Seven fragments of a Greek inscription, from Sicyon (near Corinth), with a calendar of saints' feast days. Those that can be read are the following (in alphabetical order): *Aphra (possibly Afra, martyr of Augsburg, S01797), *Apphianos/Amphianos (martyr of Caesarea of Palestine, S00159), *Andrew (the Apostle, S00288), *Antipas (presumably the bishop and martyr of Pergamon, S01816), *Antoninos (martyr of Alexandria, S00327), *Christophoros (martyr of Pamphylia, S00616), *Demetrios (martyr of XXXXX, S02464), *Epimachus (martyr of Rome, buried on the via Latina, S00295), *Glykeria (martyr of Perinthus-Heraclea in Thrace, S00018), *Gordiοs (presumably the soldier and martyr of Caesarea of Cappadocia, S00114), *Kodratos and his companions (martyrs of Corinth, S02368), *Laurence/Laurentius (deacon and martyr of Rome, S00037), *Pionios (presbyter and martyr of Smyrna, $S00031), *Theodosia (from Tyre, martyr of Palestine, $S00161), *Viktor (perhaps Viktor, martyr of Nicomedia, $S00975). Found at Sikyon near Corinth (north-eastern Peloponnese). Probably 5th c.
E06318
Inscriptions - Formal inscriptions (stone, mosaic, etc.)
Liturgical texts - Calendars and martyrologies
In the text and translation below the relevant month is deduced from the saints' feast-days, rather than from surviving inscriptional evidence.
Text:
G: March
[– – – – – –]
[○] ζ̣̅ Γορδίου
[○] ς̅ Κοδράτου ε̅
[○] ε̅ vacat
[○] δ̅ Πιονίου
[○] γ̅ Βικτω[ρ– –]
[○] α̅ vacat
E: April
[○ Κα]λ(άνδαις) vacat
[○ πρ(ὸ) δ̅] Νω(νῶν) Ἀφφιανοῦ I – – – –]
[○ γ̅ Θ]εοδοσίας
[– – – – – –]
A: May B: June
[– – – – – – – –]
[– – – – – –] o γ̣̅ – – – – – – –]
[o δ̅ – – –]ανοῦ o α̅ vacat
[o γ̅ Δ]ημητ[ρί]ου o Νώ(ναις) Μ̣– – – –]
o α̅ Ἀντίπα o πρ(ὸ) [η̅ ᾿Ϊδ(ῶν) – ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ –]
o Νώ(ναις) Χρηστοφόρ̣[ου o – – – – – – – –]
o πρ(ὸ) η̅ ᾿Ϊδ(ῶν) vacat
o ζ̅ Ἐπιμάχου
o ς̅ Γλυκερίας
[– – – – –]
lacuna
F: August September
[– – – – – –]
○ ζ̅ vacat ○ [– – – – – –]
○ ς̅ Ἄφρας ○ [– – – – – –]
○ ε̅ Ἀντωνίνου ○ [– – – – – –]
○ δ̅ Λαυρεντίου ○ [– – – – – –]
[– – – – – –]
D: November December
[– – – – – –] ○ [– – – – – –]
○ α̅ Ἀνδρέου ἀπο(στόλου) ○ [– – – – – –]
vacat ○ [– – – – – –]
C: unknown month
[– – – – – –]
35 [○] δ̣̅ – – – – –]
○ γ̅ .– – – – –]
○ α̅ Κο– – – –]
○ ᾿Ϊδ(οῖς) vacat
[○] πρ(ὸ) ι̅η̅ [Καλ(ανδῶν) – – –]
[– – – – – –]
[l. 32. Μ[αρκιανοῦ Sironen, in his commentary, with a reference to the tenth-century Synaxarion of Constantinople (H. Delehaye, Synaxarium ecclesiae Constantinopolitanae e codice Sirmondiano nunc Berolinensi [Acta Sanctorum 62, Brussels, 1902], 732).]
