In his discourse Ad philosophum gentilem written in Coptic, Shenoute (abbot of the White Monastery at Sohag, in Upper Egypt, ob. 465), addresses a pagan philosopher, discusses proper and improper religious behaviour and belief, and states that a Christian is not only to please God and Christ, but to also satisfy the saints in heaven.
E01463
Literary - Sermons/Homilies
Shenoute of Atripe
The introduction of the text states that this discourse was given by Shenoute in public, when he was visited by a pagan philosopher for the second time. This was possibly Gesios from Panopolis, known from the so-called Life of Shenoute (see E1093).
ed. Leipoldt–Crum Sinuthii archimandritae opera omnia et vita (Paris, 1908) p. 46:
ⲕⲁⲗⲱⲥ ϭⲉ ⲉⲩⲟⲩⲉϣ ⲡⲁϥⲉⲛⲉⲃⲓⲱ · ⲥⲉϯ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲛⲛⲉϥϩⲓⲥⲉ ⲛⲛⲉⲣⲱⲟⲩ ⲙⲛ ⲛⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲩⲙⲧⲟⲛ
ⲕⲁⲗⲱⲥ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲩⲙⲉ ⲙⲡⲉⲭⲣⲓⲥⲧⲓⲁⲛⲟⲥ · ϥⲉⲩⲫⲣⲁⲛⲉ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲙⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲙⲛ ⲡⲉϥⲭⲣⲥ ϩⲛ ⲛⲉϥϩⲃⲏⲩⲉ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲛⲇⲓⲕⲁⲓⲟⲥⲩⲛⲉ ·
ϥϯⲙⲧⲟⲛ ⲇⲉ ⲟⲛ ⲛⲛⲉⲥⲡⲗⲁⲭⲛⲟⲛ ⲛⲛⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ϩⲛ ⲙⲡⲏⲩⲉ
'Deservedly the bee is loved. The fruits of its labours are given to kings and people for comfort. Deservedly the Christian is loved, for he pleases God and his Christ through all his righteous deeds. And he also comforts the
hearts (σπλάγχνον) of all the saints in heaven.'
Translation: A. Alcock, lightly modified.
Pagans
Ecclesiastics - abbots
Theorising on SanctityConsiderations about the veneration of saints
Using saints to assert ecclesiastical/political status
Source
The text is partly preserved in four manuscripts (Codices A, B, C and D), two of which (B and C) may be part of the same book.Discussion
The pagan philosopher Gesios living in Panopolis, across the river from the White Monastery at Sohag, is mentioned in the Life of Shenoute where the story is related that Shenoute stole idolatrous property from the house of Gesios secretly at night, cf. ed. Leipoldt–Crum Vita Sinuthii, 1906, p.57.Whether Shenoute is here actively thinking of or even promoting the cult of saints as a Christian way to ensure personal protection by gaining their affections (σπλάγχνον), is a matter of speculation. He may just have intended to style the saints as a third moral authority.
Bibliography
Edition:Leipoldt, J., and Crum, W.E., Sinuthii archimandritae opera omnia et vita (Paris, 1908) pp. 44–62.
Translation:
English translation by Anthony Alcock, Shenoute, Ad philosophum gentilem, published online at: https://suciualin.files.wordpress.com/2016/01/ad-philosophum-gentilem1.pdf
Gesa Schenke
7/6/2016
| ID | Name | Name in Source | Identity | S00518 | Saints, unnamed | Certain |
|---|
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