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Life of St Porphyry, Bishop of Gaza

Mark the Deacon, tr. Hill, 1913

Chapter 102

And in these same days it came to pass that the old woman rested from her labours and went unto the Lord. Then having called unto him the maiden he sent for the God-fearing deaconess Manaris,¹ which also being interpreted according to the Greek tongue is Photine (Bright); to whom he commended Salaphtha, giving unto her the habit of the rule²; and having commended them unto God he let them depart in peace. But she took a way of life such as no other woman took in that time, fasting daily, and after the fast partaking of a little bread with salt and steeped pulse or chopped herbs and water only; for of wine she partook not at all. But on the feast-days she partook of oil and did eat olives, but did taste of naught else of the food that is prepared with fire; and for all the forty days of fasting on every second day she ate steeped pulse or chopped herbs without bread; and the whole Paschal week she endured partaking of naught,³ save only on the holy fifth day, after the Holy Communion, of hot water. And so sore did she consume her body that they that saw her seemed to behold a shadow. And she became an ensample unto many other women also; for they followed zealously after the life and way of the holy maiden Salaphtha. Who seemeth to live until now; for unto the world she is dead, but unto Christ she liveth and is with him through all time; of whose holy prayers may we be partakers. And so far be it told concerning the holy maiden Salaphtha.

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