September 22: Saint Phokas is celebratedtranslated

The Church today honors the memory of the holy martyrs Isaac and Martin, Phokas the gardener and Hieromartyr Phokas Sinopis. Phokas diligently cultivated his garden and lived on the little income he received from the sale of goods. He practiced oligarchy and self-sufficiency in his life, so that he also helped the poor. At the same time, they grew spiritually by studying the Gospel.

He evaluated his soul as a garden and tried to cultivate it constantly, so that it would not be filled with spiritual thorns. He tried to do the same with the Christians who came to him for spiritual benefit. With humble prayers he also attracted unbelievers to the teaching in Christ.

Naturally, for all his spiritual activity, the gardener Agios Fokas was denounced and sentenced to martyrdom, which he accepted with resurgent courage.

The homonym Saint Fokas from Sinope on the Black Sea, his parents passed on to him the flame of their pure Faith and their warm piety. Phokas, from a young child, indulged himself with zeal in reading the Scriptures. He was distinguished for his love for God and for people. Asceticism in spiritual oligarchy and self-sufficiency

He had…