E01961: Asterius of Amasea, in his Homily IX, On *Phokas (martyr of Sinope, S00052), delivered during a service celebrated at a shrine in Amaseia/Amasea (northern Asia Minor) with relics of Phokas and other martyrs, recounts Phokas’ martyrdom, refers to his shrines, relics, and miracles, and claims that he is the most famous of all martyrs. Written in Greek in Amaseia/Amasea (northern Asia Minor), in the late 4th or early 5th c..

Asterius of Amasea, Homily IX, On Phōkas (CPG 3260.1, BHG 1538-1540b)

1. The commemoration of saints is a useful and rich source of education for Christians, because it provides practical examples of virtue and piety.

2. Like those who visit the oak of Mamre and call to mind the story of Abraham, Sarah and their sons, the author recollects the story of Phokas, as he stands at his sanctuary.

2. […] (2.)  οὕτως κἀγὼ σήμερον τὸν τίμιον σηκὸν τοῦ τρισμακαρίου Φωκᾶ καταλαβὼν ἐκ τοῦ τόπου πληροῦμαι τῆς μνήμης πάντων ὁμοῦ τῶν ἐπ’ αὐτῷ λεγομένων διηγημάτων· βλέπω τὸν κηπουρὸν τὸ ἐπιτήδευμα, τὸν ἄπλαστον τὴν ψυχήν, τὸν φιλόξενον, τὸν τῆς παραλίας ἐξαίρετον, τὸν τῆς μεσογείου εὐεργέτην, τῶν ἁγίων τὸν ἅγιον καὶ τῶν δεδοξασμένων διὰ Χριστὸν ἐνδοξότερον.

3. (1.) Ἱερὸς μὲν γὰρ καὶ θεσπέσιος ἅπας ὁ τῶν γενναίων μαρτύρων κατάλογος, πάθει τὴν ὑπὲρ πάθους ἀποδοὺς χάριν, αἵματι δὲ τὴν ὑπὲρ αἵματος τῷ Σωτῆρι τῶν ὅλων ἀμοιβὴν ἐκπληρώσας. Πλὴν ἐν αὐτοῖς τούτοις οὐ μία τῶν πάντων ἡ δόξα, οὐδὲ πρὸς ἓν μέτρον ἴσα τὰ γέρα τοῖς ὅλοις ἀποκεκλήρωνται, ἀλλὰ τὸ πρῶτον καὶ δεύτερον οὐδὲ ὁ τῶν ἁγίων ἐκφεύγει κατάλογος. Αἴτιον δὲ οἶμαι τούτου τὸ λίαν ἀπηκριβώμενον τοῦ κριτοῦ καὶ ἀπρόσκλιτον. (2.) Ἐφορᾷ γὰρ καὶ τιμωριῶν μεγέθη καὶ καρτερίας ἐνστάσεις, καὶ βασανίζων τὸ ἀγώνισμα τὰς πρὸς ἀξίαν ἀμοιβὰς διανέμει τοῖς ἀθληταῖς. Καὶ παράδοξον οὐδαμῶς εἰ παρὰ Θεοῦ οὕτως τιμᾶται τὸ δίκαιον, ὁπότε καὶ παρ’ ἡμῖν στρατηγοὶ καὶ ἀγωνοθέται οὐκ ἴσοι γίνονται τοῖς ἀριστεῦσιν ἢ τοῖς ἀγωνισταῖς, ἀλλὰ δὴ ἑκάστῳ κατὰ τὸ μέτρον τοῦ κατορθώματος τὰς δωρεὰς ἀναλογούσας ἐπιφημίζουσιν.

