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The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity


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


A Coptic list of holy books belonging to the monastery of Apa *Elijah/Elias (probably the Old Testament prophet, S00217) 'on the mountain', presumably at Aphroditopolis/Atfih (Middle Egypt), lists a papyrus manuscript containing 'an encomion by Apa Gregorios on Basileios', presumably the Oration on *Basil of Caesarea (S00780) by Gregory of Nyssa. List datable to the 7th/8th century.

Evidence ID

E01737

Type of Evidence

Documentary texts - List

KSB 1.12

A large limestone ostracon preserves one hundred and fifteen lines written in two columns, listing all the books belonging to the monastery of Elijah on the mountain. The list begins with books from the Old Testament followed by the gospels, and various other manuscripts, including Encomia (E01733, E01737, E01738, E01740), Lives (E01732, E01733, E01734, E01736, E01741), and Martyrdoms (E01731, E01735, E01739, E01742, E01743). The material of the books is listed either as papyrus (
ⲭⲁⲣⲧⲏⲥ) or as parchment (ⲙⲉⲃⲣⲁⲛⲟⲛ), specifying whether these manuscripts are old or new.

[ⲡⲗ]ⲟ̣ⲅⲟⲥ ⲛⲛϫⲱⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲙⲡⲧⲟⲡⲟⲥ ⲛⲁⲡⲁ ϩⲏⲗⲓⲁⲥ ⲛⲧⲡ̣ⲉ̣[ⲧⲣⲁ]

‘[The] list of holy books at the monastery (
topos) of Apa Elias on the mountain.’


In line 88 is the entry:

ⲟⲩⲉⲅⲕⲱⲙⲓⲟⲛ ⲛⲧⲉ ⲁⲡⲁ ⲅⲣⲏⲅⲟⲣⲓⲟⲥ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲃⲁⲥⲓⲗⲉⲓⲟⲥ ⲭⲁⲣ(ⲧⲏⲥ) ⲅⲉⲛⲟ[ⲩⲣ](ⲅⲓⲟⲥ)

'An Encomion by Apa Gregorios on Basileios, papyrus (
χάρτης), new (καινούργιος).’


Text: M. Hasitzka,
KSB I.12
Translation: G. Schenke

Non Liturgical Activity

Transmission, copying and reading saint-related texts

Source

The limestone ostracon belongs to the IFAO in Cairo, Inv. 13315, and is datable by its script to the 7th/8th century.

Discussion

For this oration see E01808.

Bibliography

Text:
Hasitzka, M.R.M., Koptisches Sammelbuch (KSB), vol. 1 (Vienna, 1993), 9–12.


Record Created By

Gesa Schenke

Date of Entry

Related Saint Records
IDNameName in SourceIdentity
S00217Elijah/Elias, Old Testament prophetⲁⲡⲁ ϩⲏⲗⲓⲁⲥUncertain
S00780Basil, bishop of Caesarea, ob. 379ⲃⲁⲥⲓⲗⲉⲓⲟⲥ Certain


Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL:
Gesa Schenke, Cult of Saints, E01737 - http://csla.history.ox.ac.uk/record.php?recid=E01737