“All sorts of explanations were given for the ravages of Porphyrios (the whale). The Orthodox held that he was sent as a punishment for the sin of Monophysitism, but the Monophysites said that this could not be so as he struck at Orthodox and Monophysites alike...Bishops of both opinions had been sent to preach to him from the shore and texts floated down the current to him, written on strips of paper - conjuring him in the name of the Trinity to return to the ocean from whence he came. But Porphyrios was unlettered and unbaptised, and paid no attention.”