop, Turquie N) de Pamphilios et Maria.

Peu après son baptême, il reçut la grâce d’accomplir des miracles et amena beaucoup de païens au Christ.

Il était jardinier, disent les uns ; il fut appelé à devenir évêque, disent les autres. Mais y a-t-il un inconvénient à ce qu’un évêque s’occupe de son jardin et qu’il vive du fruit de sa culture ? S.Paul dit bien clairement que Si quelqu’un ne veut travailler, qu’il ne mange pas non plus (2 Th 3:10).

Ses récoltes étaient apparemment suffisantes pour nourrir aussi les pauvres, à moins qu’il ait eu le don de la multiplication des pains et des légumes.

Un soir, Phocas eut la révélation qu’il allait boire à la coupe du Seigneur. En effet, des soldats se présentèrent, qui cherchaient un certain Phocas. 

Phocas commença par les recevoir très amicalement, leur offrit le repas et les installa pour la nuit. Ensuite il creusa sa tombe. Au matin, il révéla son identité aux soldats qui, frappés de sa bonté, voulaient rep7artir et dire à leur chef qu’ils n’avaient pas trouvé Phocas, mais Phocas insista, leur démontrant qu’ils avaient tout intérêt à obéir à leur chef.

Les soldats alors le décapitèrent et l’enterrèrent dans la tombe toute prête. Ce pouvait être en 303.

Dans une autre version, Phocas est présenté au gouverneur Africanus qui, ayant blasphémé le nom du Christ et fait torturer Phocas, mourut brusquement dans un tremblement de terre. L’épouse du gouverneur supplia Phocas, qui le ressuscita.

Le fait fut rapporté à l’empereur qui, irrité au plus haut point, se fit amener Phocas, le fit écorcher vif et précipiter dans un bain d’eau brûlante, où mourut Phocas.

De nombreux miracles eurent lieu encore après la mort de Phocas.

Par allusion à son nom (qui signifie phoque en grec), les marins ont coutume, dit-on, de mettre de côté la portion de S. Phocas, consistant en une portion de nourriture vendue à un passager ; le prix en est remis au capitaine qui, au port, remet l’argent aux pauvres en action de grâce pour être rentré sain et sauf avec son équipage. 

La bonté de Phocas peut certainement expliquer l’immense culte qu’on lui voua. Mais s’il fut si célèbre, on s’étonne qu’il n’y ait aucun témoignage plus solide, de la part de ses diocésains, au sujet de son épiscopat et même qu’on ait laissé sa tombe dans son jardin, sans aucune cérémonie.

Saint Phocas le jardinier est commémoré le 5 mars dans le Martyrologe Romain.

SOURCE : http://www.samuelephrem.eu/2017/02/phocas-le-jardinier.html

Saint Phocas de Sinope, appelé parfois Phocas le jardinier - Martyr à Sinope (4ème s.)

Phocas de Sinope, appelé parfois Phocas le jardinier, est un martyr reconnu saint par l'Église catholique romaine et l'Église orthodoxe. 

Saint Phocas naquit dans la ville de Sinope, au bord de la mer Noire, d'un père nommé Pamphile, constructeur de bateaux, et d'une mère nommée Marie. Dès qu'il sortit de l'erreur païenne, Dieu lui accorda la grâce d'accomplir des miracles. Il devint évêque de Sinope et amena, tant par ses paroles que par ses miracles, de nombreux païens à la vraie foi. 

Les premières traces de son nom sont présentes dans les écrits d'Astérios d'Amasée (vers 400). En grec ancien, Phocas signifie phoque, ce qui explique peut-être que Saint Phocas soit le saint patron des marins et pêcheurs. Selon la tradition, les marins mettent de côté une part de chaque plat, appelée la portion de Saint Phocas. Cette portion est vendue à un des voyageurs, et le prix est remis au capitaine. De retour au port, l'argent est distribué aux pauvres en remerciement d'être rentrés sains et saufs. Cette tradition dérive probablement d'une tradition plus ancienne de la mer Noire basée sur l'esprit invisible de Klabautermann 

Selon la tradition chrétienne, Phocas était un jardinier vivant à Sinope, au bord de la mer Noire en Turquie, qui nourrissait les pauvres avec ses récoltes et qui a aidé des chrétiens persécutés 

Un jour, Dieu lui révéla que le moment du Martyre était venu: «Une coupe a été préparée pour toi, tu dois maintenant la boire». Il comparut devant le gouverneur Africanus et confessa avec audace sa Foi au Christ vrai Dieu et vrai homme. Comme Africanus avait blasphémé le Nom du Christ et fait torturer le Saint, il y eut un tremblement de terre. Le gouverneur mourut. Mais, à la demande de sa femme, le Saint, miséricordieux, le releva par sa prière. Il fut conduit à l'empereur qui le fit écorcher puis jeter dans un bain surchauffé, où le Saint remit son âme à Dieu. 

