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Life of St Porphyry, Bishop of Gaza
Mark the Deacon, tr. Hill, 1913
Chapter 6
But this alone did grieve and hurt him, that his superfluity should remain and not be sold, according to the saying of the Gospel, and distributed among the poor.1 Now the cause of this hindrance was that his brethren were children when he departed out of his own country. Being therefore grieved about this matter, he asketh me, who was now familiar with him (for I served him because of his weakness), to take ship to Thessalonica and divide his possessions with his brethren; and giving me a letter with his commandments and commending me unto the Lord he let me depart, giving me a very little for my expenses; for he had but small wealth at that time. Straightway I went down to Ascalon and found a ship and put to sea, and after thirteen days, having made a fair voyage, we came to Thessalonica; and having shown the written commandment I divided the possessions with his brethren. And I sold to them the goods which were my lot for three thousand pieces of gold,2 but the raiment and the silver vessels I brought with me and other pieces of gold, a thousand and four hundred; and when I had gathered all together in the space of three months I put to sea again, and came after twelve days to the port of Ascalon; and there having hired beasts of burden and laden them I went up unto the holy city. And straightway when he beheld me the thrice blessed man embraced me with joy and tears (for joy also can cause tears to flow); but I knew him not; for his body was very strong and his countenance ruddy.
Notes
- Matt. xix. 21.
- pieces of gold. The ordinary nomisma or solidus of the time, weighing 4·55 grammes, being 1/72 of the Roman pound. Three thousand of these would be equivalent in weight to over £1,700 sterling; and 1,400 to about £800.