FOCA, saint. - Martyred, probably under Dioeleziano, at Sinope in Pontus, and commemorated by s. Gregorio Nazianzeno and by Bishop Asterio. According to the latter, F., a gardener by trade, prompted by his hospitality received his own persecutors and, after refreshing them, revealed himself to them and asked to be killed. Since ancient times F. has been invoked as protector by sailors. Attempts to identify F. with the god Fokos, with the Nordic spirit Klabautermann, or with the god Priapo, all patrons of seafaring people, must be rejected. The feast of s. F. is on 22 Sept.
BISL.: Acta SS. Septentr. Parigi-Roma 1867, pp. 203-99;
Ch. van de Vorst, St Phokas, in Anal. Bolland., 20 (1911), pp.
252-65; H. Delchaye, Hagiographie napolitaine, ibid., 27 (1939),
pp. 33-34. Ignazio Ortiz de Urbina
FOLKLORE. - The Saint is venerated as patron of the city of Francavilla in Calabria. His legend inspired a popular narrative song in hendecasyllables, of unquestionable Calabrian origin, in which the principal episodes in the life of this warrior Saint, from his conversion to the
Ibid. Almarri