Après sa mort, Phocas fit encore de nombreux miracles. Au cours des persécutions ordonnées par l'empereur 

Rédigé par Parlons d'orthodoxie le 5 Octobre 2012 à 11:07 | 0 commentaire Permalien

SOURCE : https://www.egliserusse.eu/blogdiscussion/Saint-Phocas-de-Sinope-appele-parfois-Phocas-le-jardinier-Martyr-a-Sinope-4eme-s_a2683.html

Book of Saints – Phocas – 5 March

Article

(SaintMartyr (March 5) (Date unknown) A Syrian Saint of one of the early centuries. His little story is interesting. He had given shelter for the night to certain strangers who did not know where to look for a bed. They, in the course of conversation, informed him that their errand was to seek out and arrest a certain Phocas, who had been denounced as a Christian. Thereupon Phocas told them that he himself was that very man, and gladly went with them to his trial and death. There was a great devotion in the East to this holy Martyr, and he was in particular invoked by such as had been stung by venomous snakes.

MLA Citation

Monks of Ramsgate. “Phocas”. Book of Saints1921. CatholicSaints.Info. 3 May 2017. Web. 25 February 2022. <https://catholicsaints.info/book-of-saints-phocas-5-march/>

SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/book-of-saints-phocas-5-march/

Saint Phocas the Gardener

Also known as

Phocas of Hovenier

Phocas of Sinope

Phocas the Martyr

Foca…

Focas…

Fokas…

Memorial

23 July

14 July (translation of relics)

5 March on some calendars when listed as Phocas of Antioch

22 September on some calendars

Profile

InnkeeperGardenerMartyr. Used surplus crops to feed the poor. Even cared for the soldiers sent to execute him for being a Christian; he fed and sheltered them, and dug his own grave.

Died

beheaded c.303 in Sinope, Pontus (in modern Turkey)

Canonized

Pre-Congregation

Patronage

against insect bites

against poisoning

against snake bites

agricultural workers

boatmen

farm workers

farmers

field hands

gardeners

husbandmen

mariners

market-gardeners

sailors

watermen

Additional Information

A Year with the Saints

Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate

Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate

Lives of the Saints, by Father Alban Butler

Short Lives of the Saints, by Eleanor Cecilia Donnelly

books

Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints

other sites in english

Catholic Online

Catholic Online

John Dillon

Wikipedia

videos

YouTube PlayList

sitios en español

Martirologio Romano2001 edición

fonti in italiano

Santi e Beati

Wikipedia

nettsteder i norsk

Den katolske kirke

Den katolske kirke

websites in nederlandse

Heiligen 3s

Readings

Saint Phocas the Martyr was greatly to be admired for his simplicity, according to what Surius relates. He cultivated a little garden, less to provide food for himself than to supply with vegetables and fruit those travelers and pilgrims who had heard of his liberality and stopped at his house; for no one ever knocked at his door who was not received with great charity and courtesy. This holy man was denounced for aiding and abetting Christians, to the governor of the province, who, resolving upon his death, sent soldiers privately in search of him with orders to kill him. They arrived one evening at his house, not knowing that it was his, entered it, and with the usual freedom of soldiery, demanded food. According to his custom, he received them willingly and kindly and gave them what little he had. He served them, too, at table, with so much charity and courtesy that they were delighted and captivated, and said between themselves that they had never met such a good-hearted man. And so they were led by his great simplicity and candor to ask him with confidence whether he knew anything of a certain Phocas, who helped and harbored Christians, and upon whose death the imperial prefect had resolved. The Saint replied that he knew him very well, and that he would willingly point him out to them so that they might go to rest quietly, without further inquiry, for on the next day he would show them an easy way of capturing him. He then spent the whole night in fervent prayer, and when it was day he went to visit the soldiers, and bid them good morning with his usual cordiality. They answered by reminding him of his promise to deliver up Phocas, whom they were seeking. “Do not doubt,” he returned, “that I will find him for you. Consider that you have him already in your hands.”

“Let us go, then, and take him,” they answered.

