y of wine in the water he drank. This was his method of
living till his death. Being elected bishop of Gaza, in 396, John, the
metropolitan and archbishop of Caesarea, wrote to the patriarch of
Jerusalem to desire him to send over Porphyrius, that he might consult
him on certain difficult passages of scripture. He was sent accordingly,
but charged to be back in seven days. Porphyrius, receiving this order,
seemed at first disturbed, but said: "God's will be done." That evening
he called Mark, and said to him: "Brother Mark, let us go and venerate
the holy places and the sacred cross, for it will be long before we
shall do it again." Mark asked him why he said so. He answered: Our
Saviour had appeared to him the night before, and said: "Give up the
treasure of the cross which you have in custody, for I will marry you to
a wife, poor indeed and despicable, but of great piety and virtue. Take
care to adorn her well; for, however contemptible she may appear, she is
my sister." "This," said he, "Christ signified to me last night: and I
fear, in consequence, my being charged with the sins of others, while I
labor to expiate my own; but the will of God must be obeyed." When they
had venerated the holy places and the sacred cross, and Porphyrius had
prayed long before it, and with many tears, he shut up the cross in its
golden case, and delivered the keys to the bishop; and having obtained
his blessing, he and his disciple Mark set out the next day, with three
others, among whom was one Barochas, a person whom the saint had found
lying in the street almost dead, and had taken care of, cured, and
instructed; who ever after served him with Mark. They arrived the next
day, which was Saturday, at Caesarea. The archbishop obliged them to sup
with him. After spiritual discourses they took a little sleep, and then
rose to assist at the night service. Next morning the archbishop bid the
Gazaeans lay hold on St. Porphyrius, and, while they held him, ordained
him bishop. The holy man wept bitterly, and was inconsolable for being
promoted to a dignity he judged himself so unfit for. The Gazaeans,
however, performed their part in endeavoring to comfort him, and, having
assisted at the Sunday office, and stayed one day more at Caesarea, they
set out for Gaza, lay at Diospolis, and, late on Wednesday night,
arrived at Gaza, much harassed and fatigued. For the heathens living in
the villages near Gaza, having notice of their coming, had so damag