E00915: Greek invocation on behalf of labourers or clergy at a church of *Michael (the Archangel, S00181). Found near Dionysopolis (Phrygia, west central Asia Minor). Probably late antique.

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posted on 2015-11-30, 00:00 authored by pnowakowski

κύριος φυ-
λάξι τοὺς
ἐργαζο-
μένους ἐν
τῷ οἴκῳ το-
ῦ ἀρχανγέ-
λου
Μιχαήλ

'May the Lord keep those who work at the house of Michael the Archangel.'

or

'May the Lord keep those who minister in the house of Michael the Archangel.'

Text: MAMA IV, no. 307.

History

Evidence ID

E00915

Saint Name

Michael, the Archangel : S00181

Saint Name in Source

Μιχαήλ

Related Saint Records

https://oxford.figshare.com/articles/Michael_the_Archangel/13729612

Type of Evidence

Inscriptions - Formal inscriptions (stone, mosaic, etc.) Inscriptions - Inscribed architectural elements

Language

Greek

Evidence not before

450

Evidence not after

650

Activity not before

450

Activity not after

650

Place of Evidence - Region

Asia Minor

Place of Evidence - City, village, etc

Dionysopolis (Phrygia)

Place of evidence - City name in other Language(s)

Dionysopolis (Phrygia) Nicomedia Νικομήδεια Nikomēdeia Izmit Πραίνετος Prainetos Nicomedia

Cult activities - Places

Cult building - independent (church)

Cult activities - Non Liturgical Practices and Customs

Prayer/supplication/invocation

Cult Activities - Protagonists in Cult and Narratives

Ecclesiastics – unspecified Merchants and artisans

Source

A limestone cylindrical block, found at Kabalar near Dionysopolis (Phrygia, central Asia Minor), which was said to have been brought from ruins near Sazak. H. 2.23 m; diameter 0.35 m. It presumably served as a column in a church dedicated to Michael the Archangel.

Discussion

The invocation was written on behalf of 'those who labour' (ἐργαζόμενοι). The verb ἐγράζομαι is often used to denote building works. Therefore, one can interpret the inscription as a request for help for workers who built the sanctuary. In the Christian context, ἐγράζομαι can mean, however, 'to perform holy rites', see, for instance, the First Epistle to the Corinthians 9:13: οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι οἱ τὰ ἱερὰ ἐργαζόμενοι τὰ ἐκ τοῦ ἱεροῦ ἐσθίουσιν, οἱ τῷ θυσιαστηρίῳ παρεδρεύοντες τῷ θυσιαστηρίῳ συμμερίζονται;/'Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple?' Thus the inscription may alternatively be interpreted as an invocation on behalf of the clergy (or perhaps even all the Christians) of that sanctuary.

Bibliography

Edition: Monumenta Asiae Minoris Antiqua IV, no. 307. Inscriptiones Christianae Graecae database, no. 1084: http://www.epigraph.topoi.org/ica/icamainapp/inscription/show/1084 Further reading: Halkin, F., "Inscriptions grecques relatives à l'hagiographie, IX, Asie Mineure", Analecta Bollandiana 71 (1953), 330.

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Keywords

S00181 History

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