On August 4, according to the new style, the Christian Church celebrates the anniversary of the transfer of the relics of the Hieromartyr Phocas from Sinop to Constantinople. This event dates from 403 or 404 and became an important milestone in the spiritual life of the early Byzantine capital.
The bishop of Sinop was martyred in 117 under the emperor Trajan. According to hagiographic sources, the future saint was born in the family of Pamphilus and Mary. From a young age, he showed the gift of healing, and as an adult, he headed the local Christian community. The preaching of Phocas converted many pagans to a new faith.
The ruler Africanus, fulfilling the decree of persecution, demanded that the bishop renounce Christ. When he refused, he subjected the prisoner to torture. The saint was tied to a tree and tortured, put on red-hot iron, however, according to eyewitnesses, the metal under it cooled, and the sufferer himself remained calm. The execution was carried out in a hot bath, where the saint died during prayer.
Almost three centuries later, the remains of the martyr were transported to Constantinople. The capital of the empire gained relics that were revered as a powerful protection for the citizens. The name of St. Phocas is associated with helping with fires and saving drowning people.
The solemnity of the moment is emphasized by the fact that in the VI century St. John Chrysostom composed a hymn glorifying the transfer of relics to the main city of Byzantium. Today, the day of commemoration of this event falls on August 4.
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