Coptic Sermon on the proper way of monastic life (Asketikon) by Apa Ephraim, presumably the ascetic and founder of a monastery at Fargout, mentioning the saints as witnesses on the day of judgement; presumably written in the early 6th century.
E05118
Literary - Colophons, marginalia etc.
Literary - Sermons/Homilies
Brit. Mus. Ms. Oriental no. 6783, fol. 45b–63a
The text is introduced as follows:
ⲡⲁⲥⲕⲏϯⲕⲟⲛ ⲛⲁⲡⲁ ⲉⲫⲣⲁⲓⲙ ⲥⲙⲟⲩ ⲉⲣⲟⲛ ϥⲑ
‘The ascetic life of Apa Ephraim. Bless us. Amen.’
The homily addresses a monastic congregation and is primarily concerned with the lack of proper behaviour and established norms, the loss of morality and increase of ignorance, laziness and vanity.
The author urges his audience to return to living in the fear of God and his eternal judgement, thus resuming a humble way of life.
Fol. 58b; Budge, p. 172, lines 19–23:
ⲥⲉⲛⲁϫⲡⲓⲟⲛ ϩⲛ ⲧⲙⲏⲏⲧⲉ ⲛϩⲉⲛϣⲟ ⲛϣⲟ · ⲙⲛ ϩⲉⲛⲧⲃⲁ ⲛⲧⲃⲁ ⲛⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ ϩⲓ ⲁⲣⲭⲏⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ ⲙⲛ ⲛⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲉⲩⲁϩⲉⲣⲁⲧⲟⲩ ⲙⲡⲉϥⲕⲱⲧⲉ ⲙⲏ ⲉⲕⲛⲁϣϫⲓϭⲟⲗ ⲙⲡⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲧⲙⲙⲁⲩ ·
‘They will blame us in the midst of thousands and ten thousands of angels and archangels with all the saints standing in his vicinity. Will you be able to tell a lie then?’
If the monastic congregation keeps to their intended humble ways, the reward will be worth the endurance.
Fol. 63a; Budge p. 177, lines 33–34:
ϩⲓⲧⲛ ⲙⲙⲛⲧϣⲁⲛϩⲧⲏϥ ⲙⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲛϥⲁⲁⲛ ⲛⲙⲡϣⲁ ⲙⲡⲱⲛϩ ϣⲁ ⲉⲛⲉϩ ⲙⲛ ⲛⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ
‘… through the benevolence of God, he makes us worthy of eternal life together with the saints.’
Text: E. A. W. Budge.
Summary and translation: G. Schenke.
Cult building - monastic
Places Named after SaintMonastery
Non Liturgical ActivityPrayer/supplication/invocation
Bequests, donations, gifts and offerings
Source
The parchment codex Ms. Oriental no. 6783 is housed at the British Museum. The manuscript was produced by a man name Viktor, deacon of the church of *Merkurios, the General (S01323) at Latopolis/Esna (Upper Egypt) and completed on day 23 of Mesore (16 August) of the year 1003 AD. The expense of copying and producing the manuscript was paid by Zacharias, a deacon and monk at the monastery of Merkurios the General at Apollinopolis/Atbo/Edfu (Upper Egypt), where he donated the manuscript to the saint’s shrine, so that Merkurios as well as all the other saints appearing in this book would intercede on his behalf for the salvation of his soul.The codex includes the following texts:
1. Fol. 1a–22b: Life of Eustathios, the General, and his family (E05115)
2. Fol. 23a–30a: Life of Apa Kyros/Apakyros, the perfect monk (E05116)
3. Fol. 30b–45b: Encomion on Demetrios, archbishop of Alexandria, attributed to Flavianus, bishop of Ephesos (E05117)
4. Fol. 45b–63a: The ascetic life of Apa Ephraim
5. Fol. 63b–67b: An Epistle of Apa Ephraim to a beloved disciple (E05119)
6. Fol. 67b–83a: Life of John the Monk (E05120)
7. Fol. 83a–84a: Colophon and Prayer
Bibliography
Text and translation:Budge, E.A.W., Coptic Martyrdoms etc. in the Dialect of Upper Egypt (Coptic Texts 4; London: British Museum, 1914), 157–178 (text) and 409–430 (trans.).
Gesa Schenke
14/3/2018
| ID | Name | Name in Source | Identity | S00191 | Archangels, unnamed or name lost | Certain | S00518 | Saints, unnamed | Certain | S00723 | Angels, unnamed or name lost | Certain |
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