Holy gardener and holy bishop: The images and cult of holy martyrs named Phokas

Abstract

Holy martyrs by the name of Phokas, a gardener and a bishop, both from Sinope, were not frequently portrayed in the Eastern Christian world. They were sometimes depicted with objects relating them to seafaring, and the holy bishop in particular was shown holding a paddle. The source of such images can be traced to the writings devoted to the martyrs. The issue of why the holy bishop was depicted mainly in the Byzantine empire and the Russian principality is also discussed.