Translation:
D: November December
G: March
[8.] [– – –]
9. Of Gordios
10. Of Kodratos (and) five (companions)
11. vacat
12. Of Pionios
13. Of Viktor– –]
14. vacat
E: April
Kal. vacat
[2.] Of Amphianios
[3.] Of Theodosia
[4.] [– – –]
A: May June
[2.] [– – –]
[3.] [– – –] 3. [– – –]
[4.] [– – –anos 4. [– – –]
[5.] Of Demetrios Non. M– – –]
6. Of Antipas 6. [– – –]
Non. Of Christophoros [7.] [– – –]
8. vacat lacuna
9. Of Epimachos
10. Of Glykeria
[11.] [– – –]
F: August September
[6.] [– – –]
7. vacat [7.] [– – –]
8. Of Aphra [8.] [– – –]
9. Of Antoninos [9.] [– – –]
10. Of Laurentios [10.] [– – –]
[11.] [– – –]
D: November December
29. [– – –] [29.] [– – –]
30. Of Andrew, the Apostle [30.] [– – –]
vacat [31.] [– – –]
C: unknown month
10. or 12. [– – –]
11. or 13. [– – –]
12. or 14. Of Ko[– – –]
Ides vacat
14. or 16. [– – –]
Text: IG IV2 3, no. 1825.
Service for the saint
Other liturgical acts and ceremonies
FestivalsSaint’s feast
Source
Seven fragments of a large thin white marble slab. Th. 0.025-0.03 m. Dimensions of the surviving pieces: A-B (two conjoining fragments, inv. nos. 968-969): H. 0.115 m + 0.105 m, W. 0.12 m + 0.105 m; C (inv. no. 937): H. 0.075 m, W. 0.065 m; D (inv. no. 970): H. 0.085, W. 0.115 m; E (inv. no. 962): H. 0.07, W. 0.095; F (inv. no. 966): H. 0.105, W. 0.115 m; G: H. and Th. 0.17 m, W. and Th. 0.16 m. From the width of each column and the height of each line, the original undamaged slab can be calculated to have been at least 0.70 m high and at least 1.40 m wide. Letter height 0.008-0.015 m.Four of the fragments were found in Sicyon near Corinth (northeastern Peloponnese) in 1926, during the excavations directed by Alexandros Philadelpheus. The fifth fragment (G) was published more than 60 years later by Kalliope Krystalle-Botse. In 2016,Erkki Sironen published the previously known fragments, along with two further unpublished ones, in the fourth volume of Inscriptiones Graecae (2nd ed.), based on the reconstruction of Klaus Hallof. Now in the Archaeological Museum of Sicyon.
They constitute a small part (24 days out of 365) of a local liturgical calendar. It was divided into 12 columns (from January to December), with as many lines as days of the month. The calendar has the form of a parapegma, on which the days of the month were indicated by movable pegs inserted into bored holes, so that a viewer could immediately identify the right saint to be commemorated on each day. On this type of calendars, see A. Rehm, 'Parapegma', RE 18,2 (1949), 1295-1366.
The Sicyon parapegma is remarkable for two reasons: for the large number of saints commemorated (with seemingly only a few days left blank), even though it is apparently quite an early document; and as a deeply functional, rather than purely commemorative, inscription.
Klaus Hallof dates the calendar to the 5th c., based on the shape of its letters and the Latin dating system (which is unlikely in the Peloponnese in later centuries). The same date is given in IG IV2 3 and in the Inscriptiones Christianae Graecae database.
Note added 4 June 2023: The six photographs that now appear on our website were kindly provided by Konstantinos Bilias. He has identified three new fragments of this calendar in the storerooms at the site of Sicyon (one of them with the names of a number of saints). These he is in the process of preparing for publication.
