Greek Calendar of Church Services to be performed at different churches in Oxyrhynchus (Middle Egypt) from the end of October to the end of March of the years 535–536, providing information on the names of many churches, and on the saints’ days celebrated in the city.
E00164
Liturgical texts - Calendars and martyrologies
Late antique original manuscripts - Papyrus sheet
P.Oxy. 11.1357
Col. i.
+ Γνῶσις συνάξεων μετὰ τὸ κατελθ̣(εῖν)
ἰνδ(ικτίονoς) ιδ ἐν Ἀλεξανδρ(είᾳ) τὸν πάπα, οὕ(τως)·
Φαῶφι κγ εἰς τὴν Φοιβάμμωνος κυριακ(ή)
κε εἰς τὸν ἅγι(ον) Σερῆνον ἡμέρ(α) μεταν(οίας)
5 λ εἰς τὴν μαρτύρ(ων) κυριακή
Ἁθὺρ γ εἰς τὴν Φοιβάμμωνος ἡμέρ(α) Ἐπιμάχ(ου)
ζ εἰς τὸν εὐαγγελιστ(ὴν) κυριακή
ιβ εἰς τὸν ἅγι(ον) Μιχαηλᾶ ἡμέρα αὐτοῦ
ιγ εἰς τὸν αὐτόν
10 ιδ εἰς τὸν ἅγι(ον) Ἰοῦστον ἡμέρα αὐτοῦ
ιε εἰς τὸν ἅγι(ον) Μηνᾶν ἡμέρα αὐτοῦ
ιϛ εἰς τὸν αὐτόν
ιζ εἰς τὸν ἅγι(ον) Ἰο̣[ῦ]σ̣τ̣ον
[Χοίακ] [6 lines lost]
20 ζ εἰς τὸν ἅγι(ον) Βίκτορα
[ι]β εἰς τὴν Ἀννιανῆς κ[υρια]κή
ιε εἰς τὸν ἅγιον Κοσμᾶ ἡ[μέ]ρα Ἰσίωνος
ιθ εἰς τὸν εὐαγγελιστ[(ὴν) κ]υριακ(ή)
κβ εἰς τὸν ἅγι(ον) Φιλόξεν[ο]ν ἡμέρ(α) αὐτοῦ
25 κγ εἰς τὸν αὐτόν
κδ εἰς τὸν αὐτόν
κε ὁμοίως εἰς τὸν αὐτόν
κϛ εἰς τὸν ἅγι(ον) Σε[ρ]ῆνον κυριακ(ή)
κζ εἰς τὸν αὐτόν
30 κη εἰς τὴν ἁγί(αν) Μαρίαν γέννα τοῦ Χριστοῦ
κθ εἰς τὴν αὐτήν
λ εἰς τὴν αὐτὴν ὁμοίως
Col. ii.
Τ̣ῦ̣β̣ι̣ α εἰς τὸν ἅγι(ον) Πέτρ[ον ἡμέρα αὐτοῦ
ὁμ(οίως) κ(αὶ) εἰς τὸν ἅγι(ον)[Παῦλον ἡμέρα αὐτοῦ
35 γ εἰς τὴν Φ̣ο̣ι̣β̣ά̣μμ[ωνος κυριακή
ια εἰς τὴν Φοιβάμμ[ωνος ἐπιφάνεια τοῦ Χριστοῦ
ιβ εἰς τὴν νοτινὴ[ν ἐκκλησίαν
ιγ εἰς τὸν ἅγι(ον) Φιλόξ̣[ενον
ιδ εἰς τὸν ἅγιον Μ[ι]χ[αηλᾶ ἡμέρα . . . . .
40 εἰς τὴν ἄμα [Ἡραίδος ἡμὲρα αὐτῆς (?)
ιε εἰς τὴν ἁγί(αν) Εὐφ̣[ημίαν ἡμέρα . . . . .
εἰς τὸν εὐαγ[γελιστ(ήν)
ιϛ εἰς τὴν Φοιβάμ[μωνος ἡμέρα Φιλοθέου (?)
ιζ εἰς τὴν Ἀννια[νῆς κυριακή
45 κ̣α̣ εἰς τὴν ἁγί(αν) Μα̣[ρίαν ἡμὲρα αὐτῆς (?)
[κδ εἰς τὸν ἅγ]ι(ον) Ἱε[ρημίαν κυριακή (?)
