E04145: Coptic ostracon from western Thebes (Upper Egypt) with a letter written by a monk saluting Apa *Sourous (most likely the head of the monastery of Apa Phoibammon, S01584) as a holy man/saint; datable to the first half of the 8th century.

O.Frange 42

The letter was written by the monk Frange, possibly as a model letter or an exercise, addressing a monastic authority. It features polite greetings and honours Sourous, most likely the superior at the monastery of Apa Phoibammon on the mountain of Jeme, as a saint, presumably a living saint/holy man.

⳨ ϩⲁⲑⲏ ⲙⲉⲛ ⲙⲡⲁϣⲁϫⲉ
ⲛⲉⲗⲁⲭ(ⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥ) ⲉⲥϩⲁ ⲉϣⲓⲛⲉ ⲉⲧⲉⲕ-
ⲙⲛⲧⲉⲓⲱⲧ · ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲙⲛ ⲛⲉ̣ⲕ̣-
ⲥⲛⲏⲩ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲙⲙⲁⲛⲟⲩ[ⲧⲉ]
ⲉⲧϩⲁϩⲧⲏⲕ ⲁⲩⲱ ϯϣⲓⲛ̣ⲉ̣
ⲉⲡϩⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲡⲁ ⲥⲟⲩⲣⲟⲩⲥ
ⲉⲙⲁⲧⲉ ⲁⲣⲓ ⲧⲁⲅⲁⲡⲏ ⲛⲅⲣ
ⲡⲁⲙⲉⲉⲩⲉ ϩⲙ ⲡϥⲓ ⲉϩⲣⲁ
ⲛⲛⲉⲕϭⲓϫ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲧⲁⲁⲥ
ⲙⲡⲁϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲛⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲙⲙⲁ<ⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ>

'Before my most humble message, I write greeting your holy paternity and all your pious brothers who are with you. I salute saint Apa Sourous exceedingly. Be so kind and remember me in the raising of your holy hands.
Give it (this message) to my pious paternal lord.'


(Text: A. Boud'hors and Ch. Heurtel, trans.: G. Schenke)

A complete record of the text is available at:

http://papyri.info/ddbdp/o.frange;;42