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Life of St Porphyry, Bishop of Gaza

Mark the Deacon, tr. Hill, 1913

Chapter 63

But after the tenth day¹ came the admirable Cynegius, having with him the consular and the captain and a great band of soldiers and civil officers. But many of the idolaters had foreknowledge of this and departed out of the city, some into the villages, and some into other cities; and they were the more part of the rich men of the city. And the said Cynegius quartered the soldiers in the houses of them which had fled. And on the next day having called to him the people of the city, the captain and the consular being present, he uttered unto them the imperial letter, which commanded that the idols and their temples be overturned and given unto the fire. And straightway when they heard, the idolaters cried out with a loud voice, so that the governors were wroth and threatened them, sending soldiers among them, who beat them with clubs and staves. But the Christians with great joy shouted aloud, praising the Emperors and the governors.

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