The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity

Phoibammon, bishop of Achmim/Panopolis, Encomion on Kollouthos

With this encomion the bishop of Panopolis/Achmim consecrated a newly built martyr shrine for saint Kollouthos at Pneueit.

P 12916, fol. 76r, lines 1–19:

ⲡⲙⲉϩⲥⲛⲁⲩ ⲛⲉⲅⲕⲱⲙⲓⲟⲛ ⲛⲧⲁϥⲧⲁ[ⲟ]ⲩⲟϥ ⲛϭⲓ ⲡⲉⲧⲫⲟⲣⲉⲓ ⲛⲛⲁⲣⲉⲧⲏ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲙⲡⲉⲡⲛⲁ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲡϩⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲡⲁ ⲫⲟⲓⲃⲁⲙⲱⲛ
ⲡⲉⲡⲓⲥⲕⲟⲡⲟⲥ ⲛⲧⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ ϣⲙⲓⲛ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡⲇⲓⲁⲧⲟⲭⲟⲥ ⲛⲧⲉⲭⲱⲣⲁ ⲧⲏⲣⲥ ⲛⲕⲏⲙⲉ · ⲛⲧⲁϥⲧⲁⲟⲩⲟϥ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲡⲛⲓⲕⲟⲫⲟⲣⲟⲥ ⲉⲧⲧⲁⲉⲓⲏⲩ · ⲁⲩⲱ
ⲡⲁⲣⲭⲏⲡⲣⲉⲥⲃⲩⲧⲉⲣⲟⲥ · ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡⲥⲁⲉⲓⲛ ⲛⲁⲗⲩⲑⲓⲛⲟⲛ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡⲡⲁⲣⲑⲉⲛⲟⲥ · ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲟⲥ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲙⲡⲉⲭⲥ · ⲡϩⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲕⲟⲗⲗⲟⲩ[ⲑ]ⲟⲥ ⲡϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲙⲡⲕⲩⲣⲓⲥ ϩⲩⲣⲁⲕⲗⲁⲙⲱⲛ ⲡⲇⲟⲩⲝ ⲛⲧⲉⲭⲱⲣⲁ ⲧⲏⲣⲥ ⲛⲕⲏⲙⲉ ⲛⲧⲁϥⲧⲁⲩⲉ ⲡⲉⲓ[ⲉⲅ]ⲕⲱⲙⲓⲟⲛ ⲇⲉ ϩⲙ ⲡⲉϥⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲓⲟⲛ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ · ⲡⲁⲓ ⲛⲧⲁⲩⲕⲟⲧϥ ⲉⲡⲉϥⲣⲁⲛ ϩⲙ ⲡⲕⲁϩ ⲛⲥⲟⲇⲟⲙⲁ ⲉⲧⲉ ⲡⲛⲉⲩⲉⲓⲧ ⲡⲉ · ϩⲙ ⲡⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲛⲧⲁⲩϩⲁⲅⲓⲁⲍⲉ ⲙⲡⲉϥⲧⲟⲡⲟⲥ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲛϩⲏⲧϥ · ⲉⲧⲉ ⲥⲟⲩ
ϫⲟⲩⲧⲁϥⲧⲉ ⲙⲡⲉⲃⲟⲧ ⲁⲑⲱⲣ ⲡⲉ

‘The second encomion which the one who bears all the virtues of the holy spirit, saint Apa Phoibamon, the bishop of Panopolis and the successor to the entire land of Egypt, produced. He proclaimed it concerning the honored winner and archpriest, the true physician, the virgin and holy martyr of Christ, saint Kollouthos, the son of the Lord Heraklamon, the dux of the whole land of Egypt. He performed this encomion at his holy martyr shrine (martyrion), this one which had been built for his name in the land of Sodoma, which is Pneueit, on the day on which he consecrated his holy topos, which was day 24 of the month of Hathyr.’


Bishop Phoibamon of Panopolis was a contemporary of Theodosius, the archbishop of Alexandria.

P 12916, fol. 76v, lines 8–12:

ⲁϥϫⲉ ϩⲉⲛⲕⲟⲩⲓ ⲇⲉ ⲟⲛ ϩⲙ [ⲡ]ⲉⲓⲉⲅⲕⲱⲙⲓⲟⲛ ⲛⲟⲩⲱⲧ · ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲛϩⲓⲥⲉ ⲛⲧⲁϥϣⲟⲡⲟⲩ ϩⲛ ⲧⲉⲝⲱⲣⲩⲥⲧⲓⲁ ⲙⲛ ⲡⲁⲣⲭⲏⲉⲡⲓⲥⲕⲟⲡⲟⲥ ⲛⲣⲁⲕⲟⲧ[ⲉ]
ⲁⲡⲁ ⲑⲉⲟⲇⲟⲥⲓⲟⲥ

‘He also said a few things in this same encomion about the sufferings which he endured during exile together with Apa Theodosios, the archbishop of Alexandria.’