“There is no need of going,” he replied, “for he is here present. I am he. Do with me what you please.” At these words, the soldiers were amazed and stupefied, both on account of the great charity which he had welcomed them and of the ingenuous sincerity with which he revealed himself to his persecutors, when he could so easily have escaped death by fleeing in the night. They gazed at each other in amazement, and neither of them dared to lay hands on one who had been so kind to them. They were more inclined to give him his life, and to report to the prefect that after long search they had not been able to discover Phocas.

“No,” said the Saint, “my death would be a less evil than to concoct such a fiction, and tell such a falsehood. Execute, then, the order you have received.” So saying, he bared his neck and extended it to the soldiers, who severed it with one stroke and gave him the glorious crown of Martyrdom. This most candid fidelity was so agreeable to God that He immediately began, and still continues, to signalize it by illustrious miracles, especially in favor of pilgrims and sailors, to whom – in death as in life – the Saint has been most liberal of benefits and miraculous helps. In recognition of this, a custom came into use among travelers by sea, of serving to him every day at meals a part of the first dish, which was called the portion of Saint Phocas. This was each day bought by one or other of the voyagers, and the price deposited in the hands of the captain; and when they came into port, the money was distributed among the poor, in thanksgiving to their benefactor for their successful voyage. – from A Year with the Saints

MLA Citation

“Saint Phocas the Gardener“. CatholicSaints.Info. 9 February 2022. Web. 25 February 2022. <https://catholicsaints.info/saint-phocas-the-gardener/>

SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saint-phocas-the-gardener/

Short Lives of the Saints – Saint Phocas, Martyr

Entry

During the persecution of the emperor Diocletian there lived at Sinope a Christian gardener named Phocas, who exercised a generous hospitality toward strangers from the produce of his garden. The governor of the province, on receipt of the emperor’s edict, sent two of his satellites to put the humble Phocas to death. The latter hospitably entertained these murderous visitors; and, as they were not personally acquainted with their host, they asked for information regarding the person they were seeking. Phocas gently bade them take their rest that night, and the next day they should be introduced to the victim. During the night he dug his own grave, and on the following morning he said quietly to them, “I am the man you seek; do with me what you will.” They were so utterly bewildered at this heroic generosity that they hesitated, but finally beheaded him; and at his tomb, called that of Phocas the Good, great miracles were afterwards worked.

The mariners, where roll the waves
  Of Egypt’s dark blue sea,
Saint Phocas claim for patron saint.
    – Elizabeth King

Favorite Practice – To bless them that curse you.

MLA Citation

Eleanor Cecilia Donnelly. “Saint Phocas, Martyr”. Short Lives of the Saints1910. CatholicSaints.Info. 17 April 2021. Web. 25 February 2022. <https://catholicsaints.info/short-lives-of-the-saints-saint-phocas-martyr/>

SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/short-lives-of-the-saints-saint-phocas-martyr/

A Year with the Saints – 1 July

Entry

Among those who make profession of following the maxims of Christ, simplicity ought to be held in great esteem; for, among the wise of this world there is nothing more contemptible or despicable than this. Yet it is a virtue most worthy of love, because it leads us straight to the Kingdom of God, and, at the same time, wins for us the affection of men; since one who is regarded as upright, sincere, and an enemy to tricks and fraud is loved by all, even by those who only seek from morning till night to cheat and deceive others. – Saint Vincent de Paul

This Saint himself truly had great esteem for simplicity, and loved it much. Therefore he not only kept himself from any transgression against it, but could not suffer those under his authority to commit any. If at times they were guilty of doing so he would be sure to correct them for it, though with great mildness.

Saint Francis de Sales, also, was full of respect and love for this virtue, as he once declared to a confidential friend, in these words: “I do not know what that poor virtue of prudence has done to me, that I find so much difficulty in loving it. And if I love it, it is only from necessity, inasmuch as it is the support and guiding light of this life. But the beauty of simplicity completely fascinates me. It is true that the Gospel recommends to us both the simplicity of the dove and the prudence of the serpent; but I would give a hundred serpents for one dove. I know that both are useful when they are united, but I think that it should be in the proportion observed in compounding some medicines, in which a little poison is mixed with a quantity of wholesome drugs. Let the world, then, be angry – let the prudence of the world rage, and the flesh perish; for it is always better to be good and simple, than to be subtle and malicious.”