[κ . εἰς τὸν βα]πτισ[τήν
[Μεχεὶρ α(?) εἰς τὸν ἅγι(ον)] Ἰουλ[ιανὸν ἡμέρα αὐτοῦ (?)
[. εἰς τὸν ἅγι](ον) ἀββ̣̣[ᾶ . . . . . . . ἡμέρα αὐτοῦ (?)
50 [ ὁμοί(ως) κ(αὶ) εἰς] τὸ β[ορρινὸν μαρτύριον (?)
[. ε]ἰ̣ς̣̣ [τὴν ἁγ]ί̣(αν) Εὐφη[μίαν
[η] εἰς τὸν ἅγι(ον) Ζ̣αχ[αρίαν κυριακή (?)
θ εἰς τὸν ἅγι(ον) Σερ̣̣[ῆνον
ια εἰς τὸν ἅγι(ον) Γαβρ[ιὴλ ἡμέρα αὐτοῦ (?)
55 [ιβ] εἰς τὸν αὐτόν
[ιδ?] εἰς τὸν ἅγι(ον) ἄπα Νοὺπ ἡμέρ[α . . . . .
[ι]ε̣ εἰς τὴν Φοιβάμ[μωνος κυριακή
κα εἰς τὸν ἅγι(ον) Φιλ[όξενον ἡμέρα . . . . .
ὁμ(οίως) καὶ εἰς τὸν ἅ̣[γι(ον) . . . . .
60 κ[β] εἰς τὸν αὐτὸν [κυριακή
κ[η] εἰς τὴν νοτιν(ὴν) ἐ̣κ̣[κλησίαν ἡμέρα . . . . .
κ̣θ̣ εἰς τὴν αὐτὴν [κυριακή
Φαμενὼθ [ϛ?] εἰς τὸν ἅγι(ον) Θεό[δοτον ἡμέρα αὐτοῦ (?)
[ιβ?] εἰς τὸν ἅγι(ον) Φιλόξ[ενον ἡμέρα . . . . .
65 [ιγ?] εἰς τὸν ἅγι(ον) Θε[όδωρον ἡμέρα αὐτοῦ
[ιθ?] εἰς τὴν Φοιβ[άμμωνος ἡμέρα Κολλούθου (?)
[κ?] εἰς τὴν αὐτ[ὴν κυριακή (?)
[κϛ(?) ε]ἰς τὴν ἁγί[(αν) Μαρίαν ἡμέρα . . . . . (?)
[Perhaps 1 line lost]
'List of services after the bishop went down to Alexandria, as follows:
14th indiction (year 535)
Phaophi 23rd at Phoibammon’s, Sunday (Sun 21 (20) Oct)
Phaophi 25th at Saint Serenos’, day of Repentance (Tue 23 (22) Oct)
Phaophi 30th at the Martyrs’, Sunday (Sun 28 (27) Oct)
Hathyr 3rd at Phoibammon’s, day of Epimachos (Wed 31 (30) Oct)
Hathyr 7th at the Evangelist’s, Sunday (Sun 4 (3) Nov)
Hathyr 12th at Saint Michael’s, his day (Fr 9 (8) Nov)
Hathyr 13th at the same (Sat 10 (9) Nov)
Hathyr 14th at Saint Ioustos’, his day (Sun 11 (10) Nov)
Hathyr 15th at Saint Menas’, his day (Mon 12 (11) Nov)
Hathyr 16th at the same (Tue 13 (12) Nov)
Hathyr 17th at Saint Ioustos’ (Wed 14 (13) Nov)
[… six lines lost …]
[Choiak] 7th at Saint Viktor’s (Tue 4 (3) Dec)
[Choiak] 12th at the church of Anniane, Sunday (Sun 9 (8) Dec)
[Choiak] 15th at Saint Kosmas’, day of Ision (Wed 12 (11) Dec)
[Choiak] 19th at the Evangelist’s, Sunday (Sun 16 (15) Dec)
[Choiak] 22nd at Saint Philoxenos’, his day (Wed 19 (18) Dec)
[Choiak] 23rd at the same (Thu 20 (19) Dec)
[Choiak] 24th at the same (Fr 21 (20) Dec)
[Choiak] 25th likewise at the same (Sat 22 (21) Dec)
[Choiak] 26th at Saint Serenos’, Sunday (Sun 23 (22) Dec)
[Choiak] 27th at the same (Mon 24 (23) Dec)
[Choiak] 28th at Saint Mary’s, Nativity of Christ (Tue 25 (24) Dec)
