E01248: Coptic joint funerary inscription on marble probably from the monastery of Apa Jeremias at Saqqara (Lower Egypt) with an invocation to the typical group of saints celebrated at Saqqara: Apa *Jeremias, Apa *Enoch, and Ama *Sibylla (S00773), *Mary (Mother of Christ, S00033), and *Michael (the Archangel, S00181), possibly of the 8th/9th century.
“Father, Son, (and) Holy Spirit. Amen. Our Father Apa Jeremias with Apa Enoch, (and) Ama Sibylla, our Mother Mary, (and) Michael! Our brother Elias, their son, has gone to rest on day three of the month Tybi in peace. Amen. Our brother Makare has gone to rest on day four of the month Choiak. Our brother Papa Biktor …”
Translation: Gesa Schenke.
History
Evidence ID
E01248
Saint Name
Jeremias, Enoch, and Sibylla : S00773
Mary, Mother of Christ : S00033
Michael, the Archangel : S00181
Place of evidence - City name in other Language(s)
Saqqara
Hermopolis
ϣⲙⲟⲩⲛ
Ashmunein
Hermopolis
Cult activities - Non Liturgical Practices and Customs
Prayer/supplication/invocation
Source
The marble plaque belongs to the Egyptian Museum at the Vatican.
Discussion
Apa Jeremias, Apa Enoch, and Ama Sibylla are frequently referred to as the Saqqara triad of saints. For the typical features and similarities with other burial inscriptions from Saqqara see E01247.
Bibliography
Hasitzka, M.R.M., Koptisches Sammelbuch I (KSB I) (Vienna, 1993), 171–172.