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Life of St Porphyry, Bishop of Gaza
Mark the Deacon, tr. Hill, 1913
Chapter 93
For this reason, when he laid the foundations at the beginning he was accused of certain of the faithful, because he made it great, although the Christians in the city were few; and the most holy Porphyry answered and said: ‘Let not your faith be little1; for I am of a good hope in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, that he will multiply his flock and will make this house greater, because it shall not be able to contain the multitudes of the Christians. For the belief of the Christians is not of man, that it may be seen for a season and be brought to an end, but it is of God, and receiveth increase.’ These and such-like words did the blessed man ever speak unto the faithful, not only in the church, but also in every place, enlightening and succouring the Christ-loving folk. And after the days of the feast he sent away the multitudes in peace, each to his own place.
Notes
- Let not your faith be little, reading μὴ . . . ὀλίγη as a single sentence.