[Choiak] 29th at the same (Wed 26 (25) Dec)
[Choiak] 30th at the same likewise (Thu 27 (26) Dec)
Tybi 1st at Saint Peter’s, [his day]; likewise also at Saint [Paul’s, his day] (Fr 28 (27) Dec)
Tybi 3rd at Phoibammon’s, Sunday (Sun 30 (29) Dec)
(Year 536)
Tybi 11th at Phoibammon’s, [Epiphany of Christ] (Mon 7 (6) Jan)
Tybi 12th at the Southern [church] (Tue 8 (7) Jan)
Tybi 13th at Saint Philoxenos’ (Wed 9 (8) Jan)
Tybi 14th at Saint Michael’s, [day of …] ; (and) at Ama [Herais’, her day?] (Thu 10 (9) Jan)
Tybi 15th at Saint Euphemia’s, [day of …]; (and) at the Evangelist’s (Fr 11 (10) Jan)
Tybi 16th at Phoibammon’s, [day of Philotheus?] (Sat 12 (11) Jan)
Tybi 17th at the church of Anniane, [Sunday (Sun 13 (12) Jan)
Tybi 21st at Saint Mary’s, [her day?] (Thu 17 (16) Jan)
Tybi [24th at Saint] Jeremiah’s, [Sunday?] (Sun 20 (19) Jan)
Tybi [? at the] Baptist’s
[Mecheir 1st? at Saint] Ioulianos’, [his day?] (Sun 27 (26) Jan?)
[Mecheir ? at Saint] Abba […, his day?]
[Mecheir ? likewise also at] the [Northern martyr’s shrine?]
[Mecheir ?] at Saint Euphemia’s
[Mecheir 8th] at Saint Zechariah’s, [Sunday?] (Sun 3 (2) Feb?)
[Mecheir] 9th at Saint Serenos’ (Mon 4 (3) Feb)
[Mecheir] 11th at Saint Gabriel’s, [his day?] (Wed 6 (5) Feb)
[Mecheir 12th] at the same (Thu 7 (6) Feb)
[Mecheir 14th?] at Saint Apa Noup’s, day of […] (Sat 9 (8) Feb)
[Mecheir] 15th at Phoibammon’s, [Sunday] (Sun 10 (9) Feb)
[Mecheir] 21st at Saint Philoxenos’, [day of …] , likewise also at Saint […] (Sat 16 (15) Feb)
[Mecheir] 22nd at the same, [Sunday] (Sun 17 (16) Feb)
[Mecheir] 28th at the Southern [church, day of …] (Sat 23 (22) Feb)
[Mecheir] 29th at the same, [Sunday] (Sun 24 (23) Feb)
Phamenoth [6th ?] at Saint Theodotos’, [his day?] (Sun 2 March)
Phamenoth [12th?] at Saint Philoxenos’, [day of …] (Sat 8 March)
Phamenoth [13th ?] at Saint Theodoros’, [his day] (Sun 9 March)
Phamenoth [19th?] at Phoibammon’s, [day of Colluthus] (Sat 15 March)
Phamenoth [20th?] at the same, [Sunday] (Sun 16 March)
Phamenoth [26th?] at Saint [Mary’s, day of …?] (Sat 22 March)
…
Text and Translation: Grenfell and Hunt, modified by G. Schenke
Service for the saint
Sermon/homily
Eucharist associated with cult
Cult PlacesMartyr shrine (martyrion, bet sāhedwātā, etc.)
