Vita Porphyrii episcopi Gazensis

 I was a witness to the man's virtue, having lived with him and sailed with him and suffered hardships with him until the last day of his life here. An

 Thessaloniki, and after showing the written instruction, I divided the property with his brothers. And I sold to them the estates allotted to me for t

 he distributed, so that he himself was in need of daily food. Therefore he gave himself to the shoemaker's craft, washing and stitching hides, in all

 a letter to the aforementioned holy Praulius, the bishop of Jerusalem, to send the blessed Porphyry to him for the sake of a certain question of scrip

 16 And on that night, the blessed John sends for the Gazans and says to them: Be ready for the departure for today you receive your priest, a man who

 of the orthodox faith, whose life and works are written in the paradise of delight. So, having come to the aforementioned church, we made so many pray

 23 But when the idol-worshippers saw him being carried, and thinking he was dead, they were turned to madness because they thought it was an abominati

 of the ordinations of the deacons, both I and the God-loving Barochas, I being very unworthy, but he worthily and justly having received this gift.

 29 And she had a faithful nurse, who, being in great distress, made prayers in the houses of prayer on her behalf. Therefore, on one day as she was pr

 33 And the most holy Porphyry answered and said to him: I adjure you before the invisible God and our hope Jesus Christ, the Lord of all creation, and

 the Lord has revealed to my humble self. When you go up to Byzantium, first meet with the most holy bishop John and together with him make prayers to

 39 On the next day, the Cubicularius Amantius sent for us by two deans to go to the palace, and rising up in haste we went. We found him waiting for u

 her face was red and beauty was added to her appearance beyond what she had for the visible things make manifest the invisible things.

 Having gone away, we made the supplication, arranging many things on the charter, not only that the temples of the idols be destroyed, but also that p

 Next I will send for the quaestor and in your sight I will command him that in accordance with the power of your petition a divine letter be made in t

 my child, and many and great are the things that have been granted to us. And immediately the emperor ordered the prefects to bequeath to them from th

 the sign of the precious cross, and they themselves chanting. And the people of the two places mingled, and became no small crowd for those from the

 63 But after the tenth day, the wonderful Cynegius arrived, having with him the consular and the duke and a great military and civil force. But many o

 leave the outer one with the enclosure. And after it is burned, having cleansed the place, build a holy church there. And he also said this: I adjure

 inner doors, and having made a prayer they set the fire, and immediately the whole temple caught and was burned. As many of the soldiers and the forei

 that if they are not found worthy of the faith, having already become settled in evil, those born of them are able to be saved by associating with the

 the former Marneion, and he himself followed carrying the holy gospel and having the devout clergy around him, truly imitating Christ with the discipl

 the Lord, for the three children are alive. And when the holy bishop among the saints and the people heard, they rejoiced, and sending a large basket,

 they speak of astrology, so that they may sin without fear, as if the power to sin is not in us, but from the necessity of fate.

 being glorified, will strike your tongue and muzzle your mouth, so that it may not speak blasphemies.

 of those in need of his gifts. And in the days of the fasts of the holy Pascha he supplied to each poor person 10 obols for forty days. Having command

 the blessed one again, being moved to compunction, wept, having foreseen the faith she was about to have in Christ. And rising and saying the customar

 a tongue, Photine to her he entrusted Salaphtha, giving her the monastic habit, and committing them to God he sent them away in peace. And she undert

39 On the next day, the Cubicularius Amantius sent for us by two deans to go to the palace, and rising up in haste we went. We found him waiting for us, and taking the two bishops he led them in to the Augusta Eudoxia. When she saw them, she greeted them first, saying: Bless me, fathers, and they did obeisance to her. She was sitting on a golden couch, and says to them: Forgive me, priests of Christ, because of the pressing necessity of my womb; for I ought to have met your holiness at the entrance. But for the Lord's sake pray for me, that I may deliver that which is in my womb with kindness. The most holy bishops, marveling at her condescension, said: He who blessed the womb of Sarah and of Rebecca and of Elizabeth will bless that which is in your womb and give it life.

40 When they had spoken other spiritual words, she says to them: I know why you have been troubled; for Amantius the castrensian taught me beforehand. But if you also wish to teach me, speak, fathers. Having been permitted, they taught everything concerning the idol-mad, how they fearlessly do impious things and how they oppress the Christians, not allowing them to hold civil offices nor their lands to be cultivated, from which they pay public taxes to your highness. And when the queen heard, she said: Do not be discouraged, fathers; for I hope in the master Christ, the son of God, that I will persuade the emperor to do the things fitting for your holy faith and to send you from hence satisfied. Go therefore to be by yourselves (for you are weary) and pray that God may cooperate with my request. Having said these things, she ordered money to be brought, and taking three drachmas each, she gave them to the most holy bishops, saying: Take these for now for expenses. The bishops, having received it, and having blessed her many times, went out. As they were going out, they distributed most of the coins to the deans who were standing by the doors, so that few were left with them.

