Greek invocation on behalf of labourers or clergy at a church of *Michael (the Archangel, S00181). Found near Dionysopolis (Phrygia, west central Asia Minor). Probably late antique.
Evidence ID
E00915
Type of Evidence
Inscriptions - Formal inscriptions (stone, mosaic, etc.)
Inscriptions - Inscribed architectural elements
κύριος φυ-
λάξι τοὺς
ἐργαζο-
μένους ἐν
τῷ οἴκῳ το-
ῦ ἀρχανγέ-
λου
Μιχαήλ
'May the Lord keep those who work at the house of Michael the Archangel.'
or
'May the Lord keep those who minister in the house of Michael the Archangel.'
Text: MAMA IV, no. 307.
Cult PlacesEcclesiastics – unspecified
Cult building - independent (church)
Non Liturgical ActivityPrayer/supplication/invocation
Protagonists in Cult and NarrativesEcclesiastics – unspecified
Merchants and artisans
Source
A limestone cylindrical block, found at Kabalar near Dionysopolis (Phrygia, central Asia Minor), which was said to have been brought from ruins near Sazak. H. 2.23 m; diameter 0.35 m. It presumably served as a column in a church dedicated to Michael the Archangel.Discussion
The invocation was written on behalf of 'those who labour' (ἐργαζόμενοι). The verb ἐγράζομαι is often used to denote building works. Therefore, one can interpret the inscription as a request for help for workers who built the sanctuary. In the Christian context, ἐγράζομαι can mean, however, 'to perform holy rites', see, for instance, the First Epistle to the Corinthians 9:13: οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι οἱ τὰ ἱερὰ ἐργαζόμενοι τὰ ἐκ τοῦ ἱεροῦ ἐσθίουσιν, οἱ τῷ θυσιαστηρίῳ παρεδρεύοντες τῷ θυσιαστηρίῳ συμμερίζονται;/'Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple?' Thus the inscription may alternatively be interpreted as an invocation on behalf of the clergy (or perhaps even all the Christians) of that sanctuary.Bibliography
Edition:Monumenta Asiae Minoris Antiqua IV, no. 307.
Inscriptiones Christianae Graecae database, no. 1084: http://www.epigraph.topoi.org/ica/icamainapp/inscription/show/1084
Further reading:
Halkin, F., "Inscriptions grecques relatives à l'hagiographie, IX, Asie Mineure", Analecta Bollandiana 71 (1953), 330.
Record Created By
Pawel Nowakowski
Date of Entry
30/11/2015
| ID | Name | Name in Source | Identity | S00181 | Michael, the Archangel | Μιχαήλ | Certain |
|---|
Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL:
Pawel Nowakowski, Cult of Saints, E00915 - http://csla.history.ox.ac.uk/record.php?recid=E00915