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The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity


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


Coptic graffito in the monastery of Apa Apollo at Bawit, near Hermopolis (Middle Egypt) with an invocation to *Shenoute (abbot of the White Monastery, d. 465, S00688), *Apollo (monk and monastic founder, S00774) and other unnamed holy fathers; datable to the 7th/8th c.

Evidence ID

E00948

Type of Evidence

Inscriptions - Graffiti

IBaouit Clédat, p. 120, no 2:

ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲛⲛⲉⲛⲉⲓⲟⲧⲉ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲟ ⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ϣⲉⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲙⲛ ⲁⲡⲁ ⲁⲡⲟⲗⲗⲱ ⲙⲛ ⲛⲉⲛⲓⲟⲧⲉ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ

'God of our holy fathers, saint Shenoute, Apa Apollo and all our holy fathers!'


Translation: G. Schenke

Cult Places

Cult building - monastic

Non Liturgical Activity

Prayer/supplication/invocation
Saint as patron - of a community

Source

Graffito on the wall of chapel 19, see IBaouit Clédat, p. 120, no 2.


Discussion

The monastery of Apa Apollo was a site for pilgrimage, especially for people visiting the tomb of its founder Apa Apollo. Archaeological evidence points to the existence of a reception room for pilgrims of all ages and both sexes where many of them left their graffiti. Visitors came from various different areas and districts of Egypt, such as the Fayum and Aphrodito.


Bibliography

Clackson, S.J., Coptic and Greek Texts relating to the Hermopolite Monastery of Apa Apollo (Oxford, 2000), 6.

Papaconstantinou, A., Le Culte des Saints en Égypte des Byzantins aux Abbassides (Paris, 2001), 185–186.


Record Created By

Gesa Schenke

Date of Entry

9/12/2015

Related Saint Records
IDNameName in SourceIdentity
S00688Shenoute, abbot of the White Monastery, ob. c. 465.ϣⲉⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉCertain
S00774Apollo, Phib, and Anoup, monks and monastic foundersⲁⲡⲁ ⲁⲡⲟⲗⲗⲱCertain


Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL:
Gesa Schenke, Cult of Saints, E00948 - http://csla.history.ox.ac.uk/record.php?recid=E00948