Library › Mark the Deacon › Life of St Porphyry, Bishop of Gaza
Life of St Porphyry, Bishop of Gaza
Mark the Deacon, tr. Hill, 1913
Chapter 90
And straightway with the sentence followed also the punishment; for Julia began to tremble and her countenance to be changed, and continuing as in a trance for a certain time she spake not, but was without voice or motion, having her eyes open and fastened upon the most holy bishop. But they that were with her, beholding that which she suffered, were sore afraid, and sought to awake her spirit and sang charms into her ear; and there was no speech and there was no hearing. And after she had been for a certain time without speech, she gave up the ghost, departing unto the darkness which she honoured, holding it to be light, according to the scripture which saith:1 ‘Woe unto them that make the sweet bitter and the bitter sweet; that put darkness for light and light for darkness.’ And the saint bade that her body should be laid out and committed unto a grave, taking pity on her human nature; he was exceeding compassionate.
Notes
- Isa. v. 20.