Saint Phocas the Martyr was greatly to be admired for his simplicity, according to what Surius relates. He cultivated a little garden, less to provide food for himself than to supply with vegetables and fruit those travelers and pilgrims who had heard of his liberality and stopped at his house; for no one ever knocked at his door who was not received with great charity and courtesy. This holy man was denounced for aiding and abetting Christians, to the governor of the province, who, resolving upon his death, sent soldiers privately in search of him with orders to kill him. They arrived one evening at his house, not knowing that it was his, entered it, and with the usual freedom of soldiery, demanded food. According to his custom, he received them willingly and kindly and gave them what little he had. He served them, too, at table, with so much charity and courtesy that they were delighted and captivated, and said between themselves that they had never met such a good-hearted man. And so they were led by his great simplicity and candor to ask him with confidence whether he knew anything of a certain Phocas, who helped and harbored Christians, and upon whose death the imperial prefect had resolved. The Saint replied that he knew him very well, and that he would willingly point him out to them so that they might go to rest quietly, without further inquiry, for on the next day he would show them an easy way of capturing him. He then spent the whole night in fervent prayer, and when it was day he went to visit the soldiers, and bid them good morning with his usual cordiality. They answered by reminding him of his promise to deliver up Phocas, whom they were seeking. “Do not doubt,” he returned, “that I will find him for you. Consider that you have him already in your hands.”

“Let us go, then, and take him,” they answered.

“There is no need of going,” he replied, “for he is here present. I am he. Do with me what you please.” At these words, the soldiers were amazed and stupefied, both on account of the great charity which he had welcomed them and of the ingenuous sincerity with which he revealed himself to his persecutors, when he could so easily have escaped death by fleeing in the night. They gazed at each other in amazement, and neither of them dared to lay hands on one who had been so kind to them. They were more inclined to give him his life, and to report to the prefect that after long search they had not been able to discover Phocas.

“No,” said the Saint, “my death would be a less evil than to concoct such a fiction, and tell such a falsehood. Execute, then, the order you have received.” So saying, he bared his neck and extended it to the soldiers, who severed it with one stroke and gave him the glorious crown of Martyrdom. This most candid fidelity was so agreeable to God that He immediately began, and still continues, to signalize it by illustrious miracles, especially in favor of pilgrims and sailors, to whom – in death as in life – the Saint has been most liberal of benefits and miraculous helps. In recognition of this, a custom came into use among travelers by sea, of serving to him every day at meals a part of the first dish, which was called the portion of Saint Phocas. This was each day bought by one or other of the voyagers, and the price deposited in the hands of the captain; and when they came into port, the money was distributed among the poor, in thanksgiving to their benefactor for their successful voyage.

MLA Citation

An Unknown Italian. “1 July“. A Year with the Saints1891. CatholicSaints.Info. 7 November 2019. Web. 25 February 2022. <https://catholicsaints.info/a-year-with-the-saints-1-july/>

SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/a-year-with-the-saints-1-july/

St. Phocas, Gardener, Martyr

From his panegyric, written by St. Asterius, and another by St. Chrysostom, t. 2, ed. Ben. p. 704. Ruinart, p. 627.

A.D. 303

ST. PHOCUS dwelt near the gate of Sinope, a city of Pontus, and lived by cultivating a garden, which yielded him a handsome subsistence, and wherewith plentifully to relieve the indigent. In his humble profession he imitated the virtue of the most holy anchorets, and seemed in part restored to the happy condition of our first parents in Eden. To prune the garden without labour and toil was their sweet employment and pleasure. Since their sin, the earth yields not its fruit but by the sweat of our brow. But still, no labour is more useful or necessary, or more natural to man, and better adapted to maintain in him vigour of mind or health of body than that of tillage; nor does any other part of the universe rival the innocent charms which a garden presents to all our senses, by the fragrancy of its flowers, by the riches of its produce, and the sweetness and variety of its fruits; by the melodious concert of its musicians, by the worlds of wonders which every stem, leaf, and fibre exhibit to the contemplation of the inquisitive philosopher, and by that beauty and variegated lustre of colours which clothe the numberless tribes of its smallest inhabitants, and adorn its shining landscapes, vying with the brightest splendour of the heavens, and in a single lily surpassing the dazzling lustre with which Solomon was surrounded on his throne in the midst of all his glory. And what a field for contemplation does a garden offer to our view in every part, raising our souls to God in raptures of love and praise, stimulating us to fervour, by the fruitfulness with which it repays our labour, and multiplies the seed it receives; and exciting us to tears of compunction for our insensibility to God by the barrenness with which it is changed into a frightful desert, unless subdued by assiduous toil! Our saint joining prayer with his labour, found in his garden itself an instructive book, and an inexhausted fund of holy meditation. His house was open to all strangers and travellers who had no lodging in the place; and after having for many years most liberally bestowed the fruit of his labour on the poor, he was found worthy also to give his life for Christ. Though his profession was obscure, he was well known over the whole country by the reputation of his charity and virtue.

