Church of Saint Porphyrius

The Church of Saint Porphyrius (Arabic: كنيسة القديس برفيريوس, romanized: Kanīsat al-Qadīs Burfīryūs) is a Greek Orthodox church in Gaza City, State of Palestine. It belongs to the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and is the oldest active church in the city and is said to be the third oldest church in the world.[1] Located in the Zaytun Quarter of the Old City of Gaza, it is named after the 5th-century bishop of Gaza, Saint Porphyrius, whose tomb is situated in the northeastern corner of the church.[2]

Church of Saint Porphyrius
كنيسة القديس برفيريوس
Saint Porphyrius Church in 2022
31.5033062°N 34.4620836°E / 31.5033062; 34.4620836
LocationGaza City
CountryState of Palestine
DenominationGreek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem
History
DedicationSaint Porphyrius
Consecrated1150
Architecture
Completed1150-1160
Specifications
Length22.9 meters (75 ft)
Width8.9 meters (29 ft)
Administration
ArchdioceseArchdiocese of Tiberias
Clergy
ArchbishopAlexios Moschonas

History

Byzantine, Crusader structure, evolution

A church was built on the site as early as AD 425,[3] but the construction of the current church was undertaken by the Crusaders in the 1150s or 1160s; they dedicated it to St Porphyrius. Records from the 15th century show that dedication of the church was also attested to the Virgin Mary.[4]

The church was renovated in 1856.[2] There are some cornices and bases that date back to the Crusader period, but much of the other portions are later additions.[5]

Hamas-Israel wars

In 2014, around 2,000 Palestinians fleeing Israeli bombings that had killed over 70 Palestinians took shelter in the Church of Saint Porphyrius complex. During the bombings, families slept in the corridors and rooms of the church and adjoining buildings, where they also had meals and medical care provided to them.[6][7]

The church complex was again used as refuge from Israeli bombardment during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war.[8]

2023 airstrike
Main article: Church of Saint Porphyrius airstrike

On 19 October 2023, four Israeli missiles struck nearby the campus where at least 400-500 Palestinians were taking shelter.[9][10][11] The airstrike was confirmed by church officials to have struck two halls providing shelter to civilians, causing the collapse of at least one building.[12][13] Between 16-18 Palestinians were killed, with an unknown number of victims still trapped under rubble.[14][15]

Israeli officials confirmed responsibility for the airstrike, which they claimed was targeting a nearby Hamas command center, and further stated that the incident was "under review."[16][17][18]

Architecture

The Church of Saint Porphyrius has a rectangular shape, ending with a half-domed roofed temple.[19] Its pavement 1.8 meters (5.9 ft) below ground level in its southern part, and 3 meters (9.8 ft) below ground level at the northern end, suggesting that the present building was built atop of an earlier church structure.[4] The church consists of a single aisle made up of two groin-vaulted bays, with a projecting semi-circular apse preceded by a barrel-vaulted presbytery. Internally, the building measures 22.9 meters (75 ft) by 8.9 meters (29 ft), including the apse. It has architectural and constructional similarities with the former Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist (currently the Great Mosque of Gaza).[4]

There are three entrances for the church: the western one has a portico with three marble columns supporting two pointed arches.[19] The bases of the marbles date from the Crusader era.[20] The church can also be entered from its façade or from a side door which opens onto a modern gallery, equipped with stairs for going down to the level of the pavement.[5] Its colossal walls are supported by horizontal marble and granite columns and pilasters.[2]

See also

References
  1. Makhoul, Talia Lakritz, Reem. "Photos show Gaza's Church of Saint Porphyrius, one of the oldest churches in the world, after the complex was damaged by Israeli airstrikes". Business Insider. Retrieved 2023-10-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. Dumper, 2007, p. 156.
  3. Cohen and Lewis, 1978, p. 119
  4. Pringle, 1993, p. 216
  5. Gaza – (Gaza, al -'Azzah) Archived 2011-07-23 at the Wayback Machine Studium Biblicum Franciscanum – Jerusalem. 2000-12-19.
  6. "Greek Orthodox church in Gaza shelters Muslims fleeing war". Reuters. 2014-07-22. Retrieved 2022-11-29.
  7. "Israel-Gaza conflict: Greek Orthodox church of St Porphyrios becomes a". The Independent. 2014-07-28. Retrieved 2022-11-29.
  8. "'War knows no religion': Gaza's oldest church shelters Muslims, Christians". Al Jazeera. 2023-10-16. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  9. "Orthodox church says it was hit by Israeli air strike in Gaza". Reuters. 2023-10-20.
  10. "'Dozens of Palestinian feared dead after Orthodox Church Complex in Gaza targeted'". Roya News. 2023-10-19.
  11. "'Blast Goes Off at Orthodox Church Campus in Gaza'". Wall Street Journal. 2023-10-19.
  12. "Historic church sheltering civilians struck in deadly Gaza City blast". The Washington Post. 2023-10-20.
  13. "Greek Orthodox church building collapses in Gaza due to 'Israeli airstrikes'". Roya News. 2023-10-19.
  14. "'Caritas Mourns Colleagues Death in Attack in Gaza". Caritas Internationalis. 2023-10-20.
  15. "Israel flattens Gaza district, hits Orthodox church as invasion looms". Reuters. 2023-10-20.
  16. "Israel bombs Greek Orthodox Gaza church sheltering displaced people". Al Jazeera. 2023-10-20.
  17. "Israel flattens Gaza district, hits Orthodox church as invasion looms". Reuters. 2023-10-20.
  18. "Israeli Airstrike Hits Greek Orthodox Church Compound in Gaza City". New York Times. 2023-10-20.,
  19. Travel in Gaza Archived 2013-08-23 at the Wayback Machine MidEastTravelling.
  20. Meyer, 1907, p.111

Bibliography
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