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E03566: Coptic fragments from the Life of *Severos (bishop of Antioch, ob.538, S00262), relating Severos’ vision of the martyr *Leontios (martyr of Tripolis, Phoenicia, S00216), urging him to become a monk, and his decision to visit the martyr shrine of Leontios in Tripolis; written most likely in the 6th/7th century.
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posted on 2017-08-15, 00:00 authored by gschenkeAfter having had a vision of the martyr Leontios, Severus decides at one point to leave Athens in order to visit the martyr shrine (martyrion) of Leontios in Tripolis. He asks three of his classmates to join him on his pilgrimage, as a result of which all four of them convert to Christianity.
Till, KHML I, p. 190, line 19–p. 191, line 1:
Ϯⲛⲁⲃⲱⲕ [ⲉⲧ]ⲣⲓⲡⲟⲗⲥ ⲧⲁϣ[ⲗⲏ]ⲗ ϩⲙ ⲡⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣ[ⲓ]ⲟⲛ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲙⲡϩⲁⲅⲟⲥ ⲗⲉⲱⲛⲧⲓⲟⲥ · ⲛⲧⲉⲣⲟⲩϫⲱⲕ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛϭⲓ ⲛⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ
ⲛⲧⲁϥⲧⲁⲥⲥⲉ ⲉⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛϩⲏⲧⲟⲩ ⲁϥϫⲟⲟⲥ ⲛⲛⲉϥϣⲃⲉⲉⲣ ⲥⲭⲟⲗⲁⲥⲧⲕⲟⲥ ⲉⲧϩⲛ ⲧⲁⲛⲥⲏⲃⲉ ⲛⲙⲙⲁϥ · ϫⲉ ⲧⲉⲧⲛⲁⲉ ⲛⲙⲙⲁ ⲉⲡⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲟⲛ
ⲙⲡϩⲁⲅⲟⲥ ⲗⲉⲱⲛⲧⲟⲥ ⲛⲧⲛϣⲗⲏⲗ · ⲛⲧⲁⲩ ⲇⲉ ⲁⲩⲧⲁⲥⲥⲉ ⲛⲁϥ ϫⲉ ⲥⲉ ⲧⲛⲛⲏⲩ ⲛⲙⲙⲁⲕ
‘I will go to Tripolis and I will pray in the holy martyr shrine of saint Leontios. After the days when he had made preparations to leave came to an end, he said to his classmates who were in school with him: “Will you come with me to the martyr shrine of saint Leontios and we will pray (there)?”
They were falling in line with him, saying: “Indeed, we are coming with you.”’
On his way to Tripolis, Severus was met by the anchorite Apelles, who came out of his monastery and began to greet him:
Till, KHML I, p. 191, lines 15–19:
ⲭⲁⲓⲣⲉ ⲥⲉⲩⲏⲣⲟⲥ ⲡϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲛⲥⲉⲩⲏⲣⲟⲥ · ⲭⲁⲓⲣⲉ ⲡⲁⲣⲭⲙⲁⲛⲇⲣⲧⲏⲥ ⲛⲙⲙⲟⲛⲁⲥⲧⲏⲣⲟⲛ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲛⲙⲙⲟⲛⲁⲭⲟⲥ · ⲭⲁⲣⲉ ⲡⲡⲁⲧⲣⲁⲣⲭⲏⲥ
ⲛⲛⲉⲡⲥⲕⲟⲡⲟⲥ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ :
‘Greetings, Severos, son of Severos. Greetings archimandrite of all the monasteries of monks. Greetings patriarch of all the bishops.’
The greetings continue, until the anchorite urges Severos to enter the shrine.
