E05192: Coptic Encomion on Apa *Apollo (S01968), Pachomian monk and founder of the monastery of *Isaak (S00276), presumably located near Herakleopolis Magna (Middle Egypt), attributed to Stephanos, bishop of Herakleopolis Magna, and presented on Apollo’s day of commemoration, relating the saint’s ascetic life as a monk in the Pachomian monastery at Pbow, his virtues and great humility, his wanderings, as well as his founding of the monastery of Isaak, his prophetic gift and numerous miracles performed during his lifetime as well as posthumously; written presumably in the later 6th century.

M 579, fols. 130v–148r

It is claimed that this encomion was delivered by a contemporary of Apa Apollo, a monk at his monastery named Stephanos, who later became bishop of Herakleopolis. The text is introduced as follows:

Ed. Kuhn, p. 1, lines 1–11:

ⲟⲩⲉⲛⲅⲕⲱⲙⲓⲟⲛ ⲉⲁϥⲧⲁⲩⲟϥ ⲛϭⲓ ⲡⲉⲛⲙⲁⲓⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲛⲓⲱⲧ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ · ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉⲧⲧⲁⲓⲏⲩ ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⲥⲙⲟⲧ ⲛⲓⲙ · ⲡⲉⲧϫⲏⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲙ ⲡⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ
ⲛⲛⲉⲅⲣⲁⲫⲏ <ⲛ>ⲛⲓϥⲉ ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲁⲡⲁ ⲥⲧⲉⲫⲁⲛⲟⲥ ⲡⲉⲡⲓⲥⲕⲟⲡⲟⲥ ⲛⲧⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ ϩⲛⲏⲥ · ⲉⲡⲧⲁⲓⲟ ⲙⲡⲉⲛⲉⲱⲧ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲙⲡⲣⲟⲫⲏⲧⲏⲥ · ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲛⲁⲣⲭⲏⲙⲁⲛⲇⲣⲓⲧⲏⲥ ⲁⲡⲁ ⲁⲡⲟⲗⲗⲱ ⲙⲡⲙⲁ ⲛⲛⲉⲥⲁⲁⲕ · ⲉⲁϥⲧⲁⲩⲟ ⲙⲡⲉⲓⲉⲛⲅⲕⲱⲙⲓⲟⲛ ⲇⲉ ⲁⲓⲧⲉⲓ ⲉϥⲟ ⲙⲙⲟⲛⲁⲭⲟⲥ ϩⲙ ⲡⲉⲓⲙⲟⲛⲁⲥⲧⲏⲣⲓⲟⲛ ⲛⲛⲟⲩⲱⲧ · ϩⲁⲑⲏ ⲙⲡⲁⲧⲉϥⲣ<ⲉ>ⲡⲥⲕⲟⲡⲟⲥ · ⲉⲩⲉⲟⲟⲩ ⲙⲡⲉⲛϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲓⲥ ⲡⲉⲭⲥ ⲙⲛ ⲡⲉϥϩⲙϩⲁⲗ ⲙⲡⲣⲟⲫⲏⲧⲏⲥ ⲡⲉⲛⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲁⲡⲁ
ⲁⲡⲟⲗⲗⲱ · ⲉⲁϥϫⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙⲡⲉϥⲇⲣⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲉⲧⲧⲁⲓⲏⲩ ⲛⲥⲟⲩ ϫⲟⲩⲱⲧ ⲙⲡⲉⲃⲟⲧ ⲡⲁⲱⲛⲉ · ϩⲛ ⲟⲩⲉⲓⲣⲏⲛⲏ ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ϩⲁⲙⲏⲛ ·

‘An encomion delivered by our pious, holy and in every way honourable father, the one who is perfect in the knowledge of the scriptures inspired by God, Apa Stephanos, the Bishop of the city of Hnes (Herakleopolis Magna), in honour of our holy father, prophet and archimandrite, Apa Apollo at the place of Isaak, having delivered this encomion – while still being a monk in this same monastery, before he became a bishop – for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ and his prophetic servant, our holy father Apa Apollo, who completed his honourable course on day 20 of the month Pauni (14 June). In God’s peace. Amen.’

The bishop begins his sermon by mentioning the reason for the festive gathering, the feast day of Apa Apollo.

