Holy Hieromartyr Silvanus, Bishop of Gaza, and the 40 Martyrs with Him (311)

The holy Hieromartyr Silvanus, Bishop of Gaza (+312), was a soldier in the world. Wishing to serve the heavenly King, he was ordained first priest and then made Bishop of Gaza. Saint Silvanus converted many pagans to the law of Christ. During the persecution of Diocletian the saint was sent to hard labour in the copper mines. This labour wore the bishop out, but, unbroken in spirit, he preached Christ tirelessly. This increased the pagans’ hatred of him. They beheaded the holy bishop and the forty Christians he had converted.