He spent his youth with wealthy parents in Thessaloniki, and then withdrew to the Egyptian desert where he became a monk. After five years, he visited the Holy Land and remained to practice asceticism in a cave near Jerusalem. There he fell ill with his feet, so he crawled to attend God's services. One night, the Lord Himself appeared to him and healed him. With a heavy heart, he accepted the position of bishop in Gaza. In this city, he found only 280 Christians. All the rest were idolaters, and fanatical ones at that. After much effort, suffering, and tearful prayers to God, Bishop Porphyry lived to see Gaza converted to the Christian faith. He peacefully surrendered his soul to the Lord Jesus Christ in 421. He was a miracle worker both during his lifetime and after his death. His relics are in Gaza.

Holy Martyr John the Theologian. Easter Lent.