Discussion
The calendar from Sicyon records the feasts of the following saints:on 30 November of *Andrew (the Apostle, S00288), commemorated in the Synaxarion of Constantinople on the same day (p. 265, 12);
on 9 March of *Gordiοs (presumably the soldier and martyr of Caesarea of Cappadocia, S00114), commemorated in the Synaxarion of Constantinople on 3 January (p. 367, 2); but on 2 March in both the 411 Syriac Martyrology (E01445) and the Martyrologium Hieronymianum (E04704).
on 10 March of *Kodratos and his companions (martyrs of Corinth, S02368), commemorated in the Synaxarion of Constantinople on the same day (p. 523, 13); see also E06282.
on 12 March of *Pionios (presbyter and martyr of Smyrna, S00031), commemorated on 12 March in the Martyrologium Hieronymianum (E04714), in the Synaxarion of Constantinople on 11 March (p. 529, 11).
on 13 March of a certain *Viktor (though possibly someone with a longer name beginning with 'Viktor...'). It is impossible to identify this martyr with any confidence, there being several possible 'Viktors/Victors', but none with recorded commemoration on 13 March. Possibly he is the Viktor or Viktorinos (martyr of Nicomedia, S00975) who is commemorated on the 6 March in both the 411 Syriac Martyrology (E01447) and the Martyrologium Hieronymianum (E04708).
on 2 April of *Apphianos/Amphianos (martyr of Caesarea, S01525), commemorated on this same day in both the Martyrologium Hieronymianum (E04757) and the Calendar of Ioane Zosime (E3697). as well as in the Synaxarion of Constantinople (p. 579, 13).
on 3 April of *Theodosia from Tyre (martyr of Palestine, S00161), whose death on 2 April was recorded by Eusebius of Caesarea, in his Martyrs of Palestine (7.1-2) (E00301).
on 5 May of *Demetrios (martyr of XXXXXX, S02464). Although we have no other evidence of his cult in Late Antiquity, this is presumably the martyr Demetrios commemorated with four companions in the tenth-century Synaxarion of Constantinople on 6 May (p. 662, 8). The much better known Demetrios of Thessalonike had no feast in early May.
on 6 May of *Antipas, who, with his unusual name, is probably the bishop and martyr of Pergamon (S01816), although he is commemorated on 11 April in both the Calendar Of Ioane Zosime (E03706) and in the Synaxarion of Constantinople (p. 595, 33-34).
on 7 May of *Christophoros (martyr of Pamphylia, S00616), commemorated in the Synaxarion of Constantinople on 9 May (p. 667, 25);
on 9 May of *Epimachus (martyr of Rome, buried on the via Latina, S00295), commemorated in both the Martyrologium Hieronymianum (E04809) and the Synaxarion of Constantinople on 10 May (p. 673, 53).
on 10 May of *Glykeria (martyr of Perinthus-Heraclea in Thrace, S00018), who is commemorated in the Synaxarion of Constantinople on either 12 or 13 May (pp. 676, 47 and 679, 7);
on 8 August of 'Aphra': she is possibly *Afra (martyr of Augsburg, $S01797) whose feast is recorded on 5, 6 and 7 August in the Martyrologium Hieronymianum ($E04908, $E04910 and $E04911). This Afra of Augsburg is otherwise first recorded at the end of the 6th century, in a poem by Venantius Fortunatus ($E08486).
A 'martyr Afra' is also commemorated on 11 August in the Church Calendar of Ioane Zosime, which was compiled in Georgian in the 10th century, but based on prototypes from Palestine of the 5th/7th century ($E03829).
It is possible that these three Afras/Aphras (of Augsburg, Sikyon and Palestine) are the same martyr, the martyr of Augsburg. For her to be commemorated at Sikyon would be unusual, since she is a somewhat obscure western saint (with no other evidence of late-antique cult beyond Augsburg), though it is notable that Epimachus of Rome (who was definitely commemorated at Sikyon on 9 May) is also little known. However, for Afra of Augsburg to appear in a late-antique Palestinian calendar is truly extraordinary. There may have been two different martyrs, one eastern and one western, who happened to share a name and close-to-the-same feast day; it is also possible that Afra of Augsburg (who is documented later than the Aphra of Sikyon) is an avatar of the Greek saint.
on 9 August of *Antoninos (martyr of Alexandria, $S00327), commemorated in the Martyrologium Hieronymianum ($E04914) and in the Synaxarion of Constantinople on this same day (p. 881, 6).
on 10 August of *Laurence/Laurentius (deacon and martyr of Rome, $S00037), whose feast on this date was already established in the 4th century ($E01052).
on 30 November of *Andrew (the Apostle, S00288), commemorated in the Synaxarion of Constantinople on the same day (p. 265, 12).
and other saints whose names are lost.
