E01962: The Greek Life of *Phōkas (martyr of Sinope, S00052), of the 6th c. or later, recounts the birth and a series of miracles performed by the saint during his childhood; he is described as a healer, exorcist, and effective help for boats in danger. Probably written in Pontus (northern Asia Minor).

Life of *Phōkas (BHG 1535y, 1535z)

Summary

First Version (BHG 1535y)

1. In the twenty-fifth year after the life of Christ, a certain Pamphilos from Pontus marries Makaria from Amaseia/Amasea and settles with her in Herakleia/Heraclea Pontica. They have a son, born about the time of Christ’s Birth, and name him Phōkas. They raise him diligently, hoping to be tended by him when he grows up.

2. At the age of five, they send him to school, in order to be trained as a seaman. Phōkas pays little attention to his studies, and spends his time fasting by the sea.

3-4. When Phōkas is ten years old, an Alexandrian ship calls at the town, and spends the winter there. The shipowner Theon wishes to get the ship back to sea, and gathers 1500 people for the purpose. Yet after several attempts, they fail to move it, and some of them die, struck by an evil spirit. In a dream, Theon is instructed to look for Phōkas in the city.

5. The townfolk take him to the house of Pamphilos, where he implores Phōkas, just arrived from school, to help him. Phōkas goes happily to the ship, where the bodies of the dead men still lie.

6. As he approaches, the demon starts shouting that Phōkas will condemn him to the eternal hell. Asked about his name, by Phōkas, the demon confesses to being Hercules. He used to live at Theon’s house, but was driven away by the ascetic Theodore, and moved to his boat. He killed Theon’s sons, because they had slept with a certain female friend of his.

7. Phōkas orders the demon to depart, and the latter starts shaking the ship. The saint prays and seals the whole ship from prow to poop with the cross. The demon goes into the sea, threatening to return, but Phōkas sends him to hell forever.

8. The seamen ask Phōkas to stay with them during the night. He has dinner with them and sleeps on the prow of the boat. When another crowd comes looking for him, a voice from heaven announces that Phōkas has been taken by an angel to Amaseia, in order to save a ship that had hit on rocks near the isle of Klonidis.

9. Phōkas arrives at the troubled ship and prays for its salvation. A possessed young man recognises him, but Phōkas silences him. He wakes the seamen and they get on small boats, by which they return the ship to the sea. The shipowner falls at the saint’s feet and gives him one hundred gold pieces for the poor, and a horse.

10. The saint arrives on horseback at the city, and distributes the gold to the poor. The same demon he had driven out of the ship follows the saint. Phōkas sends him to hell, but, while he leaves, he kills a young man. Phōkas raises him, and the townfolk bring him all those suffering for him to heal.

11. Phōkas’ parents arrive, and find him in the middle of the crowd exorcising possessed people. His mother embraces him, while his father, hearing his voice, falls down, as if dead. Phōkas raises and embraces him too. Phōkas stays for several days at Amaseia, tending the poor and healing the sick and the possessed. The spirits confess having been driven out by Phōkas.

12. One day, a ship from Macedonia coming to Pontus, is caught by a storm, and is in extreme danger. Seeing this from the land, the people ask Phōkas to help. He takes two young men and a boat and approaches the ship. He drops his cloak onto the ship, and calms the sea.

13. Phōkas lives like this until the age of twenty. He lives a holy life, helping people both on land and sea, and becomes famous throughout the world. One day, as he enters a church, a dove comes and places a wreath on his head, and announces to him that the time has come for him to drink his chalice. From that point on, he expects only martyrdom.


Second Version (BHG 1535z)

1. In the twenty-fifth year after the ascension of Christ, a certain shipwright and shipowner Pamphilos from Pontus, a noble man of foreign descent, comes to Sinōpe and marries Maria, with whom he has a son, Phōkas. They raise him diligently, hoping to be tended by him when he grows up.

2. At the age of ten, they send him to school, in order to be trained as a shipwright. Phōkas pays little attention to his study, and spends his time fasting by the sea. His parents look for him, but he replies that they should not worry about him.

[lacuna in the text corresponding to paragraphs 3-6 of the previous version]

6. As he approaches, the demon starts shouting that Phōkas will condemn him to the eternal hell. Asked about his name by Phōkas, the demon confesses to being the invincible Hercules. He used to live at the house, but was driven away by the ascetic Theodoros, and moved to his boat. He killed three young men, because they had slept with a certain female friend of his.

7. Phōkas orders the demon to depart, and the latter starts shaking the ship. The saint prays and seals the whole ship from prow to poop with the cross. The demon goes into the sea, threatening to return, but Phōkas sends him to hell forever.

8. An angel takes Phōkas to Amisos. When a crowd comes looking for him, a voice from heaven announces that Phokas has been taken by an angel to Amisos, in order to save a ship that had hit on rocks near the isle of Kronis.

9. Phokas arrives at the troubled ship and prays for its salvation. A possessed young man recognises him, but Phokas silences him. He wakes the seamen and they get on small boats, by which they return the ship to the sea. The shipowner falls at the saint’s feet and gives him one hundred gold pieces for the poor, and a horse.

10. The saint arrives on horseback at Amaseia, and distributes the gold to the poor people sitting by the city gate. The possessed man he had silenced on the ship follows the saint. Phokas asks his name and he replies that he is the invincible Hērōn. Phokas exorcises the demon, who leaves the young man half-dead. The saint raises him, and the townfolk bring all those suffering for him to heal.

11. Phokas’ parents arrive, and find him in the middle of the crowd exorcising possessed people. His mother embraces him, while his father, hearing his voice, falls down, as if dead. Phokas raises and embraces him too. Phokas stays for several days at Amaseia, tending the poor and healing the sick and the possessed. [The text breaks here]