During martyrdom the saint’s blood was collected by his servant.

ÖNB K 9526r, col. I,10–col. II,5:

ⲛⲧⲉⲣⲉⲓⲱⲥⲕ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲓⲁϣⲉ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲁⲩⲙⲏⲏϣⲉ ⲛⲥⲛⲟϥ ⲉⲓ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ ⲧⲁⲧⲁⲡⲣⲟ ⲙⲛ ⲛⲁϭⲃϣⲁ ⲡⲁϩⲙϩⲁⲗ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲉϥⲟⲩⲏϩ ⲛⲥⲱⲓ ⲡⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁϥⲱⲗ ⲙⲡⲁⲥⲛⲟϥ ⲛⲧⲁϥⲉⲓ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ ⲧⲁⲧⲁⲡⲣⲟ · ⲡⲁⲓ ⲧⲉⲛⲟⲩ ⲛⲧⲁⲩⲛⲟϫϥ ⲉⲡⲉⲥⲏⲧ ⲉⲡⲉⲓϣⲏⲓ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ · ϫⲉⲕⲁⲥ ⲉϥⲉϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛⲧⲁⲗϭⲟ · ⲛⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲉⲧϣⲱⲛⲉ ⲉⲩϣⲁⲛϫⲱⲕⲙ ⲛϩⲏⲧϥ

‘While I remained hanging upside down, a lot of blood came out of my mouth and my nostrils. My servant was following me and gathered my blood which had come forth from my mouth. This (blood) which is now placed down in this holy cistern, so that it shall provide healing for anyone who is inflicted, if they wash with it.’


A childless married couple visits the saint’s martyr shrine in Antinoopolis to invoke his help. The saint appears to them and sends them off to his new shrine in Pneueit explaining that this is now the place, where they will receive help.


ÖNB K 9524r, col. I,15–col. II,25:

ⲁϥⲧⲱⲟⲩ(ⲛ) ⲇⲉ ⲛⲟⲩϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲛⲧⲟϥ ⲙⲛ ⲧⲉϥⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ ⲁⲩⲃⲱⲕ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲉϫⲙ ⲡⲥⲱⲙⲁ ⲙⲡϩⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲡⲁ ⲕⲟⲗⲗⲟⲩⲑⲟⲥ ϩⲙ ⲡⲉϥⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲓⲟⲛ ⲉⲧϩⲙ
ⲡⲧⲟⲟⲩ ⲛⲧⲉϥⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ ⲁⲛⲧⲓⲛⲟⲟⲩ ⲁⲩϭⲱ ⲉⲩⲥⲟⲡⲥ ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉⲩⲡⲁⲣⲁⲕⲁⲗⲉⲓ ⲙⲙⲟϥ ϫⲉⲕⲁⲥ ⲉϥⲉⲧⲃϩ ⲡⲉⲭⲥ ϩⲁⲣⲟⲟⲩ ⲛϥϯ ⲛⲁⲩ
ⲛⲟⲩⲥⲡⲣⲙⲁ ⲛⲣⲱⲙⲉ
ⲛⲧⲉⲣⲉ ⲧⲉⲩϣⲏ ⲇⲉ ϣⲱⲡⲉ · ⲁⲡϩⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲕⲟⲗⲗⲟⲩⲑⲟⲥ · ⲟⲩⲱⲛϩ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛⲑⲉⲟⲅⲛⲟⲥⲧⲟⲥ ⲙⲛ ⲧⲉϥⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ · ⲡⲉϫⲁϥ ⲛⲁⲩ ϫⲉ ⲙⲡⲉⲧⲛⲥⲱⲧⲙ
ϫⲉ ⲁⲡⲛⲁⲏⲧ ⲓⲥ ⲧⲛⲛⲟⲟⲩⲧ ⲉⲡⲉⲓϯⲙⲉ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲙⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ϫⲉ ⲡⲛⲉⲩⲉⲓⲧ ϩⲙ ⲡⲧⲟϣ ϣⲙⲓⲛ ⲧⲉⲛⲟⲩ ϭⲉ ⲉϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲧⲉⲧⲛⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲉϫⲓ
ⲙⲡⲉⲧⲛⲁⲓⲧⲏⲙⲁ · ⲉⲓⲉ ⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ ⲛⲧⲉⲧⲛⲃⲱⲕ ⲉⲡⲁⲧⲟⲡⲟⲥ ϩⲙ ⲡⲙⲁ ⲉⲧⲙⲙⲁⲩ