Bibliography
Edition:Hallof, K., "Ein christlicher Steckkalender aus Sikyon (IG IV2 3, 1825)," Early Christianity 7 (2016), 237-246.
Inscriptiones Christianae Graecae database, no. 2884: http://www.epigraph.topoi.org/ica/icamainapp/inscription/show/2884
Inscriptiones Graecae IV (2nd ed.) 3, no. 1825 and Tab. XLIV.
Philadelpheus, A., "Ἀνασκαφαὶ Σικυῶνος", Archaiologikón Deltíon 10 (1926), 48, no. 4-7 (fragm. A-D) and fig. 2-3 (fragm. A and B)(cf. SEG 11, 266).
Further Reading:
Delehaye, H., Synaxarium ecclesiae Constantinopolitanae e codice Sirmondiano nunc Berolinensi (Acta Sanctorum 62, Brussels, 1902).
Idem, Commentarius perpetuus in Martyrologium Hieronymianum (Acta Sanctorum, Novembris II/2, Brussels, 1931), 259.
Krystalle-Botse, Κ., "Ανασκαφή Σικυώνος", Praktiká tis en Athínais Archaiologikís Etaireías 142 (1987), 68 and Pl. 56 (Fragm. G).
Eadem, "Ανασκαφή Σικυώνος", Praktiká tis en Athínais Archaiologikís Etaireías 143 (1988), 31.
Reference works:
Bulletin épigraphique (1993), 753.
Bulletin épigraphique (2016), 582 (cf. SEG 41, 271).
Supplementum Epigraphicum Graecum 11, 266.
Supplementum Epigraphicum Graecum 41, 271.
Images
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Fragments A-B. Photograph: Konstantinos Bilias
)
Fragment C. Photograph: Konstantinos Bilias
)
Fragment D. Photograph: Konstantinos Bilias
)
Fragment E. Photograph: Konstantinos Bilias
)
Fragment F. Photograph: Konstantinos Bilias
)
Fragment G. Photograph: Konstantinos Bilias
)
Reconstruction of the calendar, drawing. From: Hallof 2016, 245, Abb. 7.
Małgorzata Krawczyk
10/09/2018; emended 22/10/2024
| ID | Name | Name in Source | Identity | S00018 | Glykeria, martyr of Perinthus-Heraclea in Thrace | Γλυκερία | Uncertain | S00031 | Pionios, presbyter and martyr of Smyrna | Πιόνιος | Certain | S00037 | Laurence/Laurentius, deacon and martyr of Rome | Λαυρέντιος | Certain | S00114 | Gordiοs, soldier and martyr of Caesarea of Cappadocia | Γόρδιος | Certain | S00159 | Apphianos, martyr of Caesarea of Palestine | Ἀφφιανός | Certain | S00161 | Theodosia from Tyre, martyr of Caesarea of Palestine | θεοδοσία | Certain | S00288 | Andrew, the Apostle | Ἀνδρέας | Certain | S00295 | Epimachus, martyr of Rome, buried on the via Latina | Ἐπιμάχος | Certain | S00327 | Antoninos, martyr of Alexandria | Ἀντωνῖνος | Certain | S00616 | Christophoros, martyr of Pamphylia | Χριστοφόρος | Certain | S00975 | Viktorinos/Viktor, martyr of Nicomedia | Βίκτωρ | Uncertain | S01744 | Saints, name lost or very partially preserved | Certain | S01797 | Afra, martyr of Augsburg | Ἄφρα | Uncertain | S01816 | Antipas, bishop and martyr of Pergamon | Ἀντίπας | Uncertain | S01927 | Viktorinos/Viktor and companions, martyrs of Corinth | Βίκτωρ/Βικτωρίνος | Uncertain | S02368 | Kodratos and his companions (Anektos, Paulos, Dionysios, Kyprianos and Kreskes), martyrs of Corinth | Κοδρᾶτος | Certain | S02464 | Demetrios (unspecified) | Δημήτριος | Uncertain |
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