Till, KHML I, p. 192, lines 4–11 and 17–20–p. 193, line 2:
ⲛⲧⲉⲣⲉϥⲃⲱⲕ ⲇⲉ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲡⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲓⲟⲛ ⲙⲡϩⲁⲅⲟⲥ ⲗⲉⲱⲛⲧⲟⲥ ⲁϥⲁⲣⲭⲓⲥⲑⲁ ⲗⲟⲡⲟⲛ ⲛⲉⲡⲓⲕⲁⲗⲉ ⲙⲡⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲟⲥ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ
ⲉⲧⲣⲉϥⲇⲟⲓⲕⲉ ⲙⲡⲉϥⲃⲟⲥ · ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⲡⲉⲧⲉⲣⲁⲛⲁϥ ⲙⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ
ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲧⲉⲣⲟⲩⲛⲕⲟⲧⲕ ϩⲛ ⲟⲩⲧⲟⲡⲟⲥ ϩⲙ ⲡⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲟⲛ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ [ ] ⲁⲩⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩ ⲙⲡⲉϥⲧⲟⲟⲩ ⲉⲣⲉ ⲛⲉⲩⲃⲁⲗ ⲟⲩⲏⲛ ϩⲛ ⲟⲩϩⲟⲣⲟⲙⲁ
ⲛⲟⲩⲱⲧ · ϩⲱⲥ ⲉⲣⲉ ⲡⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲟⲥ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲗⲉⲱⲛⲧⲟⲥ ⲁϩⲉⲣⲁⲧϥ ϩϫⲱⲟⲩ ⲙⲡⲉⲥⲙⲟⲧ ⲛⲟⲩⲥⲧⲣⲁⲧⲟⲡⲉⲧⲁⲣⲭⲏⲥ ⲛⲅⲉⲛⲛⲁⲟⲥ · ϩⲱⲥ ⲉⲣⲉ
ⲧⲉϥⲁⲛⲍⲱⲛⲏ ⲉⲧⲙⲏⲣ ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⲧⲟϭⲥ ⲛⲱⲛⲉ ⲙⲙⲉ ϩ ⲙⲁⲣⲕⲁⲣⲧⲏⲥ ⲉⲣⲉ ⲟⲩϭⲉⲣⲱⲃ ⲛⲥⲁⲣⲇⲓⲟ ϩⲛ ⲧⲉϥϭⲓϫ ⲙⲛ ⲟⲩⲃⲁⲥⲟⲛ ⲙⲙⲟⲛⲁⲭⲕⲟⲛ
ϩϫⲛ ⲛⲉϥϭⲃⲟ ⲙⲛ ϩϫⲉⲛ ⲛⲉϥⲕⲉϩⲧⲉ · ⲛⲧⲉⲣⲟⲩⲛⲁⲩ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ϩⲙ ⲡⲉⲛⲟϭ ⲙⲫⲟⲃⲟⲥ ⲁⲩⲣϩⲟⲧⲉ ⲛⲧⲟϥ ⲇⲉ ⲡⲡⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲗⲉⲱⲛⲧⲟⲥ
ⲁϥⲥⲟⲟⲩⲧⲛ ⲛⲧⲉϥϭⲓϫ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲉϥⲕⲣⲟⲧⲉⲩⲉ ⲙⲙⲟⲟⲩ ϩⲛ ⲟⲩⲣⲁϣⲉ ⲉϥϫⲱ ⲙⲙⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲙⲡⲉⲣⲣϩⲟⲧⲉ · ⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ ⲛⲧⲉⲧⲛⲉⲱ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛⲛⲉⲧⲛϩⲟ
ⲉⲥ ⲡⲙⲁ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲁⲩⲥⲃⲧⲱⲧϥ ⲛⲏⲧⲛ · ⲛⲧⲉⲩⲛⲟⲩ ⲇⲉ ⲁϥϩⲟⲡϥ ⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩ ⲛϭⲓ ⲡⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲟⲥ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ·
‘After he went into the martyr shrine of saint Leontios, he then began to invoke the holy martyr to have him lead his life in accordance with what is pleasing to God.
After they had settled down at a place in the holy martyr shrine [a description of the three friends of Severos follows here], the four (of them) saw the things with their eyes open in one and the same vision, as the holy martyr Leontios stood above them in the manner of a noble leader of the camp, while his belt which bound him was studded with precious stones and pearls, and while a staff of carnelian was in his hand and a monastic basion was on his arms and hips.
When they saw him in this great frightfulness, they were afraid. But he, saint Leontios, stretched out his hands clapping them joyfully, saying: “Do not be afraid. Rise and wash your faces. For behold, the place has been prepared for you.” And at once, the holy martyr hid from them.’
Very early in the morning, the priest of the shrine approaches all four of them, Severos, Priskus, Uranikos and Eustathios, knowing all about them and their vision through the martyr himself. He offers to baptise them and they accept.