‘One day, he and his wife rose and went down to the body of saint Apa Kollouthos in his martyr shrine (martyrion) which is located at the mountain/necropolis (ⲧⲟⲟⲩ) of his city Antinoopolis. They continued entreating and imploring him, so that he would beseech Christ on their behalf and he would give them a human offspring.
When it was night, saint Kollouthos appeared to Theognostos and his wife. He said to them: “Have you not heard that Jesus, the compassionate, has sent me to this village which is called Pneueit in the district of Panopolis. Now then, if you wish to have your wish granted, well then rise and go to my shrine (topos) at that place.”’

The couple follows the saint’s advice and makes their way south to the village of Pneueit. Once at the shrine, they get ready for incubation and receive a vision of the saint at midnight. He gives them clear instructions to follow the next morning in order to obtain what they wish for. They do exactly as told and will be rewarded.

ÖNB K 9524v, col. I,7–col. II,23:

ⲁⲩⲁⲗⲉ ⲉⲩϫⲟⲓ ⲁⲩⲣϩⲱⲧ ϣⲁⲛⲧⲟⲩⲉⲓ ⲉⲣⲏⲥ ⲉⲡⲛⲉⲩⲉⲓⲧ · ⲛⲥⲉⲃⲱⲕ ⲉϩⲟⲩ<ⲛ> ⲉⲡⲧⲟⲡⲟⲥ ⲙⲡϩⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲡⲁ ⲕⲟⲗⲗⲟⲩⲑⲟⲥ · ⲛⲧⲉⲣⲉⲣⲟⲩϩⲉ
ⲇⲉ ϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲁⲩⲛⲕⲟⲧⲕ ⲛϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲡⲧⲟⲡⲟⲥ · ϩⲛ ⲧⲡⲁϣⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲧⲉⲩϣⲏ ⲁⲡϩⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲕⲟⲗⲗⲟⲩⲑⲟⲥ ⲟⲩⲱⲛϩ ⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩ ⲁϥϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛⲙⲙⲁⲩ ϫⲉ
ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛϣⲁⲛⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ ⲉϩⲧⲟⲟⲩⲉ · ⲕⲁⲧⲟⲓⲭⲉ ϣⲁⲛⲧⲉⲧⲛⲥⲩⲛⲁⲅⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲧⲉⲧⲛⲧⲁⲙⲉ ⲡⲟⲓⲕⲟⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲛϥϯ ⲛⲏⲧⲛ ⲙⲡⲙⲟⲟⲩ ⲉⲧⲉϥⲛⲁⲉⲓⲱ
ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛϩⲏⲧϥ ⲛⲧⲉⲧⲣⲁⲡⲉⲍⲁ ⲙⲛ ⲡⲡⲟⲧⲏⲣⲓⲟⲛ · ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛϣⲁⲛⲥⲟⲟϥ ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁⲧⲉⲧⲛⲁⲓⲧⲉⲓ ⲙⲙⲟϥ ϥⲛⲁϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛⲏⲧⲛ · ⲛⲧⲟⲟⲩ ⲇⲉ ⲁⲩⲉⲓⲣⲉ ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⲑⲉ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲡⲡⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲙⲡⲣⲉⲥⲃⲉⲩⲧⲏⲥ ϩⲁ ⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲉⲓ ⲙⲙⲟϥ · ϫⲟⲟⲥ ⲛⲁⲩ

‘They boarded a ship and sailed until they came south to Pneueit and went into the shrine (topos) of saint Apa Kollouthos. When it was evening, they slept in the shrine. In the middle of the night, saint Kollouthos appeared to them. He spoke with them saying: “If you rise in the morning restrain yourselves, until you gather (for service) and tell the steward (oikonomos), and he will give you the water with which he will clean the table and the cup. If you drink it, what you have asked for will happen to you. And they did just as the holy ambassador to anyone who implores him had told them to do.”’


Text and translation: G. Schenke

Service for the saint
Ceremony of dedication

Anniversary of church/altar dedication

Burial site of a saint - tomb/grave
Martyr shrine (martyrion, bet sāhedwātā, etc.)

Pilgrimage
Prayer/supplication/invocation
Incubation
Composing and translating saint-related texts
Transmission, copying and reading saint-related texts

Miracle after death
Miracle during lifetime
Fertility- and family-related miracles (infertility, marriages)

Bodily relic - entire body
Bodily relic - blood

Ecclesiastics - bishops

Source

Discussion

Bibliography