Silvanus of Gaza

Holy Hieromartyr Silvanus of Gaza was a soldier, then a priest and bishop of Gaza, and he was beheaded in 311 for preaching Christ, together with forty soldiers whom he had brought to the faith.

He was born in the neighbourhood of the city of Gaza. In the world he was a soldier; then he received the priesthood and later was ordained bishop of Gaza. Saint Silvanus brought many pagans to faith in Christ. In the persecution of Emperor Diocletian he was brought to trial at Caesarea, subjected to torture, which he bore manfully, and was sentenced to hard labour in the copper mines of Phaeno in Palestine. At this labour the bishop reached deadly exhaustion, but, always cheerful in spirit, he did not cease to proclaim Christ to those around him. This aroused the hatred of the pagans, who cut off his head. The same death was received with him by forty other holy martyr soldiers, who had believed in Christ at the bishop's word. Their death took place in the year 311.

The saint is commemorated on 27 October, in the new style.