The Paradise/Volume 1/Book 2/Chapter 1

by Palladius of Galatia

Here beginneth the Second Book of the [Histories of] the Fathers [and] Monks which were also compiled by Palladius

Chapter j. The Triumph of the Blessed Man Mark the Mourner

MACARIUS the priest told us the following story:—“At the time when I was administering the Holy Offering I took good heed unto Mark the mourner, and I never gave it to him, but an angel did so from the altar; I saw, however, the palm of the hand of the angel who gave it unto him.” Now this Mark was a young man, and he could repeat by heart the New and the Old Testaments; he was meek beyond measure, and both in body and in thought he was purer than many.