Diocese of Gaza

[2][3][4] In the early 4th century, the emperor Constantine endowed the town of Maiuma, which formerly had served as Gaza's harbour, with city rights and the status of an episcopal see.

[6] As an ardent supporter of Athanasius of Alexandria, he was deposed around the year 326 or 327,[7] but was later reinstated at the council of Serdica[8] while Quintianus, who in the meantime had usurped the episcopal see, was excommunicated.

As Gaza was still fairly pagan, Asclepias constructed an oratory, later referred to as "Old Church", 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) to the west of the city.

His successor Irenaeus seems to have been able to erect a small church in the city, attended the council of Antioch in 363 and is commemorated as a saint.

From the orations of Choricius of Gaza, a fellow student at the school, some details of Marcianus' life are known, as is some information about the obligations of bishops.

[12] Quite exceptionally, Marcianus also headed the school for a time, possibly until a "full-time professor" could be found to fill the position.

[13] Marcianus commissioned churches, walls, stoas and bathhouses, defended the citizens from being exploited by soldiers, operated social welfare for the benefit of the poor and went to Constantinople as diplomatic representative of his town.

He never spent a single day in the city of Gaza, absenting himself from his diocese in contravention of church law.