41 The queen, when the emperor came in to her, taught him the matter concerning the bishops, and she asked him that the temples of the idols of Gaza be destroyed. But the emperor, upon hearing, was displeased, saying: I know that that city is full of idols, but it is compliant in the matter of the contribution of public taxes, paying a great deal. If therefore we suddenly alarm them with fear, they will take to flight and we shall lose so great a revenue. But if it seems good, let us trouble them partially, by taking away the dignities of the idol-mad and their other civil offices, and let us command their temples to be closed and to conduct no more business. For when they are troubled, being constrained in all things, they will recognize the truth; for a sudden and excessive thing is heavy for subjects. But the queen, upon hearing, was greatly grieved (for she was zealous in the faith), but she answered the emperor no word other than this: The Lord is able to help his servants the Christians, whether we wish it or not. These things the god-fearing Amantius the cubicularius related to us.

42 On the next day the Augusta sent for us, and according to her custom, having first greeted the holy bishops, she permitted them to sit. After speaking many spiritual words, she says to them: I spoke to the emperor and he was a little displeased. But do not be discouraged; for with God willing, I will not cease until you are satisfied and go forth having accomplished your purpose according to God. The bishops, upon hearing, did obeisance. And our Porphyry among the saints, being moved to compunction, remembering the word of the thrice-blessed Procopius the anchorite, said to the queen: Labor, mistress, for Christ, and he is able to grant you in return for your labor a son who will live and reign while you see and enjoy it for many years. The queen, upon hearing the word, was filled with joy and the became

39 Τῇ δὲ ἑξῆς μεταπέμπεται ἡμᾶς ὁ Κουβικουλάριος Ἀμάντιος διὰ δύο δεκανῶν ἀπελθεῖν εἰς τὸ παλάτιον, καὶ ἀναστάντες σπουδῇ ἐπορεύθημεν. Εὕραμεν δὲ αὐτὸν περιμένοντα ἡμᾶς, καὶ λαβὼν τοὺς δύο ἐπισκόπους εἰσήγαγεν πρὸς τὴν αὐγοῦσταν Εὐδοξίαν. Ὡς δὲ ἐθεάσατο αὐτούς, προησπάσατο εἰποῦσα· Εὐλογήσατε, πατέρες, κἀκεῖνοι δὲ προσεκύνησαν αὐτήν. Ἐκαθέζετο δὲ ἐπὶ χρυσῆς κλίνης, καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Σύγγνωτέ μοι, ἱερεῖς τοῦ Χριστοῦ, διὰ τὴν ἐπικειμένην μοι ἀνάγκην τῆς γαστρός· ἐχρεώστουν γὰρ εἰς τὸ πρόθυρον ὑπαντῆσαι τῇ ὑμῶν ὁσιότητι. Ἀλλὰ διὰ τὸν κύριον εὔξασθε ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ, ἵνα ἀπόθωμαι τὸ ἐν τῇ γαστρὶ μετὰ φιλανθρωπίας. Οἱ δὲ ὁσιώτατοι ἐπίσκοποι θαυμάσαντες τὴν συγκατάβασιν αὐτῆς εἶπαν· Ὁ εὐλογήσας τὴν μήτραν τῆς Σάρας καὶ τῆς Ῥεβέκκας καὶ τῆς Ἐλισάβετ εὐλογήσει τὸ ἐν τῇ γαστρί σου καὶ ζωώσει.

40 Ὡς δὲ καὶ ἄλλα ῥήματα πνευματικὰ ἐλάλησαν, λέγει αὐτοῖς· Ἔγνων διὰ τί ἐσκύλητε· προεδίδαξέν με γὰρ Ἀμάντιος ὁ καστρήσιος. Εἰ δὲ καὶ ὑμεῖς θέλετέ με διδάξαι, κελεύσατε, πατέρες. Ἐπιτραπέντες δὲ ἅπαντα τὰ κατὰ τοὺς εἰδωλομανεῖς ἐδίδαξαν, πῶς ποιοῦσιν ἀφόβως τὰ ἀνόσια καὶ πῶς καταδυναστεύουσι τοὺς Χριστιανούς, μὴ συγχωροῦντες μετελθεῖν ὀφφικίων πολιτικῶν μηδὲ τὰ χωρία αὐτῶν γεωργηθῆναι, ἐξ ὧν τὰ δημόσια τελοῦσιν τῷ ὑμετέρῳ κράτει. Ἀκούσασα δὲ ἡ βασίλισσα εἶπεν· Μὴ ἀθυμήσητε, πατέρες· ἐλπίζω γὰρ εἰς τὸν δεσπότην Χριστόν, τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ θεοῦ, ὅτι πείθω τὸν βασιλέα ποιῆσαι τὰ πρέποντα τῇ ἁγίᾳ ὑμῶν πίστει καὶ ὑμᾶς τεθεραπευμένους ἔνθεν ἀπολῦσαι. Ἀπέλθατε οὖν γενέσθαι ἑαυτῶν (ἐστὲ γὰρ ἀπὸ κόπου) καὶ εὔξασθε ἵνα συνεργήσῃ ὁ θεὸς τῇ αἰτήσει μου. Εἰποῦσα δὲ ταῦτα ἐκέλευσεν χρήματα ἐνεχθῆναι, καὶ λαβοῦσα ἀνὰ τρεῖς δράκας δέδωκεν τοῖς ὁσιωτάτοις ἐπισκόποις εἰποῦσα· Λάβετε τέως ταῦτα εἰς δαπανήματα. Οἱ δὲ ἐπίσκοποι δεξάμενοι, καὶ πολλὰ αὐτὴν εὐλογήσαντες ἐξῆλθον. Ἐξερχόμενοι δὲ τὰ πολλὰ τῶν νομισμάτων διέδωκαν τοῖς ἐφισταμένοις ταῖς θύραις δεκανοῖς, ὡς ὀλίγα μετ' αὐτῶν ὑπολειφθῆναι.

