Saint Phocas was a gardener who provided a hospice for travellers at Sinope by the Black Sea. One day soldiers arrived at his hospice and asked how to find a Christian called Phocas, as they had orders to kill him. Phocas asked them to stay the night, and in the morning revealed himself to them. The soldiers killed Phocas, and buried him in the grave that he had dug in his garden during the night.
St. Phocas is the patron saint of gardeners and sailors. (Allegedly, he became the Patron Saint of sailors because "phoc" is similar to the Breton word for seal.)
His feast day is September 22, or July 23.
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Last updated: 08-26-2005 10:27:08