(Text: W. C. Till, KHML I, 188–200; summary and trans. G. Schenke)
Till, KHML I, p. 190, line 19–p. 191, line 1:
Ϯⲛⲁⲃⲱⲕ [ⲉⲧ]ⲣⲓⲡⲟⲗⲥ ⲧⲁϣ[ⲗⲏ]ⲗ ϩⲙ ⲡⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣ[ⲓ]ⲟⲛ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲙⲡϩⲁⲅⲟⲥ ⲗⲉⲱⲛⲧⲓⲟⲥ · ⲛⲧⲉⲣⲟⲩϫⲱⲕ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛϭⲓ ⲛⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ
ⲛⲧⲁϥⲧⲁⲥⲥⲉ ⲉⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛϩⲏⲧⲟⲩ ⲁϥϫⲟⲟⲥ ⲛⲛⲉϥϣⲃⲉⲉⲣ ⲥⲭⲟⲗⲁⲥⲧⲕⲟⲥ ⲉⲧϩⲛ ⲧⲁⲛⲥⲏⲃⲉ ⲛⲙⲙⲁϥ · ϫⲉ ⲧⲉⲧⲛⲁⲉ ⲛⲙⲙⲁ ⲉⲡⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲟⲛ
ⲙⲡϩⲁⲅⲟⲥ ⲗⲉⲱⲛⲧⲟⲥ ⲛⲧⲛϣⲗⲏⲗ · ⲛⲧⲁⲩ ⲇⲉ ⲁⲩⲧⲁⲥⲥⲉ ⲛⲁϥ ϫⲉ ⲥⲉ ⲧⲛⲛⲏⲩ ⲛⲙⲙⲁⲕ
‘I will go to Tripolis and I will pray in the holy martyr shrine of saint Leontios. After the days when he had made preparations to leave came to an end, he said to his classmates who were in school with him: “Will you come with me to the martyr shrine of saint Leontios and we will pray (there)?”
They were falling in line with him, saying: “Indeed, we are coming with you.”’
On his way to Tripolis, Severus was met by the anchorite Apelles, who came out of his monastery and began to greet him:
Till, KHML I, p. 191, lines 15–19:
ⲭⲁⲓⲣⲉ ⲥⲉⲩⲏⲣⲟⲥ ⲡϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲛⲥⲉⲩⲏⲣⲟⲥ · ⲭⲁⲓⲣⲉ ⲡⲁⲣⲭⲙⲁⲛⲇⲣⲧⲏⲥ ⲛⲙⲙⲟⲛⲁⲥⲧⲏⲣⲟⲛ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲛⲙⲙⲟⲛⲁⲭⲟⲥ · ⲭⲁⲣⲉ ⲡⲡⲁⲧⲣⲁⲣⲭⲏⲥ
ⲛⲛⲉⲡⲥⲕⲟⲡⲟⲥ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ :
‘Greetings, Severos, son of Severos. Greetings archimandrite of all the monasteries of monks. Greetings patriarch of all the bishops.’
The greetings continue, until the anchorite urges Severos to enter the shrine.
Till, KHML I, p. 192, lines 4–11 and 17–20–p. 193, line 2:
ⲛⲧⲉⲣⲉϥⲃⲱⲕ ⲇⲉ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲡⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲓⲟⲛ ⲙⲡϩⲁⲅⲟⲥ ⲗⲉⲱⲛⲧⲟⲥ ⲁϥⲁⲣⲭⲓⲥⲑⲁ ⲗⲟⲡⲟⲛ ⲛⲉⲡⲓⲕⲁⲗⲉ ⲙⲡⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲟⲥ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ
ⲉⲧⲣⲉϥⲇⲟⲓⲕⲉ ⲙⲡⲉϥⲃⲟⲥ · ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⲡⲉⲧⲉⲣⲁⲛⲁϥ ⲙⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ
ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲧⲉⲣⲟⲩⲛⲕⲟⲧⲕ ϩⲛ ⲟⲩⲧⲟⲡⲟⲥ ϩⲙ ⲡⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲟⲛ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ [ ] ⲁⲩⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩ ⲙⲡⲉϥⲧⲟⲟⲩ ⲉⲣⲉ ⲛⲉⲩⲃⲁⲗ ⲟⲩⲏⲛ ϩⲛ ⲟⲩϩⲟⲣⲟⲙⲁ
ⲛⲟⲩⲱⲧ · ϩⲱⲥ ⲉⲣⲉ ⲡⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲟⲥ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲗⲉⲱⲛⲧⲟⲥ ⲁϩⲉⲣⲁⲧϥ ϩϫⲱⲟⲩ ⲙⲡⲉⲥⲙⲟⲧ ⲛⲟⲩⲥⲧⲣⲁⲧⲟⲡⲉⲧⲁⲣⲭⲏⲥ ⲛⲅⲉⲛⲛⲁⲟⲥ · ϩⲱⲥ ⲉⲣⲉ
ⲧⲉϥⲁⲛⲍⲱⲛⲏ ⲉⲧⲙⲏⲣ ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⲧⲟϭⲥ ⲛⲱⲛⲉ ⲙⲙⲉ ϩ ⲙⲁⲣⲕⲁⲣⲧⲏⲥ ⲉⲣⲉ ⲟⲩϭⲉⲣⲱⲃ ⲛⲥⲁⲣⲇⲓⲟ ϩⲛ ⲧⲉϥϭⲓϫ ⲙⲛ ⲟⲩⲃⲁⲥⲟⲛ ⲙⲙⲟⲛⲁⲭⲕⲟⲛ
