E04262: Coptic receipt from unknown Egyptian provenance, issued by the dikaion of the altar of *George (presumably the soldier and martyr, S00259) for rent payment made on its fields; datable to the 8th century.

P.Ryl.Copt. 181<br><br>In this document, Shenoute, the presbyter of the church of saint George is issuing a receipt for rent payment to a tenant of their land property, on behalf of the juridical body (dikaion) of this institution.<br><br>Lines 1–3 of the document read as follows:<br><br>+ ⲡⲇⲓⲕⲁⲓⲟⲛ ⲛ̣ⲡⲑⲩⲥⲓⲁⲥⲧⲏⲣⲓⲟⲛ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲫⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲅⲉⲱⲣⲅⲉ<br>ϩⲓⲧⲟⲟⲧ ϣⲉⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲡⲣⲉ(ⲥⲃⲩⲧⲉⲣⲟⲥ) ⲉⲓ̣ⲥϩⲁⲓ ⲁⲡⲁ ⲫⲓⲗⲟⲑⲉⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲁⲓϫⲓ<br>ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁⲓⲡⲗⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲛⲧⲟⲟⲧⲕ ⲉⲛⲉⲫⲟⲣⲟⲥ ϩⲁ ⲛⲓⲱ̣ϩⲉ ⲉⲕϫⲟ<br><br>‘The dikaion of the holy altar of saint George, through me, Shenoute, the presbyter, I am writing to Apa Philotheos. I have received and have been paid by you the rent rates for the fields you are cultivating … ’<br><br><br>(Text: W. E. Crum, trans.: G. Schenke)<br>