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Mark the Deacon

The Life and Asceticism of Our Father Porphyrius of Gaza

Life of Porphyrios of Gaza

The Life of St. Porphyrios, Bishop of Gaza, belongs to the pen of a friend and disciple of the saint, Deacon Mark, and is one of the most instructive and curious monuments of hagiographic literature. The translation was made by us according to the Greek original published by More. Haupt in the Proceedings of the Royal Academy of Sciences in Berlin, 1874; pp. 171-215.

1. It is good to behold with one's eyes (for the visible is made worthy of love) the feats of holy men and their divine zeal and desire, but at the same time they bring no small benefit to the narrations of persons who know exactly, penetrating into the souls of the listeners. Sight is more true than hearing, but hearing is also convincing if what is said comes from persons worthy of faith. If the narration of useful things were not frivolous, and if falsehood were not mixed with the truth, then the written exposition of such things would be superfluous, since the truth, constantly transmitted by succession to the ears of subsequent generations, would be sufficient for their edification. But since time distorts, partly through forgetfulness, partly through negligence, I have of necessity come to this Scripture, so that, due to the length of time, this holy man would not fall into a kind of oblivion – I am speaking of the Monk Porphyrios. The remembrance of his asceticisms is a healing medicine for the listeners.

2. It is absurd that tragic poets and other such writers should waste their words on laughter and old women's fables, while we should neglect holy and memorable men. And to what punishment shall I, in justice, be subjected if I do not consign to writing the life of this God-loving man, the life, the teacher of philosophy, the one who was zealous for the heavenly life? We will tell of his battles and rebellions, not only against the leaders and defenders of idolatry, but also against a whole people full of all madness. For he remembered the words of the blessed Apostle, who says: "Take up all the armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the day of death, and all that you have done." (Ephesians 6:13). Having put on such armor, the apostle set out for asceticism; but Porphyry, who had such and many opponents and entered into a similar contest, received an equal victory, and erected a trophy in the midst of Gaza – the holy church of Christ founded by him. It was not human nature that gave him the victory, but the thought that attracted divine grace: for being the warmest lover of Christ, he resolved to endure and do everything. How many enemy attacks did such a man endure from his opponents, how much deception and ridicule did he endure?

3. But since it is impossible to tell about the all-praised husband of everything, since he is many, and seems incredible to many, I will relate a little that I have remembered, since most of the time I have lived with him and enjoyed this blessed and marvelous soul that lives with the angels. Who will not justly praise him who has embraced all kinds of virtue? But we know that no word can attain the virtue of such a man; yet one should dare to rely on his holy prayers. I will not write his praise with a proud word, for it is not eloquence that usually adorns the life of such people, but virtuous deeds that magnify the exposition itself.

Let this be the beginning of my narrative.

4. There is the Palestinian city of Gaza 1, located on the border of Egypt, a city not unknown, but very [4] inhabited and belonging to prominent cities. At that time, the madness of people regarding (worship) of idols flourished in him.