THE ORTHODOX GREEK CHURCH IN GAZA
On April 17, 1912, an opportunity was afforded me of a lengthy
conversation with the Archimandrite Antonius, who was educated at the
convent of the Cross, Jerusalem, and the Greek College, Halki, Sea of
Marmora. He has been in charge of the Orthodox Syrian congregation at
Gaza during the last seven years.
I inquired as to the exact spot where St. Hilarion, the first hermit
of Palestine, was buried. It seems that both Christians and Muslims
reverence his grave at Deir-el-Belah (the ancient Ed-Dârûm), two hours'
ride south of Gaza, where the mosque Jami el-Khidr stands on the site
of an old chapel.
In the fourth century there were several hermits at Thabatha, one and
a half hours' ride to the south of Gaza. During the fifth century the
existence of three ancient city churches is recorded: Eudoxiana, Irene,
and the Church of the Holy Apostles on the south. The two new churches
were St. Sergius and St. Stephen the Protomartyr.
The Archimandrite stated that the dedication of his church was
associated with the name of St. Porphyrius, and was built in A.D.
443. The grave of this early Gaza prelate is within the church, which
was restored in 1866. There is an ancient circular marble font for
immersion in the north-west of the nave.
The Patriarch Damianus on one occasion visited Gaza, but Sophronius,
its titular Bishop, has never entered the city.
A native Arabic-speaking priest is associated with the Archimandrite.
The services are rendered in Greek, although the Epistles and Gospels
are said in Arabic. The whole of the congregation of one thousand
"Orthodox" are only familiar with Arabic. The two Orthodox schools
contain ninety boys and twenty-five girls. A friendly feeling exists
between these Orthodox Christians and Muslims.