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.
Life
A monk of the monastery of Seridus close to 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.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...
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