E04107: Coptic letter from the monastery of Apa Apollo at Bawit (Middle Egypt), invoking Apa *Apollo (founder of the monastery, 00160) for protection of the addressee; datable to the 7th/8th century.

P.Louvre Bawit 47<br><br>This very fragmentary document preserves the beginning of a letter in which the protection of the saint is invoked, not only for individuals but for an entire village.<br>Lines 2–3 read as follows:<br><br>[ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲙⲫⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲁ]ⲡⲁ ⲁⲡⲟⲗⲗⲱ ⲉⲃⲉϩⲁⲣⲉϩ [ⲉⲣⲱⲧⲛ ]<br>[ ]ⲉ ⲙⲛ ⲡⲧⲓⲙⲉ ⲧⲏⲣϥ ϫⲛ[ⲉ ⲡⲛⲟϭ ϣⲁ ⲡⲕⲟⲩⲓ<br><br><br>‘[God of saint] Apa Apollo, may he protect [you …] and the entire village from [the greatest to the smallest.’<br><br>A similar document is P.Soc. Arch. Copt. 7 (see P.Louvre Bawit, p. 81), likewise from the monastery of Apa Apollo at Bawit. Lines 22–23 read as follows: <br><br>ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲙⲫⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲡⲁ ⲁⲡⲟⲗⲗⲱ ⲉⲃⲉⲣⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲉⲣⲱⲧⲛ ⲙⲛ ⲛⲉⲥⲛⲏⲟⲩ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲉⲧⲛⲉⲙ̣ⲁ̣ⲧ̣ⲛ̣<br><br>‘God of saint Apa Apollo, may he watch over you and all the brothers who are with you.’<br><br><br>(Text: S. J. Clackson/A. Delattre modified; trans. G. Schenke)<br><br><br>