When a cruel persecution, probably that of Dioclesian in 303, was suddenly raised in the church, Phocas was immediately impeached as a Christian, and such was the notoriety of his pretended crime, that the formality of a trial was superceded by the persecutors, and executioners were despatched with an order to kill him on the spot wherever they should find him. Arriving near Sinope, they would not enter the town, but stopping at his house without knowing it, at his kind invitation they took up their lodging with him. Being charmed with his courteous entertainment, they at supper disclosed to him the errand upon which they were sent, and desired him to inform them where this Phocas could be most easily met with? The servant of God, without the least surprise, told them he was well acquainted with the man, and would give them certain intelligence of him next morning. After they were retired to bed he dug a grave, prepared everything for his burial, and spent the night in disposing his soul for his last hour. When it was day he went to his guests, and told them Phocas was found, and in their power whenever they pleased to apprehend him. Glad at this news, they inquired where he was. “He is here present,” said the martyr, “I myself am the man.” Struck at his undaunted resolution, and at the composure of his mind, they stood a considerable time as if they had been motionless, nor could they at first think of imbruing their hands in the blood of a person in whom they discovered so heroic a virtue, and by whom they had been so courteously entertained. He indirectly encouraged them, saying, that as for himself, he looked upon such a death as the greatest of favours, and his highest advantage. At length recovering themselves from their surprise, they struck off his head. The Christians of that city, after peace was restored to the church, built a stately church which bore his name, and was famous over all the East. In it were deposited the sacred relics, though some portions of them were dispersed in other churches.

St. Asterius, bishop of Amasea about the year 400, pronounced the panegyric of this martyr, on his festival, in a church, probably near Amasea, which possessed a small part of his remains. In this discourse 1 he says, “that Phocas from the time of his death was become a pillar and support of the churches on earth: he draws all men to his house; the highways are filled with persons resorting from every country to this place of prayer. The magnificent church which (at Sinope) is possessed of his body, is the comfort and ease of the afflicted, the health of the sick, the magazine plentifully supplying the wants of the poor. If in any other place, as in this, some small portion of his relics be found, it also becomes admirable, and most desired by all Christians.” He adds, that the head of St. Phocas was kept in his beautiful church in Rome, and says, “The Romans honour him by the concourse of the whole people in the same manner they do Peter and Paul.” He bears testimony that the sailors in the Euxine, Ægean, and Adriatic seas, and in the ocean, sing hymns in his honour, and that the martyr has often succoured and preserved them; and that the portion of gain which they in every voyage set apart for the poor is called Phocas’s part. He mentions that a certain king of barbarians had sent his royal diadem set with jewels, and his rich helmet a present to the church of St. Phocas, praying the martyr to offer it to the Lord in thanksgiving for the kingdom which his Divine Majesty had bestowed upon him. St. Chrysostom received a portion of the relics of St. Phocas, not at Antioch, as Baronius thought, and as Fronto le Duc and Baillet doubt, but at Constantinople as Montfaucon demonstrates. 2 On that solemn occasion the city kept a great festival two days, and St. Chrysostom preached two sermons, only one of which is extant. 3 In this he says, that the emperors left their palaces to reverence these relics, and strove to share with the rest in the blessings which they procure men. The emperor Phocas built afterwards another great church at Constantinople in honour of this martyr, and caused a considerable part of his relics to be translated thither. The Greeks often style St. Phocas hiero-martyr or sacred martyr, which epithet they sometimes give to eminent martyrs who were not bishops, as Ruinart demonstrates against Baronius.

Note 1. P. 178, ed. Combefis. [back]

Note 2. Not. ib. t. 2, p. 704. Op. St. Chrys. [back]

Note 3. T. 2, ed. Ben. p. 704. [back]

