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Life of St Porphyry, Bishop of Gaza

Mark the Deacon, tr. Hill, 1913

Chapter 44

Now after a few days the Empress bringeth forth the male child, and they call his name Theodosius, after the name of his grandfather Theodosius the Spaniard, who was Emperor with Gratian. But the young Theodosius when he was born was brought forth in the purple, wherefore even from his birth he was proclaimed Emperor.¹ And there was much rejoicing in the city, and messengers were sent forth to bear the good tidings unto the cities,² with gifts and favours. But the Lady, when she had brought forth the child and was risen from childbed, sent to us Amantius, saying to us by him: ‘I give thanks to Christ that through your holy prayers God hath granted me the son. Pray ye, therefore, Fathers, for his life and for me, the lowly one, that I may fulfil those things which I promised unto you, if Christ himself again will, through your holy prayers.’

Notes

was proclaimed Emperor. Here Mark seems to be in error. It appears from the Paschal Chronicle that the solemn inauguration of the infant Emperor took place on January 10, 402, when he was more than two months old. At any rate it is clear from the story that he was already Augustus when he was carried out after the baptismal ceremony. It is true that the phrase (c. 46) ‘after a few days ‘looks as if it was at least intended that the baptism should take place very soon after the Empress had finished her lying-in. But, on the other hand, the phrase ‘the days ran on’ (c. 47) indicates a rather greater lapse of time; and Mark’s use of ὀλίγος is peculiar. He says, for instance (c. 103), that Porphyry lived ‘a few years’ after the consecration of the Eudoxiana, and we know that these few years were no less than thirteen! (Nuth, p. 30 note).
the cities. i.e. of the provinces.