Services were held in the Gaza Strip to honor Saint Porphyrius of Gaza, one of the region’s earliest Christian bishops, at the ancient Church of Saint Porphyrius — the oldest functioning Christian temple in the city and a parish of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

The celebrations took place with the blessing of Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem. The Divine Liturgy was led by Archbishop Alexios of Tiberias, who in recent years has coordinated humanitarian aid for people sheltering on the church grounds. The information was reported by the website of the Jerusalem Church.

In Orthodox Christian tradition, Saint Porphyrius of Gaza (347–420), a native of Thessaloniki, is revered as a missionary who helped establish Christianity in Gaza. In the late fourth century he was ordained bishop of the city and led the local Christian community at a time when strong pagan traditions still existed in the region.

Today the Church of Saint Porphyrius remains one of the few centers of Christian life in the Gaza Strip, where Christians represent a small religious minority. In recent years the church has also become an important humanitarian refuge. During the recent three-year war, around 300 people — both Christians and Muslims — found shelter within its compound.

Clergy organized temporary accommodation, food distribution and other assistance for those displaced by the fighting. According to the patriarchate, many people spent extended periods within the monastery complex while seeking safety from hostilities.

The Church of Saint Porphyrius is located in Gaza’s historic quarter and is closely associated with the bishop whose relics rest on its grounds. The current structure was built by Crusaders in the 12th century on the site of an earlier Christian sanctuary.

Throughout periods of conflict in the Middle East, the church has repeatedly served as a refuge for civilians. Despite damage in surrounding areas and ongoing bombardments, the temple continues to operate and remains a symbol of the ancient Christian community’s presence in Gaza.