Rev. Alban Butler (1711–73).  Volume VII: July. The Lives of the Saints.  1866

SOURCE : http://www.bartleby.com/210/7/031.html

San Foca l'Ortolano Martire

5 marzo

Accanto ai grandi martiri dei primi anni del secondo secolo come Ignazio di Antiochia e Simeone di Gerusalemme, ultimo dei parenti immediati di Gesù, troviamo anche un ortolano, di nome Foca, abitante a Sinope, nel Ponto Eusino. Era apprezzato e benvoluto da tutti per la sua generosità e la sua ospitalità e di queste sue virtù diede una commovente dimostrazione agli stessi carnefici, incaricati di eseguire la sentenza capitale pronunciata contro di lui. Evidentemente i carnefici non lo conoscevano di persona, perchè, entrati in casa sua per avere delle indicazioni, furono generosamente invitati a pranzo dall'ortolano. Mentre i due si rifocillavano, Foca andò nell'orto a scavarsi la fossa; quindi tornò in casa e dichiarò la propria identità ai carnefici, pregandoli di non porre indugi all'esecuzione della sentenza. Fu accontentato e pochi istanti dopo il suo corpo cadeva nella fossa appena scavata. (Avvenire)

Patronato: Agricoltori, Giardinieri, Naviganti

Emblema: Palma

Martirologio Romano: A Sinópe nel Ponto, nell’odiena Turchia, san Foca, martire, che fu giardiniere e patì molti tormenti per il nome del Redentore. 

L’ospitalità, si sa, è dovere di ogni buon cristiano; l’amore vicendevole ed il perdono fraterno anche. Ma arrivare al punto da preparare cena, prestare il proprio letto e fornire lenzuola di bucato ai propri assassini è eroismo puro. Che ci viene insegnato oggi da un santo dal nome strano ma dalla storicità certa, che gode di una vastissima devozione tanto in Oriente come in Occidente, al punto che c’è chi lo festeggia a marzo, chi a luglio e chi il 22 settembre. Addirittura hanno provato ad “inventare” altri santi con lo stesso nome, ma l’unico autentico è proprio quello dal mestiere più umile e dalla testimonianza più coraggiosa, San Foca il giardiniere. La sua vicenda umana si colloca nei primi secoli dell’era cristiana, sicuramente non oltre il quarto secolo; le prime testimonianze su di lui arrivano da un panegirico del V secolo, così stringato, documentato e presentato con tono di rapida sequenza, come di cronaca giornalistica, da non lasciare dubbio alcuno sull’autenticità del personaggio celebrato. Dicevamo: Foca è giardiniere, forse anche benestante, dato che è famoso presso i suoi contemporanei per la sua generosità verso i poveri e per l’ospitalità che offre a tutti nella sua casa. Vive a Sinope, un grande porto sul Mar Nero ed è cristiano, il che, all’epoca in cui vive, non è certo una scelta di comodo o una semplice tradizione di famiglia, visto che continuamente i cristiani sono perseguitati e uccisi dall’imperatore di turno, che in questa maniera si illude di spegnere la nuova religione che sta prendendo piede. Foca, oltre che generoso ed ospitale, è forse anche un personaggio in vista; oppure la sua testimonianza è così limpida e convincente da rappresentare un pericolo per l’autorità politica. Così viene condannato a morte senza processo e mandano due sicari sulle sue tracce, con il preciso incarico di eseguire immediatamente la condanna capitale. Per ironia della sorte i due sicari, giunti nei pressi di Sinope, bussano proprio alla porta di Foca per avere informazioni sul “pericoloso cristiano” di cui sono alla ricerca e si vedono spalancare la porta di quella casa, tradizionalmente ospitale, offrire un pasto sostanzioso e un buon letto su cui riposare. Non hanno nessun problema a rivelare a quell’uomo così cortese il motivo del loro viaggio e non si fanno scrupoli nel chiedergli consiglio sul modo migliore per giungere in fretta a mettere le mani su quel tal Foca e così portare a termine la loro missione. Invitati a trascorrere la notte in quella casa con la promessa di ricevere dal loro ospite utili indicazioni il mattino successivo, quale non è, al risveglio, la loro sorpresa nel trovarlo di buon mattino già in giardino, dove ha appena finito di scavare una fossa. Ma alla sorpresa si aggiunge un più che comprensibile problema di coscienza, nello scoprire che è proprio lui quel Foca di cui sono alla ricerca. Che li invita a compiere il loro dovere, dato che non ha voluto, anche se avrebbe potuto mentre dormivano, sfuggire ai suoi carnefici, ai quali anzi ha risparmiato anche la fatica di scavargli la fossa. E in quella lo seppelliscono dopo averlo trapassato con la spada, in mezzo ai fiori ed agli ortaggi del suo giardino, umile seme di autentica testimonianza cristiana. Giardinieri, ortolani e i marinai orientali lo venerano loro patrono. Viene invocato contro il morso dei serpenti: secondo la tradizione, chiunque, dopo il morso, aveva la possibilità di toccare la porta della basilica del martire veniva immediatamente risanato.

