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E00943: Greek graffito commemorating the consecration of a rock-cut church dedicated to Nicholas (probably the bishop of Myra under Constantine, S00520), just possibly with a reference to the intercession of Mary, Mother of Christ (S00033). Found at Strobilos (Caria, western Asia Minor). Probably 7th c.

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posted on 2015-12-07, 00:00 authored by pnowakowski

+ ἐνκ(αί)ν(ια) τοῦ ἁ-
γυίου Νικωλ(άου)
μινὴ Μαΐ(ῳ)
ΠΡc

/\/

ΤΙΕΓΠΑΙL
ΠΑΘc

1-2. ἁ|γυίου = ἁγίου || 3. μινὴ = μηνὶ || 4-6. πρ(εσβείαις) τ(ῆς) πανα[γ]ία(ς) πα(ρ)θ(ένου) (?) Grégoire

'+ The consecration (of the church) of Saint Nicholas (took place) in the month of May.'

Then follow random letters that according to Grégoire should be read:

'(It was completed) through the intercessions of the all-holy Virgin.'

Text: IGC, no. 233(4).

History

Evidence ID

E00943

Saint Name

Nicholas, bishop of Myra (Lycia, south Asia Minor), ob. 343 : S00520 Mary, Mother of Christ : S00033

Saint Name in Source

Νικώλ(αος) πα(ρ)θ(ένος)

Related Saint Records

Type of Evidence

Inscriptions - Graffiti

Language

Greek

Evidence not before

600

Evidence not after

700

Activity not before

600

Activity not after

700

Place of Evidence - Region

Asia Minor

Place of Evidence - City, village, etc

Strobilos (Caria)

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

Strobilos (Caria) Nicomedia Νικομήδεια Nikomēdeia Izmit Πραίνετος Prainetos Nicomedia

Cult activities - Liturgical Activity

Ceremony of dedication

Cult activities - Festivals

Anniversary of church/altar dedication

Cult activities - Places

Cult building - independent (church)

Cult activities - Places Named after Saint

Monastery

Cult activities - Non Liturgical Practices and Customs

Prayer/supplication/invocation

Cult Activities - Miracles

Saint aiding or preventing the construction of a cult building

Source

A graffito edited by Henri Grégoire from a drawing by Emil Szanto. Found on a wall in a rock-cut church at Strobilos, between Myndos and Halikarnassos (Henri Grégoire erroneously claimed that the inscription had been found in Termera. For correct identification of the find-spot see the comments in Halkin 1953a, p. 83, n. 6). Lines 1-3 are in a frame; lines 4-6 are scarcely legible. Most of the text seems to have been written by one hand.

Discussion

The graffito commemorates the consecration of a church dedicated to Saint Nicholas, apparently *Nicholas of Myra, presumably the rock-cut church in which the inscription was found. The dedicatory formula is followed by an unintelligible sequence of letters, which Henri Grégoire interpreted as an invocation of the Virgin *Mary, but this is highly hypothetical. Dating: probably 7th c. (based on the archaeological context).

Bibliography

Edition: Grégoire, H. (ed.), Recueil des inscriptions grecques chrétiennes d'Asie Mineure, vol. 1 (Paris: Leroux, 1922), no. 233(4). Further reading: Destephen, S., 'Quatre études sur le monachisme asianique (IVe-VIIe siècle)', Journal des savants (2010), 203. Halkin, F., "Inscriptions grecques relatives à l'hagiographie, IX, Asie Mineure", Analecta Bollandiana 71 (1953), 83.