Porphyry the Late
March 11, Monday
The Feast of Porphyry the Late (or Porphyry the Faster) is celebrated on February 27, old style (March 11, new style) in the Orthodox Church. It is dedicated to Saint Porphyry, who was the Bishop of Gaza (modern-day Gaz in Turkey) and lived in the 4th-5th centuries.The essence of the holiday
The Feast of Porphyry the Late is celebrated as the saint's memorial day and includes the following aspects:
Prayers and services. On this day, special services dedicated to Saint Porphyry are held in churches, they pray for health, forgiveness of sins and strengthening of the spirit. It is important that in the Orthodox tradition, Porphyry is associated with asceticism and strict observance of fasting.
The Feast of Ascetics. Saint Porphyry's Day is also a reminder of the value of asceticism, self-discipline and humility. This is a day for those who seek to follow the example of the saint in their efforts to spiritually improve themselves.
Traditions. Among the people, Porphyry's day is traditionally associated with the beginning of spring and with certain agricultural work, such as sowing and gardening. On this day, people also often turned to the saints with prayers for a good harvest and health.