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Life of St Porphyry, Bishop of Gaza
Mark the Deacon, tr. Hill, 1913
Chapter 95
But they of the idol-madness, the more they beheld Christianity to prosper, the more mad did they become, and sought earnestly to hurt the Christians and before all their holy shepherd Porphyry. For once a contention having arisen about lands between the steward of the holy church and Sampsychus, the chief city councillor,1 Barochas, beloved of God, seeing the steward spoken of despitefully, came to succour him and began to speak despitefully of the said Sampsychus. And when the rest of the council heard it they gathered together and went against the steward and Barochas, beloved of God; and there went up together with the councillors many of the citizens, having found an occasion to hurt them of the faith and, as one might say, from a little spark so great a fire was kindled and did burn up, that all the Christians were in danger to be destroyed. For so furiously did the idolaters rage that they lifted up even swords and clubs and slew seven persons and smote many others.
Notes
- councillor. See note on c. 25.