Vitalis of Gaza
Saint Vitalis of Gaza (died c. 625 AD) was a hermit venerated as a saint in the Oriental Orthodox Church, Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church. He is the patron saint of prostitutes and day-laborers.
Vitalis of Gaza | |
|---|---|
 Saint-Vitalis Orthodox Iconography | |
| Hermit | |
| Born | Gaza, Palestine |
| Died | c. 625 AD Alexandria, Egypt |
| Venerated in | |
| Feast |
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| Patronage | prostitutes, day-laborers |
Life
A monk of Gaza, Vitalis travelled to the city of Alexandria at the age of sixty. His legend states that after obtaining the name and address of every prostitute in the city, he hired himself out as a day laborer, and took his wage to one of these women at the end of the day. He would hire the woman for the night and, according to legend, spend the night praying for her or preaching to her.[1][2]
This practice was condoned by the Church, and many prostitutes in the city abandoned their profession and became wives and mothers.
Death and veneration
Vitalis was killed when a man, misunderstanding the nature of the monk's visit to a brothel, struck him on the head. Vitalis managed to return to his hut where he died. Apparently during his burial, former prostitutes came out to explain his works before processing with candles and lanterns as his body was brought to the grave.[3]
In Eastern Churches, his feast days are on January 11 and April 22, while the Catholic Church only celebrates his feast on January 11.[4]
References
- Kelly, Sean; Rogers, Rosemary (2011-01-12). Saints Preserve Us!: Everything You Need to Know About Every Saint You'll Ever Need. Random House Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-307-78026-3.
- Dalarun, Jacques (2006). Robert of Arbrissel: Sex, Sin, and Salvation in the Middle Ages. CUA Press. ISBN 978-0-8132-1439-9.
- Churchill, Leigh, The Birth of Europe, Paternoster Press, p. 180, 2001.
- Morgan, Giles (2016-09-22). Saints: A History of Sainthood from Ancient Times to the Modern Day. Oldcastle Books. ISBN 978-1-84344-969-0.