Autore: Gianpiero Pettiti

SOURCE : http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/71400

Den hellige Fokas Gartneren av Sinope ( -~303)

Minnedag: 22. september

Den hellige Fokas var fra Sinope i Pontos, på sørbredden av Svartehavet (i dag Sinope i Tyrkia), og han led martyrdøden der på et tidlig tidspunkt, muligens under keiser Diokletian (284-305) rundt 303 (eller under keiser Hadrian (117-38) i år 117?). Hans helligdom var der og han ble æret vidt omkring. Det er alt som med sikkerhet kan sies om ham. Han nevnes fire ganger i den hellige Hieronymus' martyrologium.

En lovtale over Fokas som ble holdt rundt år 400 av den hellige biskop Asterius i Amaseia i Pontos, gir en slags biografi, men det kan ikke festes så mye lit til den – dessuten oppgir han ingen årstall.

Lovtalen forteller at Fokas var både eremitt og en dyktig handelsgartner som bodde ved byporten i Sinope. Han levde et asketisk liv i bønn og kontemplasjon og brukte overskuddsavlingen til å fø gjester og pilegrimer i sitt gjestehus, og det som måtte være til overs, gikk til de fattige.

Under en forfølgelse skal han ha blitt angitt som kristen og dømt til døden uten rettssak. En dag kom det soldater til hans hytte og sa at de hadde ordre om å drepe en kristen ved navn Fokas, og de spurte om han kunne si hvor denne mannen bodde. Siden byporten var stengt for natten, inviterte Fokas dem til å overnatte hos ham, så ville han vise dem veien neste morgen. De gjorde det, og om natten gravde Fokas en grav i hagen og forberedte seg på døden.

Om morgenen avslørte han for sine gjester at det var han som var Fokas. Da de hadde kommet seg av forbløffelsen og mottatt hans forsikringer om at han anså martyrdøden som den største ære, utførte de sin ordre med stor beklagelse og drepte ham. Deretter ble han gravlagt i den nygravde graven i hagen av andre kristne fra byen.

Senere ble det bygd en imponerende kirke over hans grav. På Asterius' tid tiltrakk den seg pilegrimer fra fjern og nær, og hans relikvier var svært etterspurt. Samtidig sang sjøfolk på Svartehavet, Egeerhavet og Adriaterhavet sjømannssanger om sin skytshelgen Fokas. Det at en gartner var skytshelgen for sjøfolk var ikke enestående, som i tilfellet med den hellige Simeon den yngre, som levde på toppen av en søyle. Årsaken kan skyldes likheten mellom hans navn og det greske ordet for en sel (phoke).

Hans minnedag er 22. september, men 23. juli nevnes også. Han æres høyt i øst og hans relikvier ble gjort krav på av både Vienne og Antiokia. Både i Roma og Konstantinopel og på Sicilia var det kirker viet til Fokas. I øst har han minnedagene 5., 6., 19. (dedikasjon) og 22. juli samt 22. desember. Han avbildes som gartner eller med sverd.

Den hellige biskop Fokas av Sinope (minnedag 14. juli) og den hellige Fokas av Antiokia (minnedag 5. mars), begge kalt martyrer, synes å være legendariske skikkelser som er utledet på ulike måter fra gartneren. 14. juli kan være festen for translasjonen av Fokas gartnerens relikvier til Vienne. Hans relikvier ser ut til å ha kommet til ulike steder via sjøfolk, og det er nok grunnen til at det har oppstått flere legendariske helgener av den ene historiske. Den hellige Johannes Krysostomos er kjent å ha holdt en preken da Fokas' relikvier kom til Sidon.

Kilder: Attwater/John, Attwater/Cumming, Farmer, Hallam, Butler (IX), Benedictines, Delaney, Eilertsen, Schauber/Schindler, KIR, CSO, Patron Saints SQPN - Kompilasjon og oversettelse: p. Per Einar Odden - Sist oppdatert: 2004-04-04 23:51

SOURCE : http://www.katolsk.no/biografier/historisk/fokasgart

Focas van Sinope (ook de Hovenier), Helenopontus (= aan de noordkust van het huidige Turkije); hovenier & martelaar; † 303.                      

Feest 5 maart & 23 juli & 22 september.

