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The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity


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


Coptic invocation possibly from Panopolis (Upper Egypt) addressing* Michael (the Archangel, S00181), *Gabriel (the Archangel, S00192), *Mary (Mother of Christ, S00030), *Zechariah (presumably the father of John the Baptist, S00597) and *5400 Martyrs (unnamed, S00060) to cause someone physical harm; datable to the end of the 4th/beginning of the 5th century.

Evidence ID

E06310

Type of Evidence

Late antique original manuscripts - Papyrus sheet

Liturgical texts - Invocations, prayers and spells

P.IFAO Rémondon

Besides invoking the archangels, as well as Zechariah, Mary and Jesus himself, 5400 martyrs are addressed as a group and asked to cause harm.

Summary: G. Schenke.

Non Liturgical Activity

Prayer/supplication/invocation

Source

The papyrus is kept at the Institut français d'archéologie orientale (IFAO) in Cairo.


Discussion

The Zechariah named here is presumably the father of John the Baptist, and not the Old Testament prophet, since he is named in conjunction with Gabriel, Mary and Jesus, an association that would suit the former much better than the latter.


Bibliography

Text and translation:
Rémondon, R., "Un papyrus magique copte," BIFAO 52 (1953), 157–161.

Ritner, R.K., "101: Jacob's curse to give someone an ulcerous tumor," in: M. Meyer and R. Smith (eds.),
Ancient Christian Magic: Coptic Texts of Ritual Power (San Francisco, 1994), 207–208.


Record Created By

Gesa Schenke

Date of Entry

8/9/2018

Related Saint Records
IDNameName in SourceIdentity
S00033Mary, Mother of ChristCertain
S00060Martyrs, unnamed or name lostCertain
S00181Michael, the ArchangelCertain
S00192Gabriel, the ArchangelCertain
S00283Zechariah, Old Testament prophetUncertain
S00597Zechariah, father of John the BaptistUncertain


Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL:
Gesa Schenke, Cult of Saints, E06310 - http://csla.history.ox.ac.uk/record.php?recid=E06310