Coptic fragmentary invocation on an ostracon, from Qurnah (Upper Egypt), addressing a saint whose name is only partially preserved (perhaps *Andrew, the Apostle, S00288, or *Ananias, bishop with cult at Jeme, S01224), *Phoibammon (soldier and martyr of Assiut, S00080), and a Bishop Abraham; datable to the 7th/8th c., possibly before 624.
E02473
Liturgical texts - Invocations, prayers and spells
Late antique original manuscripts - Ostracon/Pot-sherd
BKU 2 258
The text seems to be a very basic invocation, with three addressees, possibly in their order of importance, starting with perhaps with an Apostle, followed by the martyr Apa Phoibammon and then by Apa Abraham, presumably the bishop of Hermonthis. The latter, addressed as 'the orthodox bishop'. was probably still alive and so invoked as a holy man.
The saint mentioned in line 1 could well be Andrew, the Apostle, though other names are possible. One could be the bishop with cult at Jeme, Apa Ananias, mentioned in documents from Jeme, see E00241 and E02463, as well as E02469, in which case there may not be a descending order of importance provided by the list.
The invocation was made by a man named Onophrios (Ouanofre), a camel herdsman, whose specific concerns might well be lost.
ⲟ ⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲛ̣[…]
ⲁⲡⲁ ⲫⲓⲃⲁⲙ[ⲙⲱⲛ]
ⲡⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲟ[ⲥ . .]
ⲁⲡⲁ ⲁⲃⲣⲁϩⲁⲙ ⲟⲣⲑⲟ-
ⲇⲟⲝⲟⲩ ⲉⲡⲓⲥⲕⲟⲡ[ⲟⲩ]
ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲟⲩⲁⲛⲟϥ[ⲣⲉ .]
ⲡⲙⲁⲛⲕⲁⲙ[ⲟⲩⲗ . .]
'Saint An[drew?]/An[anias?],
Apa Phoibammon, the martyr,
Apa Abraham, the orthodox bishop.
I am Ouanofre, the camel herdsman …'
Text: A. Erman and W. E. Crum
Translation: G. Schenke
Prayer/supplication/invocation
Source
This limestone ostracon was found in Qurnah, located roughly north of Jeme, in the Theban area, and is now housed in the papyrus collection in Berlin, P.Berol. inv. 875. The text has been dated to the 7th/8th century on palaeographical grounds, but if it addresses bishop Abraham of Hermonthis as the acting bishop, then it must date from before 624, the year of his death.Bibliography
Edition:Erman, A., and Crum, W.E., Ägyptische Urkunden aus den koeniglichen Museen zu Berlin, Koptische Urkunden, vol. 2 (Berlin, 1904), 195.
Gesa Schenke
7/3/2017
| ID | Name | Name in Source | Identity | S00080 | Phoibammon, soldier and martyr of Assiut | ⲁⲡⲁ ⲫⲓⲃⲁⲙ[ⲙⲱⲛ] | Uncertain | S00288 | Andrew, the Apostle | ⲁⲛ̣[…] | Uncertain | S01224 | Ananias, bishop with cult at Jeme | ⲁⲛ̣[…] | Uncertain | S01230 | Abraham, bishop of Hermonthis | ⲁⲡⲁ ⲁⲃⲣⲁϩⲁⲙ | Certain |
|---|
Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL:
Gesa Schenke, Cult of Saints, E02473 - http://csla.history.ox.ac.uk/record.php?recid=E02473