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Life of St Porphyry, Bishop of Gaza
Mark the Deacon, tr. Hill, 1913
Chapter 62
And many of the Greeks when they beheld the sign which had come to pass, believed, and mingled with the lay-folk and entered with them into the holy church which is called Peace. And there was great joy among the Christians on that day for three reasons; in the first place because they received back their priest in good health, and having done according to his desire; and in the second place because the gods of the heathen were dashed in pieces and become as dust that is scattered from the summer threshing-floor,1 and also they who were like unto them were broken because they trusted in them; and in the third place, and before all others, because moreover souls that were gone astray were saved and added unto the fold of Christ. And when he had sealed them the bishop let them go in peace, bidding them make attendance in the holy places of prayer.2 And they were in number thirty-two men and seven women. And when the archbishop John had spent other two days in Gaza he departed unto Caesarea, all the Christians and the holy bishop bringing him on his way for two miles.
Notes
- Dan. ii. 35.
- places of prayer. σχολάζειν ταῖς ἁγίαις προσευχαῖς. This is parallel to σχ. τῇ ἁγίᾳ ἐκκλησίᾳ (c. 31), and προσευχή is therefore to be translated ‘place of prayer’, not merely ‘prayer’. See note on c. 19 (p. 123).