E04146: Coptic ostracon from western Thebes (Upper Egypt) referring to Apa *Antonios (Antony 'the Great', monk of Egypt, ob. 356, S00098) as a luminous column, and alluding to him and Apa *Makarios ('the Egyptian', monastic founder of the Sketis, ob. 391, S00863) as model holy men, and mentioning how Apa *Paphnoutios (probably the confessor and holy man of the Thebaid, S01542) had needed council with Antony; datable to the first half of the 8th century.
online resource
posted on 2017-10-12, 00:00authored bygschenke, Bryan
P.Mon.Epiph. 247
This message was sent from the monk Frange/Phrangas living in the desert tomb (TT29) to Isaac and Elias at the monastery of Epiphanios in an attempt to encourage verbal communication between them. Since his two addressees frequently refused to speak to him during his visits at their monastery, Frange is now sending a message to inform them that he very much needs to speak to them. He addresses them as 'holy men' or 'human saints' comparing them to Antony and Makarios 'the Egyptian'.
‘Before my most humble message, I write, greeting and saluting the sweetness of your fruits that produce a pleasant fragrance. Following this then, I cast myself down to the ground. I worship your holy footprints, you truly holy men in the manner of my father Antonios, the luminous column, and of Apa Makarios of Sketis. You yourselves have reached their measure by any good virtue. I also greet your pious children by their names. Hail in the Lord! I have come north to you many times and you have not opened the gate to me, nor have you conversed with me just like (with) any (other) brother, even though I have a great desire for you (to converse with me), just like Apa Papnoute, the Confessor, (had) [with] Apa Antonios. Give it (the message) to Apa Isaac and Apa Elias, from Phrangas/Frange, this [worthless] one. Be so kind and [remember me in] your holy prayers, for [my] sins are very numerous. Farewell in the Lord.’
Text: W. E. Crum. Translation: G. Schenke.
History
Evidence ID
E04146
Saint Name
Antony, 'the Great', monk of Egypt, ob. 356 : S00098
Makarios the Egyptian, ascetic in Sketis, ob. 391 : S00863
Paphnoutios, confessor and bishop in the Thebaid : S01542
Documentary texts - Letter
Late antique original manuscripts - Ostracon/Pot-sherd
Language
Coptic
Evidence not before
700
Evidence not after
750
Activity not before
700
Activity not after
750
Place of Evidence - Region
Egypt and Cyrenaica
Place of Evidence - City, village, etc
Thebes
Place of evidence - City name in other Language(s)
Thebes
Hermopolis
ϣⲙⲟⲩⲛ
Ashmunein
Hermopolis
Cult activities - Places
Cult building - monastic
Cult activities - Non Liturgical Practices and Customs
Prayer/supplication/invocation
Cult Activities - Miracles
Miraculous sound, smell, light
Source
This potsherd, MMA.12.180.202, was found on the rubbish heaps at the former monastery of Epiphanius at Thebes. It is now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The dating is based on the records belonging to the same Frange archive.
Discussion
This letter illustrates how monastic leaders were perceived as ‘human saints’ or ‘saintly humans’ by comparing them favorably to former ‘holy men’. For a similar reference to Antony as a column of light see E04172.
Bibliography
Edition and Translation:
Crum, W.E., and Evelyn White, H.G., The Monastery of Epiphanius at Thebes, Part II, New York 1926. (The Metropolitan Museum of Art Egyptian Expedition), p. 64 (text), p. 217 (trans.).