Record | The Cult of Saints

Greek invocation of Michael (the Archangel, S00181) scratched in plaster in the church of Mary (Mother of Christ, S00033) in Ephesos (western Asia Minor). Probably 6th c. or later.

Evidence ID

E00785

Type of Evidence

Inscriptions - Graffiti

Archaeological and architectural - Cult buildings (churches, mausolea)

ἀρχιστράτηγε, στρατηγὲ τõν ἀγγέλον,
βοήθη τὸν δοῦλον σου Ἠοάννη

'O commander-in-chief, captain of the angels, help your servant Ioannes!'

Text: I. Ephesos, no. 4145.

Non Liturgical Activity

Prayer/supplication/invocation

Protagonists in Cult and Narratives

Other lay individuals/ people

Source

One of numerous graffiti scratched in plaster on the eastern wall of the southern nave in the church of *Mary in Ephesos. Letter height 0.018-0.025 m.

Discussion

The inscription is an invocation of *Michael the Archangel by an otherwise unknown Ioannes. The archangel is called with his two usual by-names, ἀρχιστάτηγος (commander-in-chief) and στράτηγος τῶν ἀγγέλων (captain of the angels), that derive from the function he plays in the Heavenly Host.

This kind of inscription is undatable but it is unlikely to occur before the 6th c.

Bibliography

Edition:
Die Inschriften von Ephesos, no. 4145.

Keil, J., Reisch, E., Knoll, F. (eds.), Forschungen in Ephesos, vol. 4/1: Die Marienkirche in Ephesos (Vienna: Selbstverlag des ÖAI Wien, 1932), no. 45.

Images

Drawing; from: FiE 4/1, 106.

Record Created By

Pawel Nowakowski

Date of Entry

15/10/2015

Related Saint Records

ID	Name	Name in Source	Identity
S00181	Michael, the Archangel	ἀρχιστράτηγος, στράτηγος τῶν ἀγγγέλων	Certain

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL:
Pawel Nowakowski, Cult of Saints, E00785 - http://csla.history.ox.ac.uk/record.php?recid=E00785

The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity

from its origins to circa AD 700, across the entire Christian world

Greek invocation of Michael (the Archangel, S00181) scratched in plaster in the church of Mary (Mother of Christ, S00033) in Ephesos (western Asia Minor). Probably 6th c. or later.

E00785

Inscriptions - Graffiti

Archaeological and architectural - Cult buildings (churches, mausolea)

Prayer/supplication/invocation

Other lay individuals/ people

Source

Discussion

Bibliography

Images

Pawel Nowakowski

15/10/2015

Greek invocation of *Michael (the Archangel, S00181) scratched in plaster in the church of *Mary (Mother of Christ, S00033) in Ephesos (western Asia Minor). Probably 6th c. or later.

E00785

Inscriptions - Graffiti

Archaeological and architectural - Cult buildings (churches, mausolea)

Prayer/supplication/invocation

Other lay individuals/ people

Source

Discussion

Bibliography

Images

Pawel Nowakowski

15/10/2015

Greek invocation of Michael (the Archangel, S00181) scratched in plaster in the church of Mary (Mother of Christ, S00033) in Ephesos (western Asia Minor). Probably 6th c. or later.