Focas woonde in Sinope aan de monding van de Istme die uitstroomt in de Zwarte Zee. Daar had hij een eenvoudig huisje bij de stadspoort. Hij leefde van wat zijn tuin hem opbracht. Hoe eenvoudig zijn woning ook was, hij bood vreemdelingen en reizigers een gastvrij onderdak. Hij was christen. Dat wist iedereen. Maar toen de vervolgingen uitbraken onder Diocletianus (284-305) en er een prijs werd gezet op het hoofd van iedere christen die werd aangebracht, was er ook in zijn geval wel een judas te vinden die bereid was hem voor goed geld bij de overheid te verraden. De autoriteiten hoorden over zijn voorbeeldig leven en besloten hem zonder enige vorm van proces of ophef om het leven te brengen. Hoe meer bekendheid aan de zaak gegeven zou worden, hoe meer onrust. Dus werden er twee ambtenaren op uit gestuurd met de bevoegdheid de arrestant onmiddellijk te doden.

Deze twee kwamen tegen de avond in Sinope aan. In een eenvoudige woning dichtbij de stadspoort vonden zij een gastvrij onthaal. De gastheer zette hun voor wat hij van zijn tuintje wist te halen, en begon een praatje. Onwetend van het feit dat zij met hun slachtoffer spraken, vertelden de twee vrijmoedig over het doel van hun komst en vroegen hun gastheer of hij eventueel aanwijzingen kon geven om de gehate verdachte te vinden. Focas beloofde het. Maar stelde voor dat ze eerst zouden genieten van een welverdiende nachtrust. Morgen zouden ze verder praten.

Die nacht dolf Focas een graf in zijn tuin. De volgende ochtend serveerde hij zijn gasten een stevig ontbijt, ging vóór hen staan en zei: “De man die jullie zoeken, heb ik gevonden. Hij staat hier vóór je. Ik ben het zelf. Doe wat je is opgedragen en dood mij.” Verbijsterd keken de beide ambtenaren elkaar aan. Ze konden deze aardige man toch niet ombrengen? Iemand bij wie ze nota bene gastvrijheid hadden genoten! Maar Focas bleef er bij hen op aandringen: “Als jullie je opdracht niet volbrengen, zul je er zelf last mee krijgen. Alstublieft, doe waarvoor u gekomen bent. Laat de verantwoordelijkheid voor deze misdaad neerkomen op het hoofd van degenen die er het bevel toe gaven.” Zo komt het dat Focas de marteldood stierf en – zoals Sint Asterius het zegt in een van zijn preken – zo rolde zijn kop onder hun zwaard.

Verering & Cultuur

Hij werd begraven in zijn eigen tuin. Die plek werd een bedevaartoord. En diende meteen als een baken voor de schepen op zee. Het verhaal gaat zelfs dat Focas te hulp schoot, als een schip door storm of zware golfslag in de moeilijkheden raakte. Dan verscheen de heilige zelf aan boord, nam het roer over, bemoeide zich met de zeilen en de tuigage, en loodste het vaartuig veilig de haven binnen.

In later eeuwen werd een gedeelte van zijn gebeente overgebracht naar Constantinopel, waar zijn reliek met veel plechtig vertoon in een indrukwekkende processie werd bijgezet in de hoofdkerk van de stad.

Patronaten

De heilige geschiedschrijver Gregorius van Tours († 594; feest 17 november) vertelt dat hij vooral beschermheilige was tegen slangenbeten. Hij had immers de goede strijd tegen de aloude slang, die het op het geluk en het welzijn van de mensheid had gemunt, overwonnen. Zodra iemand die een slangenbeet had opgelopen door de poort van zijn begraafplaats kwam, hield de werking van het gif op, al was hij intussen door het gif nog zo opgeblazen.

Hij is patroon van de hoveniers en - vooral in de oosters orthodoxe kerken – van schippers, zeelui en scheepvaart. In vroeger tijden werd zijn voorspraak ingeroepen tegen slangenbeten en vergiftiging.

Er is nog een Focas van Sinope: bisschop & martelaar; † 117; feest 14 juli.

Bronnen
[Adr.19--; GTM.1988; Gué.1880/11; Hlm.1994; Lin.1999; RR1.1640; Dries van den Akker s.j./2010.03.22]

© A. van den Akker s.j.

SOURCE : http://heiligen-3s.nl/heiligen/03/05/03-05-0303-focas.php

Voir aussi : http://www.francavillaangitola.com/sanfoca.htm

http://www.francavillaangitola.com/sanfoca/orsa.htm

Castiglione Marittimo, 2 agosto 2009 - Festeggiamenti in onore di San Foca - Ballo della "paschera" - video di Armido Cario.

https://oca.org/saints/lives/2012/09/22/102699-martyr-phocas-the-gardener-of-sinope