The saint
From the stage to the martyr's crown
Church tradition tells that Porphyrius was an actor in the time of the emperor Julian.
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The actor
Porphyrius made people laugh on the stage and was known for his gift for acting and mimicry.
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The water
In one performance he set out to mock Christian baptism and stepped into the water before the crowd. What began as an act became real: grace touched his heart, and he came out of the water confessing his faith in Christ.
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The crown
He held to his faith before the emperor and did not turn back, and so received the crown of martyrdom. We take him as the patron of our family: his joy was no longer a mask, it had become his life.