4. (1.) Ταῦτα δὲ διῆλθον, ἵνα δείξω ὡς ὁ σήμερον ἡμῖν παρασχὼν τοῦ συλλόγου τὴν ἀφορμὴν τῶν ἑταίρων καὶ συναγωνιστῶν ἐστι περιφανέστερος. Οἱ μὲν γὰρ ἄλλοι οὐ πάντες παρὰ πᾶσι γνωρίζονται, οὐδὲ βεβοημένην ἔχουσι τὴν ἀνδραγαθίαν· Φωκᾶν δὲ οὐκ ἔστιν ὃς ἀγνοεῖ· ἀλλ’ ὥσπερ ἡ ἀκτὶς τοῦ ἡλίου πᾶσιν ὀφθαλμοῖς ἐφήπλωται, οὕτως καὶ ἡ τοῦ μάρτυρος τούτου φήμη πᾶσαν ἀκοὴν περιήχησε· καὶ ἵνα συνελὼν εἴπω, ὅσοι τὸν Δεσπότην ἐγνώρισαν Χριστόν, οὗτοι καὶ τὸν πιστὸν δοῦλον ἐγνώρισαν· μᾶλλον δέ, εἰ δοκεῖ, τῶν κοινῶν πρὸς τοὺς ἄλλους ἐγκωμίων ἀφέμενος τὰ ἐξαίρετα τοῦ μάρτυρος διηγήματα ὑμῖν τοῖς φιλομάρτυσι διηγήσομαι.


‘2 […] (2.) And so have I also come to the venerable shrine of the thrice blessed Phōkas today, and am filled by the place with the memory of all the stories recounted about him. I can see the man who was a gardener by profession, an uneducated soul and hospitable, distinguished in the coastal areas, and a benefactor of the inlands, the holiest of holy men, and most glorious of all those glorified for the sake of Christ.

3. Because indeed all the host of the valiant martyrs is hallowed and admirable, as to the Saviour of All they have returned the favour of His suffering by their own suffering, and have repaid Him for His blood by their own blood. Yet even among them, glory is not one and the same for all, neither have prizes been allotted to all equally and by the same measure: for even the host of the saints cannot avoid the existence of a first and a second. I believe that the reason for that is the utmost precision and impartiality of the Judge: for He observes the magnitude of tortures, the endurance in perseverance and, after a minute examination of the struggle, He distributes to the athletes rewards according to their valour. And it is not at all strange that justice is held in such honour by God, since, even among us, not all champions and contestants become generals and presidents of games, but people honour each one of them with rewards according to the measure of their achievement.

4. I have said these things in order to demonstrate that the man who provided the reason for today’s gathering of ours is more prominent than his companions and fellow contestants, because not all the others are known to everyone, nor is their achievement renowned. But there is no person who ignores Phōkas. Just like a beam of the sun reaching the eyes of all, the fame of this martyr has rung in every ear. Briefly, all those who have known the Lord Christ have also known this faithful servant. Accordingly, if I may, I shall refrain from a generic praise for all the rest, and shall recount the exceptional stories of this martyr to you, the martyr-loving people.’

5. Phōkas is from the neighbouring city of Sinōpē, a gardener living in a poor house outside the gate, by the highway on the isthmus of Sinōpē. He offers hospitality to all strangers.

6. A great persecution breaks out, and, although a poor and humble man, Phōkas is denounced as a Christian. He confesses his faith openly when asked.

7. Persecutors arrive at the town seeking out Phōkas. Without knowing, they stay at his house and ask him to help them find Phōkas.

8. Phōkas promises to help. He digs his own grave and gives himself up to the persecutors. He persuades them to kill him, and is decapitated.

9. His shrine in Sinope is visited by crowds of the faithful seeking healing. His relics are distributed to many places including the shrine where the speaker stands. (see $E01963)

10. The head of Phōkas is in Rome, where it is honoured no less than Peter and Paul. (see $E01963)

11. Sailors all over the world receive his miraculous help. They have the custom of keeping some of their daily food for almsgiving in honour of Phōkas. (see $E01963)

12. The martyr is revered also by the emperors who dedicate gifts to his shrine. Also the barbarian kings from the north coast of the Black Sea revere him. One of them has dedicated a very ornate crown and cuirass. (see $E01963)

13. Several miracles occur, by dream visions and healings. One saint alone performs miracles that several pagan deities are supposed to perform: his oracles are more reliable than those of pagan oracles and Pythia; his healings are superior to those of Asklepios; he protects sailors better than the Dioscuri. (see $E01963)

Text: Datema 1970.
Summary and translation: E. Rizos.