E05118: Coptic Sermon on the proper way of monastic life (Asketikon) by Apa Ephraim, presumably the ascetic and founder of a monastery at Fargout, mentioning the saints as witnesses on the day of judgement; presumably written in the early 6th century.

Brit. Mus. Ms. Oriental no. 6783, fol. 45b–63a

The text is introduced as follows:

ⲡⲁⲥⲕⲏϯⲕⲟⲛ ⲛⲁⲡⲁ ⲉⲫⲣⲁⲓⲙ ⲥⲙⲟⲩ ⲉⲣⲟⲛ ϥⲑ

‘The ascetic life of Apa Ephraim. Bless us. Amen.’

The homily addresses a monastic congregation and is primarily concerned with the lack of proper behaviour and established norms, the loss of morality and increase of ignorance, laziness and vanity.

The author urges his audience to return to living in the fear of God and his eternal judgement, thus resuming a humble way of life.

Fol. 58b; Budge, p. 172, lines 19–23:

ⲥⲉⲛⲁϫⲡⲓⲟⲛ ϩⲛ ⲧⲙⲏⲏⲧⲉ ⲛϩⲉⲛϣⲟ ⲛϣⲟ · ⲙⲛ ϩⲉⲛⲧⲃⲁ ⲛⲧⲃⲁ ⲛⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ ϩⲓ ⲁⲣⲭⲏⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ ⲙⲛ ⲛⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲉⲩⲁϩⲉⲣⲁⲧⲟⲩ ⲙⲡⲉϥⲕⲱⲧⲉ ⲙⲏ ⲉⲕⲛⲁϣϫⲓϭⲟⲗ ⲙⲡⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲧⲙⲙⲁⲩ ·

‘They will blame us in the midst of thousands and ten thousands of angels and archangels with all the saints standing in his vicinity. Will you be able to tell a lie then?’

If the monastic congregation keeps to their intended humble ways, the reward will be worth the endurance.

Fol. 63a; Budge p. 177, lines 33–34:

ϩⲓⲧⲛ ⲙⲙⲛⲧϣⲁⲛϩⲧⲏϥ ⲙⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲛϥⲁⲁⲛ ⲛⲙⲡϣⲁ ⲙⲡⲱⲛϩ ϣⲁ ⲉⲛⲉϩ ⲙⲛ ⲛⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ

‘… through the benevolence of God, he makes us worthy of eternal life together with the saints.’


(Text: E. A. W. Budge; summary and trans.: G. Schenke)