Coptic fragment of a hortatory sermon from Bala’izah (Upper Egypt), claiming that the death of the saints (S00518) is a precious incident; the text also suggests resting at their (burial) ‘place’ to commemorate them; datable to the 6th century.
E04409
Late antique original manuscripts - Papyrus codex
Literary - Sermons/Homilies
P.Bal. 50
A papyrus leaf written in two columns preserves parts of a sermon arguing that the death of evil men is indeed a reason for grief, since they will be judged. Whereas the death of righteous men is a blessing, as they shall escape the wrath of God. The text then goes on to quote a statement, saying: ‘The death of the saints for the Lord is honoured by his presence,’ and seems to suggest resting at the saints’ (burial) place to commemorate them.
Col. II, lines 20–26 reads as follows:
ⲑⲉ ⲉⲧⲥⲏϩ ϫⲉ ⲡⲙⲟⲩ ⲛⲛⲉⲧⲟ[ⲩ]ⲁⲁ̣ⲃ ⲙⲡϫⲟⲉⲓ[ⲥ] ⲧⲁⲏⲩ ⲙⲡⲉϥⲙⲧⲟ [ⲉ]ⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲱ[ⲥ]ⲧ̣ⲉ̣ ⲛⲁⲥ̣ⲛⲏⲩ ϣⲁ ⲡⲉⲩⲙ̣ⲁ : ⲙⲁⲣⲉⲛⲙⲧⲟⲛ ⲙⲙⲟⲛ ·
ϩⲛ ⲡⲉⲩⲙⲧⲟⲛ · ⲟⲩⲥ̣ⲟⲉⲓⲧ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲉⲛⲁⲛⲟⲩϥ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲣⲡⲙⲉⲉ[ⲩⲉ] ⲙⲡ[ⲇⲓ]ⲕⲁⲓⲟⲥ ·
‘…] as it is written: “The death of the saints for the Lord is honoured by his presence.” So that, my brethren, at their (burial) place let us rest ourselves by their rest, for a good account is the commemoration of the righteous.’
(Text and trans.: P. E. Kahle, modified)
Burial site of a saint - tomb/grave
Non Liturgical ActivityVisiting graves and shrines
Ceremonies at burial of a saint
Incubation
Oral transmission of saint-related stories
Transmission, copying and reading saint-related texts
Theorising on SanctityConsiderations about the veneration of saints
Bibliography
Text and Translation:Kahle, P.E., Bala'izah: Coptic Texts from Deir el-Bala'izah in Upper Egypt, 2 vols. (London, 1954), 470–471.
Gesa Schenke
27/11/2017
| ID | Name | Name in Source | Identity | S00518 | Saints, unnamed | Certain | S01151 | All Saints | Certain |
|---|
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