E00236: Coptic will of Jacob, head of the monastery of Apa *Phoibammon (soldier and martyr of Assiut, S00080) at Deir el-Bahari (Upper Egypt), from the second half of the 7th c., specifying a duty to care for the lamp of the holy topos.

P.KRU 65

Following bishop Abraham of Hermonthis ($E00237), Apa Viktor, and Apa Petros (E00233), all heads of the monastery of Apa Phoibammon through succession determined by the will of its superior, Jacob follows in this line (lines 35–37) and produces his own will. His successor is to be Viktor, son of Theodoros (line 38 and 45), for the entire duration of his life. He is to be the legal owner of all the monastery’s common property. His duties are administrative as well as liturgical, especially with respect to the care for the lamp of the holy topos. In addition, he is responsible for the giving of alms to the poor, and for the celebration of the days of commemoration for each one of the holy fathers (lines 63–66).

The care for the lamp mentioned in lines 64–65:

ⲡⲣⲟⲟⲩϣ ⲛⲡϩⲏⲃⲥ ⲛⲡⲧⲟⲡⲟⲥ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲡⲣⲟⲥ ⲧⲥⲩⲛⲏⲑⲉⲓⲁ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲧϭⲟⲙ ⲛⲡⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓϣ ⲡⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓϣ

'the care for the lamp of the holy topos, according to what is customary and necessary from time to time'

(Text: W. E. Crum and G. Steindorff, German trans. W. C. Till, Engl. trans. G. Schenke)