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Life of St Porphyry, Bishop of Gaza
Mark the Deacon, tr. Hill, 1913
Chapter 29
Now she had a nurse that was a believer, who being exceeding grieved made petitions for her1 in the houses of prayer. So on a certain day when she was praying in the church with tears, there came in Saint Porphyry about the ninth hour, and I with him. And he seeth the old woman in great affliction, praying unto God with tears, and standing still he inquired after the reason.2 And she looking upon him fell at his feet, beseeching him to pray unto Christ for her. And when the saint knew the cause of the woman’s grief, he himself wept; for he was exceeding compassionate. And he saith to the nurse: ‘I hear concerning that house that it is idolatrous, and can hardly be saved; but, nevertheless, to God all things are possible; for he findeth occasion to save them which are about to perish. Depart, therefore, and gather together all her kinsfolk and her parents and her husband, and say unto them: “Seeing that there is here an excellent physician who can cure her, if he cause her to escape from this peril, what reward will ye give him? “And they will of a surety promise thee many things. Then say unto them this also: “If he cure her, give me your word withal that ye will not turn aside from him nor depart from him unto another.” Cause them all to lift up their hands to heaven and give their word that they will perform all the things that they have promised. And when they have done this, say unto the woman that travaileth before them all: “Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, healeth thee; believe on him and live.”’
Notes
- for her. i.e. for her mistress.
- inquired after the reason. The Moscow Metaphrasis has ‘although he was not ignorant of the reason, yet he inquired’. The addition is characteristic of the later writer’s idea of necessary improvements to Mark’s sincerer narrative. Mark implies immediately afterwards that the saint did not know the cause.