E04363: Coptic document from Jeme (Upper Egypt) concerning the release from a debt which is turned into a donation, mentioning the monastery of Apa *Paulos, the anchorite, as well as institutions dedicated to *Kyrikos (child martyr of Tarsus, S00007), *Kosmas (probably the physician and martyr of Mesopotamia, S00385), and *Theodore (soldier and martyr of Amaseia and Euchaita, S00480); dated 13 September 698.
online resource
posted on 2017-11-14, 00:00authored byBryan
CLT 1
A monk from Pshension in the district of the city of Koptos, now belonging to a monastery on the mountain of Jeme, addresses the monks Apa Daniel, Apa Iakobos and Apa Athanasios, superiors of the monastery of Apa Paulos concerning a donation of twenty gold solidi he made to their monastery for the salvation of his soul.
Lines 12–15 and 23–26 of the document read as follows:
‘I am writing to the spiritual sons (successors) of the blessed Apa Paulos, the anchorite, this one who is now among the saints, namely to Apa Daniel, Apa Iakobos, and Apa Athanasios and also to the rest of their brothers and to those succeeding them on the holy mountain of Kastron Jeme.’
‘I gave them twenty solidi. I adjured them in the name of God so that they would take them from me and would give them as charitable dispensation for my miserable soul.’
Signatures of witnesses include in line 128 a presbyter of (the church of) saint Kyriakos, and in lines 132–134 a presbyter of saint Kosma and saint Theodore.
‘I, Eiot, the son of Shenoute, the most humble priest of saint Kosma and saint Theodoros in the area of Pakotheos, I am a witness …’
(Text and trans.: A. A. Schiller, slightly modified)
History
Evidence ID
E04363
Saint Name
Paulos the anchorite, monastic founder : S01654
Kyrikos/Cyriacus, child martyr of Tarsus (son of *Ioulitta/Julitta) : S00007
Kosmas and Damianos, brothers, physician martyrs of Syria : S00385
Theodore, soldier and martyr of Amaseia and Euchaita :
Late antique original manuscripts - Papyrus sheet
Documentary texts - Donation document
Language
Coptic
Evidence not before
698
Evidence not after
698
Activity not before
698
Activity not after
698
Place of Evidence - Region
Egypt and Cyrenaica
Place of Evidence - City, village, etc
Jeme
Place of evidence - City name in other Language(s)
Jeme
Hermopolis
ϣⲙⲟⲩⲛ
Ashmunein
Hermopolis
Cult activities - Places
Cult building - monastic
Cult activities - Places Named after Saint
Monastery
Cult activities - Non Liturgical Practices and Customs
Bequests, donations, gifts and offerings
Bibliography
Text and translation:
Schiller, A.A., Ten Coptic Legal Texts (New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1932). = CLT
Till, W.C., Die koptischen Rechtsurkunden aus Theben (Vienna: H. Böhlaus, 1964) 22–27. = KRT