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Life of St Porphyry, Bishop of Gaza
Mark the Deacon, tr. Hill, 1913
Chapter 103
But the most blessed bishop Porphyry, having stablished the rule of the church and all the office, lived other few years1 after the consecration of the great church. And falling sick he drew up a pious testament, bequeathing gifts unto many; and, commending unto God all them of the Christ-loving folk, he fell asleep with the saints in peace, on the second day of the month Dystros, in the year four hundred and fourscore2 according to the reckoning of the Gazaeans, having held his bishopric four and twenty years3 and eleven months and eight days, and fought the good fight unto the end against the idol-madmen until the day of his falling asleep. And now he is in the Paradise of delight, being an ambassador for us with all the saints; by whose prayers may we obtain mercy from God the Father, with the Son and Holy Ghost, unto whom be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen.
Notes
- other few years. No less than thirteen.
- in the year four hundred and fourscore. Dystr. 2, 480 A.G. is February 26, 420 A.D.
- four and twenty years, &c. i.e. 25 years less 22 days. Therefore he began his tenure of the see on Dystr. 25 = March 21, 395 A.D. See above, note on c. 16.