E02473: Coptic fragmentary invocation, from Qurnah (Upper Egypt), addressing a saint (perhaps *Andrew, the Apostle, S00288), *Phoibammon (soldier and martyr of Assiut, S00080), and a bishop; datable to the early 7th.

BKU 2 258

The text seems to be a very basic invocation, giving three addressees, possibly in their order of importance, starting with perhaps with an Apostle, followed by the martyr Apa Phoibammon and then by Apa Abraham, presumably the bishop of Hermonthis. The latter, addressed as 'the orthodox bishop'. was probably still alive and so invoked as a holy man.

The saint mentioned in line 1 could well be Andrew, the Apostle, though other names are possible. One could be the former bishop Apa Ananias mentioned in documents from Jeme, see E00241 and E02463, as well as E02469, in which case there may not be a descending order of importance provided by the list.

The invocation was made by a man named Onophrios (Ouanofre), a camel herdsman, whose specific concerns might well be lost.


ⲟ ⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲛ̣[…]
ⲁⲡⲁ ⲫⲓⲃⲁⲙ[ⲙⲱⲛ]
ⲡⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲟ[ⲥ . .]
ⲁⲡⲁ ⲁⲃⲣⲁϩⲁⲙ ⲟⲣⲑⲟ-
ⲇⲟⲝⲟⲩ ⲉⲡⲓⲥⲕⲟⲡ[ⲟⲩ]
ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲟⲩⲁⲛⲟϥ[ⲣⲉ .]
ⲡⲙⲁⲛⲕⲁⲙ[ⲟⲩⲗ . .]

'Saint An[drew?]/An[anias?],
Apa Phoibammon, the martyr,
Apa Abraham, the orthodox bishop.
I am Ouanofre, the camel herdsman …'


(Text: A. Erman and W. E. Crum, trans. G. Schenke)