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Life of St Porphyry, Bishop of Gaza
Mark the Deacon, tr. Hill, 1913
Chapter 97
But I and the blessed Porphyry fleeing over the roofs found a maiden of about fourteen years, who knew the holy bishop and fell at his feet. But the blessed man asked her who she was and who were her parents. And the maiden answered and said that she was an orphan both of father and of mother; but she said that she had a grandmother that was an old woman and infirm in body, and she herself did labour, and sustain herself and her grandmother. And he asked her whether she was a Christian, and she again said that she was not, but had desired it a long time, ‘if indeed I be worthy.’ And the compassionate Porphyry hearing the speech of the maiden was pricked in heart and wept, saying: ‘How ready to receive the good is the race of the Gazaeans. But the adversary is earnest to hinder such a purpose; whom the Lord shall smite with the word of his mouth.’1 And he said to the maiden: ‘Bring unto us hither a mat in this roof-chamber,2 that we may abide here until the tumult of the city be stilled, and tell no man that we are here. And she affirmed with oaths that she would not reveal them, not even unto her grandmother.
Notes
- Cp. 2 Thess. ii. 8.
- roof-chamber. δωμάτιον, a garret, or some slight construction on the roof of the building. Mazochi compares Mart. Polycarpi, § vii, where the martyr is found ἔν τινι δωματίῳ κατακείμενος ὑπερῴῳ. It was evidently exposed, for Mark notes in c. 98 that they were able to sleep there because it was summer-time.