E04216: Coptic document from Jeme (Upper Egypt) presenting a contract drawn up to settle a debt in presence of a presbyter from the monastery of Apa *Phoibammon (soldier and martyr of Assiut (ob. c. 304), S00080) on the mountain of Jeme, mentioning also a monk of that monastery in the process; datable to the 7th/8th century.

P.MoscowCopt. 40:

In this contract, a man acknowledges his debt of one solidus which he is unable to repay. In order to avoid legal proceedings, he agrees to hand over his cow as payment for the debt. The agreement is drawn up in presence of a presbyter from the monastery of Apa Phoibammon on the mountain of Jeme, mentioning also a monk of that monastery who is presumably acting as a scribe and witness of the transaction.

Lines 20–23 and 25–end read as follows:

ⲁⲛⲥⲙⲛ ⲛⲉⲓⲥⲩⲙⲫⲱⲛⲟⲛ ϩⲓⲃⲟⲗ ⲙⲡⲉⲛⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲁⲡⲁ ⲃⲓⲕⲧⲱⲣ ⲡⲉⲡⲣⲉⲥⲃ(ⲩⲧⲉⲣⲟⲥ) ⲙⲡⲧⲟⲡⲟⲥ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲛⲁⲡⲁ ⲫⲟⲓⲃⲁⲙⲱⲛ ⲙⲡⲧⲟⲟⲩ ⲛϫⲏⲙⲉ

ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲇⲁ̣[ⲩ]ⲉⲓⲇ ⲡⲉⲓⲉⲗ(ⲁⲭⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥ) ⲙⲙⲟⲛⲟⲭⲟⲥ ⲙⲡⲧⲟⲡ̣[ⲟⲥ] ⲛⲁⲡⲁ ⲫⲟⲓⲃⲁⲙⲱⲛ ⲁⲉⲗⲓⲥⲁⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲓⲧⲉⲓ̣ ⲙⲙ̣(ⲟⲓ) [
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‘We made these agreements in presence of our holy father Apa Viktor, the presbyter of the monastery of Apa Phoibammon on the mountain of Jeme.’

‘I, David, the most humble monk at the monastery of Apa Phoibammon, Elisaios asked me [and I have written …’


(Text: P. V. Jernstedt, trans.: G. Schenke)