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Life of St Porphyry, Bishop of Gaza

Mark the Deacon, tr. Hill, 1913

Chapter 79

And having made ready beforehand the materials for the building, both very great stones from the hill that is called Aldioma¹ toward the west of the city, and other material, the saint brought together again the Christ-loving folk, and having made many prayers and much singing of psalms at the place, he himself girt up his loins and began the first to carry stones and put them into the foundations; and then also the clergy, beloved of God, and all the lay-folk, rejoicing and singing with a loud voice, so that the sound was heard three miles from the city.

Notes

Aldioma. Mazochi compares Etym. Mag. Ἀλδήμιος ἢ Ἄλδος, ὁ Ζεύς, ὃς ἐν Γάζῃ τῆς Συρίας τιμᾶται, παρὰ τὸ ἀλδαίνω, τὸ αὐξάνω· ὁ ἐπὶ τῆς αὐξήσεως τῶν καρπῶν. Μεθόδιος. He suggests, among other things, that it may be connected with הלך, perfodere, since there were quarries there.