.jpg)
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
(Saint) Martyr (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 Saints, 1921. 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/
Also
known as
Phocas of Hovenier
Phocas of Sinope
Phocas the Martyr
Foca…
Focas…
Fokas…
14 July
(translation of relics)
5 March on
some calendars when listed as Phocas of Antioch
22
September on some calendars
Profile
Innkeeper. Gardener. Martyr.
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.
beheaded c.303 in
Sinope, Pontus (in modern Turkey)
Additional
Information
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
videos
sitios
en español
Martirologio Romano, 2001 edición
fonti
in italiano
nettsteder
i norsk
websites
in nederlandse
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 Saints, 1910. 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 Saints, 1891. 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/
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
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.
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
