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The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity


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


Greek building inscription probably commemorating the construction of a martyr shrine (martyrion) dedicated to *Sergios (soldier and martyr of Rusafa, S00023). Found at Sīfre near Lake Gabboula, Beroia/Aleppo, and Chalkis (north Syria). Dated 527/528.

Evidence ID

E01693

Type of Evidence

Inscriptions - Formal inscriptions (stone, mosaic, etc.)

+ ἔτου[ς] ἐκτ<ίσθη>
θλω΄ τὼ μαρ(τύριον)
Σεργ(ίου) τοῦ ἁγ<ί>(ου)

'+ The martyr shrine of Saint Sergios was built in the year 839.'

Text:
IGLS 2, no. 258.

Cult Places

Cult building - independent (church)
Martyr shrine (martyrion, bet sāhedwātā, etc.)

Non Liturgical Activity

Construction of cult buildings

Source

A stone lintel, with a carving of a cross within a circle in the centre. There are the letters Α and Ω below the horizontal arms of the cross. No published description.

Found in a modern channel, 4-5 km from the village of Sīfre, close to Sugane/Sokhani. When recorded, the stone lay partially under water.

Seen and copied by Joseph Dumbakly. The copy was forwarded by Sébastien Ronzevalle to Louis Jalabert and René Mouterde for publication. First published in the second volume of
Les inscriptions grecques et latines de la Syrie in 1939.

Discussion

The layout of the inscription is problematic, but if the words were read correctly, we can accept that the inscription commemorated the construction of a martyr shrine dedicated to Sergios.

The date, the year 839, is given according to the Seleucid era, which corresponds to AD 527/528.


Bibliography

Edition:
Jalabert, L., Mouterde, R., Les inscriptions grecques et latines de la Syrie, vol. 2: Chalcidique et Antiochène (BAH 32, Paris: P. Geuthner, 1939), no. 258.

Reference works:
Bulletin épigraphique (1940), 172.

Images



From: IGLS 2, no. 258.
























Record Created By

Paweł Nowakowski

Date of Entry

05/07/2016

Related Saint Records
IDNameName in SourceIdentity
S00023Sergios, soldier and martyr of RusafaΣέργιοςCertain


Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL:
Paweł Nowakowski, Cult of Saints, E01693 - http://csla.history.ox.ac.uk/record.php?recid=E01693