41 Ἡ δὲ βασίλισσα, εἰσελθόντος τοῦ βασιλέως πρὸς αὐτήν, ἐδίδαξεν αὐτὸν τὸ κατὰ τοὺς ἐπισκόπους πρᾶγμα, ᾔτει δὲ αὐτὸν καταστραφῆναι τὰ ἱερὰ τῶν εἰδώλων Γάζης. Ὁ δὲ βασιλεὺς ἀκούσας ἐδυσχέρανεν εἰπών· Οἶδα ὅτι ἡ πόλις ἐκείνη κατείδωλός ἐστιν, ἀλλ' εὐγνωμονεῖ περὶ τὴν εἰσφορὰν τῶν δημοσίων πολλὰ συντελοῦσα. Ἐὰν οὖν αἰφνιδιάσωμεν αὐτοὺς τῷ φόβῳ, φυγῇ χρήσονται καὶ ἀπόλλομεν τοσοῦτον κανόνα. Ἀλλ' εἰ δοκεῖ, κατὰ μέρος θλίβομεν αὐτούς, περιαιροῦντες τὰς ἀξίας τῶν εἰδωλομανῶν καὶ τὰ ἄλλα πολιτικὰ ὀφφίκια, καὶ κελεύομεν τὰ ἱερὰ αὐτῶν κλεισθῆναι καὶ μηκέτι χρηματίζειν. Ἐπὰν γὰρ θλιβῶσιν εἰς πάντα στενούμενοι, ἐπιγινώσκουσιν τὴν ἀλήθειαν· τὸ γὰρ ὑπερβολὴν ἔχον αἰφνίδιον βαρὺ τοῖς ὑπηκόοις. Ἡ δὲ βασίλισσα ἀκούσασα ἐλυπήθη σφόδρα (ἦν γὰρ θερμὴ περὶ τὴν πίστιν), οὐκ ἀπεκρίθη δὲ τῷ βασιλεῖ ῥῆμα ἢ τοῦτο· Ὁ κύριος ἔχει βοηθῆσαι τοῖς δούλοις αὐτοῦ τοῖς Χριστιανοῖς, κἂν θέλωμεν ἡμεῖς κἂν μὴ θέλωμεν. Ταῦτα διηγήσατο ἡμῖν ὁ θεοσεβὴς Ἀμάντιος ὁ κουβικουλάριος.

42 Τῇ δὲ ἑξῆς μετεπέμψατο ἡμᾶς ἡ αὐγοῦστα, καὶ κατὰ τὸ ἔθος προασπασαμένη τοὺς ὁσίους ἐπισκόπους, ἐπέτρεψεν καθίσαι. Μετὰ δὲ τὸ λαλῆσαι πολλοὺς λόγους πνευματικοὺς λέγει αὐτοῖς· Ἐλάλησα τῷ βασιλεῖ καὶ μικρὸν ἐδυσχέρανεν. Ἀλλὰ μὴ ἀθυμήσητε· θεοῦ γὰρ θέλοντος, οὐκ ἔχω παύσασθαι ἕως ὅτε πληρωθῆτε καὶ ἐξέλθητε ἀνύσαντες τὸν κατὰ θεὸν ὑμῶν σκοπόν. Οἱ δὲ ἐπίσκοποι ἀκούσαντες προσεκύνησαν. Κατανυγεὶς δὲ ὁ ἐν ἁγίοις Πορφύριος ὁ ἡμέτερος, ἀναμνησθεὶς τοῦ λόγου τοῦ τρισμακαρίου Προκοπίου τοῦ ἀναχωρητοῦ, εἶπεν τῇ βασιλίσσῃ· Κοπώθητι, δέσποινα, διὰ τὸν Χριστόν, καὶ αὐτὸς ἔχει χαρίσασθαί σοι ἀντὶ τοῦ κόπου σου υἱὸν ὅστις ζήσει καὶ βασιλεύσει σοῦ ὁρώσης καὶ ἀπολαυούσης ἐπὶ ἔτη πολλά. Ἀκούσασα δὲ ἡ βασίλισσα τοῦ λόγου, ἐπλήσθη χαρᾶς καὶ ἐγένετο τὸ