Hieromartyr Phocas, Bishop of Sinope

Life

From his youth he labored in all Christian virtues. As bishop in his birthplace, the city of Sinope on the shore of the Black Sea, by his example and divine words he strengthened the faithful in the faith and converted to the true faith many idolaters. The hardened pagans were filled with anger against holy Phocas. And the Lord foreshadowed to Phocas his martyric end through a vision. Namely, Phocas saw a bright dove descend from heaven bearing in its beak a beautiful wreath of flowers, and set the wreath upon his head. And Phocas heard a voice from the dove: "Your cup is filled, and you must drink it!" From this vision the servant of God knew that he must soon suffer for Christ. And he was not afraid, but with thanksgiving to God prepared himself for his torments. Soon after this a certain governor named Africanus took Phocas for torture, imposed cruel torments upon him, beat and wounded his entire body, and after imprisonment cast him into boiling water, in which this valiant soldier of Christ ended his earthly life and departed to the joy of his Lord. He suffered in the time of Emperor Trajan.

From the Hymn of Praise

Nineveh, Nineveh, all groaning with sin,So God sends Jonah, to heal Nineveh.Jonah would not, no, he flees from God!O where will you go, Jonah, to escape the Most High?