Cult building - independent (church)
Cult building - unspecified
Source
The papyrus is missing in part, resulting in text loss and some insecure readings. The list is written in two columns. The beginning of the list is intact, stating that it refers to the services scheduled while the bishop is away in Alexandria, though it does not say why this listing was necessary. According to the list, his absence seems to last for a period of roughly five-and-a-half months.Discussion
The list mentions a total of 26 different churches or cult buildings in which services were to be held: a building named after a founder called Phoibammon, or, just possibly, dedicated to saint *Phoibammon (the soldier and martyr of Assiut, S00080; mentioned eight times); one for *Philoxenos (a saint with cult at Oxyrhynchus, S00443; mentioned seven times); one for *Mary (the Mother of Christ, S00033; mentioned four times); one for *Sirenos (saint with martyr shrine at Oxyrhynchos, S00134; mentioned four times); a south church (mentioned three times); one for 'the Evangelist' (probably *John, the Apostle and Evangelist, S00042; mentioned three times); one for *Michael (the Archangel, S00181; mentioned three times); one for *Ioustos (saint with martyr shrine at Oxyrrhynchos, S00172; mentioned twice); one for *Menas (soldier and martyr buried at Abu Mena, S00073; mentioned twice); a church 'of Anniane' (not a saint; mentioned twice); one for *Euphemia (martyr of Chalcedon, S00017; mentioned twice); and one for *Gabriel (the Archangel, S00192; mentioned twice), as well as thirteen other different cult buildings mentioned only once: for unnamed *Martyrs (S00060), for *Viktor (son of Romanos, martyr of Egypt, S00749), for *Kosmas (physician martyr of Syria, S00385), for *Peter (the Apostle, S00036), for an Ama (Herais?), for *John the Baptist (S00020), probably for a saint *Ioulianos (possibly the martyr of Cilicia, buried at Antioch or in Egypt S00305), for *Zechariah (probably the father of John the Baptist, S00597), for a 'saint Apa Noup' (probably *Nouphios, presbyter and martyr of Alexandria, S01074) for *The(...) and *Theo(…), one probably the soldier and martyr of Amaseia and Euchaita (S00480), for a 'saint Ie...' (possibly the Old Testament prophet, S01421), and for an 'Abba' whose name is lost. Furthermore, five unidentified entries are included in the list which might refer to buildings already mentioned, but could also be additional ones.Within these churches a total of 60 services are to be held within a period of five month.
Some of these services are specifically to be held on the feast days of the saints concerned: Ioustos, Menas, Michael, Philoxenos, and many others.
Bibliography
Edition:P.Oxy. XI 1357.
Further reading:
Papaconstantinou, A., "La liturgie stationale à Oxyrhynchos dans la première moitié du 6e siècle. Réédition et commentaire du POxy XI 1357," Revue des études byzantines 54 (1996), 135-159.
For a full range of the documentary evidence on Menas:
Papaconstantinou, A., Le culte des saints en Égypte des Byzantins aux Abbassides (Paris: CNRS, 2001), 146–154.
Gesa Schenke
27/2/2015
| ID | Name | Name in Source | Identity | S00008 | Paul, the Apostle | Certain | S00017 | Euphemia, martyr of Chalcedon | Certain | S00020 | John the Baptist | Certain | S00033 | Mary, Mother of Christ | Uncertain | S00036 | Peter, the Apostle | Certain | S00042 | John, the Apostle and Evangelist | Certain | S00060 | Martyrs, unnamed or name lost | Certain | S00073 | Menas, soldier and martyr buried at Abu Mena | Certain | S00080 | Phoibammon, soldier and martyr of Assiut | Certain | S00134 | Sirenos/Serenos, saint with martyr shrine at Oxyrhynchos | Certain | S00181 | Michael, the Archangel | Certain | S00192 | Gabriel, the Archangel | Certain | S00222 | Epimachos, of Pelusium, martyr of Alexandria | Certain | S00283 | Zechariah, Old Testament prophet | Uncertain | S00305 | Ioulianos, martyr of Cilicia, buried at Antioch or in Egypt | Uncertain | S00385 | Kosmas and Damianos, brothers, physician martyrs of Syria | Certain | S00443 | Philoxenos, saint with cult at Oxyrhynchos | Certain | S00480 | Theodore, soldier and martyr of Amaseia and Euchaita | Uncertain | S00597 | Zechariah, father of John the Baptist | Uncertain | S00749 | Viktor, martyr of Egypt, son of Romanos; and companion martyrs | Uncertain | S01049 | Theodotos and Eusthatios, martyrs of Antioch | Uncertain | S01074 | Nouphios, presbyter and martyr in Alexandria | ἄπα Νοὺπ | Uncertain | S01172 | Ioustos, saint with martyr shrine at Oxyrrhynchos | Certain | S01341 | Ioulianos and Basilissa, martyrs of Antinoopolis | Uncertain | S01421 | Jeremiah, Old Testament prophet | Uncertain |
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