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Life of St Porphyry, Bishop of Gaza

Mark the Deacon, tr. Hill, 1913

Chapter 15

But when the blessed John, the archbishop, heard it, he came running to us, and having greeted each other and prayed a little, they sate down. And the archbishop said unto him: ‘Rise up, Brother, for the Lord’s sake, and take food with me, that speedily we may rise up to keep the vigil of the Holy Day.’ For we had entered on the evening of the Sabbath. But the blessed Porphyry besought him to let him go for the evening, by reason of his weariness after the journey; and he said that after his first sleep he would rise up to keep the vigil. But when the archbishop would not be persuaded, the blessed man rose up and went forth with him, taking also me (for we left brother Barochas in the inn with our cloaks); and at his exhortation we did sup. And having conversed much concerning things spiritual, and slept a little, we rose up to keep the vigil.