Phocas the Gardener

Phocas, sometimes referred to as Phocas the Gardener, is a figure venerated as a martyr and saint in both the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches. The historical accounts of his life and legend may be a composite, potentially blending the narratives of three different men named Phocas: one from Antioch, Phocas the Gardener, and Phocas, Bishop of Sinope.

Life and Martyrdom

According to Catholic tradition, Phocas was a gardener who resided in Sinope, a city on the Black Sea. He is said to have used the produce from his garden to sustain the poor and offer support to Christians who were being persecuted. During the intense persecutions initiated by Emperor Diocletian, Phocas extended hospitality to the very soldiers who had been dispatched to execute him. Unaware that their intended victim was their host, the soldiers accepted his kindness. Phocas even offered to assist them in finding the person they sought.

As the soldiers slept, Phocas secretly dug his own grave and offered prayers. He also made arrangements for his possessions to be distributed to the needy after his death. In the morning, when the soldiers awoke, Phocas revealed his true identity. The soldiers expressed hesitation and offered to report to their commander that their search for the intended victim had been unsuccessful, thereby sparing Phocas. However, Phocas refused this offer and willingly exposed his neck, leading to his beheading. He was subsequently buried in the grave he had prepared for himself.

Veneration and Patronage

Phocas is mentioned in the writings of Asterius of Amasia, who lived around the year 400. The name Phocas is believed to derive from the Greek word "phoke," meaning "seal." This etymological connection may explain his association with sailors and mariners. A traditional sailors' custom involved setting aside a portion of every meal in honor of Phocas; this was known as "the portion of St. Phocas." The cost of this portion was paid by one of the voyagers, and the money was entrusted to the captain. Upon the ship's arrival in port, these funds were distributed among the poor as an act of thanksgiving for a safe voyage, in gratitude to their benefactor.

This practice is noted by Laurentius Surius and has been compared to similar maritime traditions, such as the Baltic Sea custom of offering food to an invisible sprite called the Klabautermann. The veneration of Phocas the Gardener is also acknowledged in modern literature, with a mention in W. H. Auden's poem "Horae Canonicae."