ϩϫⲛ ⲛⲉϥϭⲃⲟ ⲙⲛ ϩϫⲉⲛ ⲛⲉϥⲕⲉϩⲧⲉ · ⲛⲧⲉⲣⲟⲩⲛⲁⲩ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ϩⲙ ⲡⲉⲛⲟϭ ⲙⲫⲟⲃⲟⲥ ⲁⲩⲣϩⲟⲧⲉ ⲛⲧⲟϥ ⲇⲉ ⲡⲡⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲗⲉⲱⲛⲧⲟⲥ
ⲁϥⲥⲟⲟⲩⲧⲛ ⲛⲧⲉϥϭⲓϫ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲉϥⲕⲣⲟⲧⲉⲩⲉ ⲙⲙⲟⲟⲩ ϩⲛ ⲟⲩⲣⲁϣⲉ ⲉϥϫⲱ ⲙⲙⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲙⲡⲉⲣⲣϩⲟⲧⲉ · ⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ ⲛⲧⲉⲧⲛⲉⲱ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛⲛⲉⲧⲛϩⲟ
ⲉⲥ ⲡⲙⲁ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲁⲩⲥⲃⲧⲱⲧϥ ⲛⲏⲧⲛ · ⲛⲧⲉⲩⲛⲟⲩ ⲇⲉ ⲁϥϩⲟⲡϥ ⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩ ⲛϭⲓ ⲡⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲟⲥ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ·
‘After he went into the martyr shrine of saint Leontios, he then began to invoke the holy martyr to have him lead his life in accordance with what is pleasing to God.
After they had settled down at a place in the holy martyr shrine [a description of the three friends of Severos follows here], the four (of them) saw the things with their eyes open in one and the same vision, as the holy martyr Leontios stood above them in the manner of a noble leader of the camp, while his belt which bound him was studded with precious stones and pearls, and while a staff of carnelian was in his hand and a monastic basion was on his arms and hips.
When they saw him in this great frightfulness, they were afraid. But he, saint Leontios, stretched out his hands clapping them joyfully, saying: “Do not be afraid. Rise and wash your faces. For behold, the place has been prepared for you.” And at once, the holy martyr hid from them.’
Very early in the morning, the priest of the shrine approaches all four of them, Severos, Priskus, Uranikos and Eustathios, knowing all about them and their vision through the martyr himself. He offers to baptise them and they accept.
(Text: W. C. Till, KHML I, 188–200; summary and trans. G. Schenke)
History
Evidence ID
E03566Saint Name
Severos, bishop of Antioch (465–538) : S00262 Leontios, martyr in Tripolis (Syria), ob. c. 303-312 : S00216Saint Name in Source
ⲥⲉⲩⲏⲣⲟⲥ ⲗⲉⲱⲛⲧⲟⲥRelated Saint Records
Type of Evidence
Literary - Hagiographical - Lives of saint Late antique original manuscripts - Parchment codexLanguage
- Coptic
Evidence not before
540Evidence not after
900Activity not before
480Activity not after
900Place of Evidence - Region
Egypt and CyrenaicaPlace of evidence - City name in other Language(s)
Hermopolis ϣⲙⲟⲩⲛ Ashmunein HermopolisCult activities - Places
Martyr shrine (martyrion, bet sāhedwātā, etc.)Cult activities - Non Liturgical Practices and Customs
PilgrimageCult activities - Use of Images
- Verbal images of saints