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Life of St Porphyry, Bishop of Gaza

Mark the Deacon, tr. Hill, 1913

Chapter 76

When, therefore, the ashes were carried away and all the abominations were destroyed, the rubbish that remained of the marble work of the Marneion, which they said was sacred, and in a place not to be entered, especially by women, this did the holy bishop resolve to lay down for a pavement before the temple outside in the street, that it might be trodden under foot not only of men, but also of women and dogs and swine and beasts. And this grieved the idolaters more than the burning of the temple. Wherefore the more part of them, especially the women, walk not upon the marbles even unto this day.

But after a little time, he proclaimeth a fast on a certain day, and when the people were dismissed after the morning prayers,¹ the bishop, beloved of God, bade every man that loved Christ to bring each one mattocks and shovels and other such tools. This had he proclaimed in the evening before, that all should be found ready in the morning, as indeed it came to pass.

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