Greek epitaph with an invocation of *Konon (one of the several homonymous martyrs of Anatolia), probably indicating a burial ad sanctos. Found near Tyana (Cappadocia, central Asia Minor). Probably 6th c. or later.
Evidence ID
E01017
Type of Evidence
Inscriptions - Funerary inscriptions
+ ἅγιε Κόνον, σὲ κατέφυγα
+ μνίμι Θεο-
δοσίω γεν-
αμένου πάν-
των δοῦλος.
Κ(ύρι)ε, συνχόρισον.
+
'+ Saint Konon, I seek my refuge at your side. + The tomb of Theodosios, former servant of everyone. Lord, forgive! +'
Text: I. Tyana, no. 17.
Cult PlacesPrayer/supplication/invocation
Protagonists in Cult and Narratives
Cult building - independent (church)
Non Liturgical ActivityPrayer/supplication/invocation
Burial ad sanctos
Consecrating a child, or oneself, to a saint
Protagonists in Cult and NarrativesOther lay individuals/ people
Source
A limestone funerary plaque. H. 0.6 m; W. 0.8 m. Found in 1906 at former Semendere/modern Ovacık close to ancient Tyana (Cappadocia, central Asia Minor) by the expedition directed by Hans Rott. Edited by Wilhelm Weber.Tyana was one of the most prominent cities in Cappadocia, the capital of the province of Cappadocia Secunda (after its creation by the emperor Valens in 372) and the rival city of Kaisareia/Caesarea.
Discussion
The inscription is the epitaph of a certain Theodosios. The deceased declares that he seeks refuge with a martyr named Konon: ἅγιε Κόνον, σὲ κατέφυγα. There are three Anatolian saints, who bore the name Konon, and we cannot tell which one is referred to. Konon, martyr of Isauria (south-eastern Asia Minor) was said to have lived in the times of the Apostles (1st/2nd c.). He enjoyed the special protection of *Michael the Archangel and led a life of holiness. He was credited with working many miracles. Konon of Magydos (Pamphylia, southern Asia Minor) was a gardener and martyr under the emperor Decius. It was claimed that he came from Nazareth and was a relative of Christ (if this declaration is to be taken literally, and not as a metaphor for the Christian religion, creating a bond between the followers and the Saviour). Konon, martyr of Iconium (Lycaonia, central Asia Minor) died under the emperor Aurelian (270-275).The expression ἅγιε Κόνον, σὲ κατέφυγα may indicate a burial ad sanctos (close to a sanctuary dedicated to Konon) or at least special devotion of the deceased or of his family to the saint. But a metaphorical meaning is also possible: Wilhelm Weber points at parallel passages in Psalm 45,1: ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν καταφυγὴ καὶ δύναμις / 'God is our refuge and strength' and in the Acts of Karpos, Papylos, and Agathonikē (2nd c. martyrs, probably connected to the city of Thyatira): Κύριε, βοήθει, πρὸς σὲ γὰρ κατέφυγα / 'Lord, help, because I seek refuge at your side' (46).
Interestingly, Theodosios is called 'former servant of everyone' / γενόμενος πάντων δοῦλος. Normally, one would expect the formula δοῦλος τοῦ ἁγίου or τῶν ἁγίων / 'servant of saint' or 'of saints', widely diffused in Anatolia, or the formula πάντων φίλος / 'everyone's friend', which was also quite popular in central Asia Minor (see E00978 and E01004). Perhaps here both formulas were inadvertently merged into one. On the other hand, Johannes Nollé suggests that the formula πάντων δοῦλος is a reminiscence of a passage from the Gospel of Matthew: οὐχ οὕτως ἔσται ἐν ὑμῖν· ἀλλ’ ὃς ἂν θέλῃ ἐν ὑμῖν μέγας γενέσθαι ἔσται ὑμῶν διάκονος, καὶ ὃς ἂν θέλῃ ἐν ὑμῖν εἶναι πρῶτος ἔσται ὑμῶν δοῦλος / 'But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister. And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant' (Matthew 20,26).
Dating: Probably 6th c. or later, based on the occurrence of the 'servant-of-all' formula and on the letter forms.
Bibliography
Edition:Die Inschriften von Tyana, no. 17.
Weber, W., "Die Inschriften", [in:] H. Rott and others (ed.), Kleinasiatische Denkmäler aus Pisidien, Pamphylien, Kappadokien und Lykien (Studien über christliche Denkmäler 5 & 6, Leipzig: Dietrich, 1908), no. 85.
Further reading:
Harnack, A., "Die Akten des Karpus, des Papylus und der Agathonike. Eine Urkunde aus der Zeit Mark Aurels", in: Texte und Untersuchungen zur Geschichte der altchristlichen Literatur, vol. 3, part 3/4 (Leipzig: J.C. Hinrichs'sche Buchhandlung, 1888), paragraph 46.
Record Created By
Pawel Nowakowski
Date of Entry
23/12/2015
| ID | Name | Name in Source | Identity | S00177 | Konon, gardener and martyr of Magydos of Pamphylia | Κόνον | Uncertain | S00429 | Konon, martyr of Iconium | Κόνον | Uncertain | S00430 | Konon, martyr of Isauria | Κόνον | Uncertain |
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Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL:
Pawel Nowakowski, Cult of Saints, E01017 - http://csla.history.ox.ac.uk/record.php?recid=E01017