Commemorated May 4.
a.d. 325. Gaza was represented by a Bishop at the Council of Nicæa. He is described as a Bishop "of the Churches round Gaza."
a.d. 341. Asclepas.[21] His name occurs in the Minutes of the First Œcumenical Council. He succeeded Sylvanus, but was deposed at a Council of Antioch, and reinstated at a Council of Sardica.
He suffered many persecutions for the "Orthodox" faith.
a.d. 341. Quintianus, an Arian usurper of the See of Asclepas.
a.d. 363. Irenæus (a.d. 363-393) was present at the Council of Antioch a.d. 363. He built the Church of St. Irene in Gaza. The first church built in Gaza itself was the work of St. Irenæus, who died c. a.d. 393, and whose feast is December 16.
a.d. 393. Aeneias succeeded Irenæus. His episcopate lasted for a very short period.
a.d. 395. Porphyrius, the true restorer of Christianity in Gaza. His life was written by his trusty deacon, Marcus. The text was published at Leipsig in 1895. Porphyrius was born in Thessalonica, c. a.d. 347, of a good family. After a Presbyterate of three years, in a.d. 395 he was unwillingly consecrated Bishop of Gaza by John of Cæsarea.
"Porphyry sent Marcus to Constantinople, and obtained from the Emperor a Decree closing the Temples of Gaza; Cynegius came to the city with Christian police from Ascalon; the temples were closed, and the consultation of their oracles was forbidden. Idolatry did not cease, however; the oracles were still consulted, though surreptitiously, for permitting which Cynegius was said to have received a large amount of gold. The Christians were still persecuted, and Porphyrius therefore determined on further measures. He went to Cæsarea, consulted with the Archbishop John, and both of them set out for Constantinople in a.d. 401. Through the offices of Amantius, the Chamberlain, they were presented to the Empress Eudoxia. They prophesied for her the birth of a son; and the Empress vowed a church for Gaza, if the prophecy should be fulfilled. The promised son, Theodosius the younger, was born; and, true to her word, Eudoxia interceded with the Emperor for a rescript closing the Gazæan temples. For reasons of State, the Emperor hesitated to grant the request: 'though the city is idolatrous, it is peaceful and pays its taxes regularly. If it is disturbed, it is to be feared that its inhabitants would desert it, and its trade be ruined.' He therefore suggested mild means for winning the city to Christianity. The rescript was obtained from the Emperor at the baptism of his infant son, being issued as the first decree of the new prince. Before the Bishops left Constantinople, Eudoxia provided them with funds for building a church and a hospice in Gaza; and the Emperor added gifts on his own accounts."[22]