E02284: Greek oracle question from Oxyrhynchos (Middle Egypt), posed to *Philoxenos (saint with cult at Oxyrhynchos, S00443), and mentioning a hospital (nosokomion) of the saint, datable to the 6th century.

P.Oxy. 8 1150

The text was very likely posed in the saint's shrine together with a counterpart phrased in the opposite way, so as to get one of the texts back as the saint's answer. The question posed concerns the healing prospects of a man named Anoup; specifically whether he would benefit from being taken to the saint's hospital.

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+ Ὁ θεὸς τοῦ προστάτου ἡμῶν
τοῦ ἁγίου Φιλοξένου, ἐὰν
κελεύεις εἰσενεγκεῖν
εἰς τὸ νοσοκομῖόν σου Ἀνούπ;
δεῖξον τὴν δύναμ[ίν σου]
καὶ ἐξέλθῃ τὸ πιττ[ά]κ[ιον].


'O God of our patron Saint Philoxenos, dost thou bid us take Anoup to thy hospital (nosokomion)? Show thy power and let this prayer be accomplished.'

(Text and trans: A. S. Hunt)


'O God of our patron, St. Philoxenos, if you command us to bring Anoup to your hospital, show [your] power, and let the message come forth.'

(Trans.: M. Meyer)