A.D. 308.--St. Sylvanus, Bishop of Gaza, and others were martyred on May 4, during the persecution of Maximianus I. A.D. 330.--Asclepas, Bishop of Gaza, who was accused of being "secretly tainted with Arianism," was deserted by the majority of the devout clergy and laity, and deposed, A.D. 341, but afterwards he received full acquittal. Asclepas was present at the first Œcumenical Council of Nicæa, A.D. 325. _c._ A.D. 335.--Constantine the Great rewarded the inhabitants of Mayoumas, the port of Gaza, for their unanimous adoption of Christianity, by erecting their town into "the city of Constantia" (Κωνστάντεια). It seems that this emperor, finding the inland city authorities obdurately pagan, gave a separate Constitution to its sea-town, but Julian (A.D. 361-363) took these privileges away. A.D. 361.--At Mayoumas, the port of Gaza, the whole population was enthusiastically devoted to the Christian Faith, whereas Gaza was remarkable for its intense hatred. Julian the Apostate's accession, A.D. 361, was the signal for an intensified persecution. He made Constantia again tributary to Gaza, but on his death its independence was restored. A.D. 386.--St. Jerome and St. Paula, as early Christian pilgrims, after travelling among the Egyptian hermits, visited Gaza before returning to Bethlehem. _c._ A.D. 401.--Eight heathen temples were destroyed through the influence of the Empress Eudoxia. As late as the fourth century an idol named Marnas was worshipped in the city. In the Roman Imperial period commencing 27 B.C., the chief deity of the city was Marnas, Lord of heaven and sun and moon, as his name (מר = Lord) implies. He was originally a Shemitic deity, being, however, more or less disguised in a Greek garment. A.D. 406.--On Easter Day St. Porphyrius consecrated the Church of Gaza, named after the Empress Eudoxia. St. Porphyrius, a Greek ecclesiastic, after living five years as a hermit in the Thebaid of Egypt, went with his disciple Marcus to Jerusalem, and finally became Bishop of Gaza. (For further particulars about St. Porphyrius, see Chapter VII.) A.D. 541.--At the Council of Gaza, Pelagius (the first Pope of that name, A.D. 555-560) then a deacon, and Roman Legate at Constantinople, was sent by order of the Emperor Justinian I (the Great) with letters, ordering the deposition of Paul,[14] the twenty-ninth Patriarch of Alexandria, which was accordingly carried out. This local Council was attended by Ephraim, Patriarch of Antioch, Peter, Patriarch of Jerusalem, the Metropolitan of Ephesus, and some other Prelates. Zoilus succeeded Paul in the Throne of St. Mark. The story of the fall of Paul is involved in much confusion. He was consecrated by St. Menas, Patriarch of Constantinople, this being the first instance of an Alexandrian Patriarch being consecrated from the Throne of Constantinople. He held his see for about two years, from A.D. 539-541.