Ed. Kuhn, p. 1, lines 12–14:

ⲁϥϣⲁ ⲛⲁⲛ ⲙⲡⲟⲟⲩ ⲛⲑⲉ ⲛⲟⲩⲫⲱⲥⲧⲏⲣ ⲛⲛⲟϭ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ ⲧⲡⲉ · ⲛϭⲓ ⲡⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲛⲧⲁⲛⲁⲡⲁⲩⲥⲓⲥ ⲙⲡⲉⲛⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲙⲡⲣⲟⲫⲏⲧⲏⲥ ⲁⲡⲁ
ⲁⲡⲟⲗⲗⲱ ·

‘The day of repose of our holy and prophetic father Apa Apollo has risen for us today like a great light from heaven.’

The encomion then praises the virtues and ascetic sufferings of Apollo from his earliest youth to his entering the Pachomian monastery, praising Pachomios and his successors Theodore and Horsiesios who admitted him into his ranks. It focuses on Apollo’s physical ascetic suffering in defiance of essential needs, such as food, drink, and sleep, claiming that Apollo’s sacrifice was bigger than that of Abraham who sacrificed his son, while Apollo presented himself as a living sacrifice. The speaker claims that there are many types of sufferings comparable to those of the martyrs, thereby ranking severe asceticism as high as martyrdom (Ed. Kuhn, p. 3, lines 22–25).

Ed. Kuhn, p. 3, lines 1–3:
ϩⲁⲡⲗⲱⲥ ⲧⲙⲛⲧⲣⲉϥϣⲡϩⲓⲥⲉ ⲛⲛⲉⲡⲣⲟⲫⲏⲧⲏⲥ · ⲧⲁⲡⲟⲧⲁⲅⲏ ⲛⲛⲁⲡⲟⲥⲧⲟⲗⲟⲥ · ⲑⲩⲡⲟⲙⲟⲛⲏ ϩⲛ ϩⲉⲛⲛⲁⲅⲱⲛ ⲉⲛⲥⲉϭⲟϫⲃ ⲁⲛ
ⲉⲛⲁⲙⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲟⲥ

‘In sum, the suffering of the prophets, the renunciation of the apostles, the steadfastness in struggles which are no less than those of the martyrs.’

Like a martyr, the ascetic is compared to a soldier, pursuing his enemies until he gains victory. The virtuous acts performed by Apollo are claimed to be so countless that he ranks with the angels and Christ himself, so much so that the speaker addresses Apollo in the following way:

Ed. Kuhn, p. 7, lines 14–18:

ⲱ ⲡⲉⲛⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲱ ⲉⲓⲛⲁⲉϣϫⲱ ⲛⲧⲙⲛⲧⲛⲟϭ ⲛⲛⲁϣ ⲛϩⲉ ⲛⲛⲧⲁⲓⲟ ⲉⲧⲡⲣⲉⲡⲉⲓ ⲙⲡⲉⲓⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ · ⲡⲉⲓⲣⲱⲙⲉ ϩⲛ ⲧⲉϥⲫⲩⲥⲓⲥ ·
ⲡⲉⲓϩⲓⲥⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ ⲇⲉ ϩⲛ ⲛⲉϥⲧⲣⲟⲡⲟⲥ · ⲡⲉⲓⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛⲣⲙⲛⲕⲁϩ ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⲧⲉϥⲟⲩⲥⲓⲁ · ⲛϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲥⲟⲛ ⲉⲡⲉⲭⲥ ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⲡⲉϥⲃⲓⲟⲥ ·

‘O our father, how shall I be able to speak of the greatness of the honours which befit this holy man, human in his nature but equal to the angels in his ways, this earth-born man according to his substance but son of God and brother to Christ according to his way of life!’

Due to his superior humility, God granted him the gift of prophecy, the ability to work miracles as well as healing powers.

As a monk at the monastery at Pbow, Apollo is claimed to have devoted himself to so many vigils that he spent three years without ever lying down to sleep. As a result, he would receive visions of angelic choirs and ranks of prophets coming to him and sharing their glory with him.

In case his listeners have doubts concerning his account, the speaker provides them with examples of Apollo’s severe asceticism, by relating an incident at the harvest, when Apollo was fasting, as he often did, sometimes not eating for a whole week. He was working in the fields with the brothers, when his suffering became so severe that he had to sit down. In a vision he saw the Lord next to him on the cross asking Apollo whether he suffered as much. At once the saint rose and kept harvesting the fields, his strength renewed.

Likewise, when it was time for baking, he would often stand in front of the hot oven doors enduring the heat, praying and thinking of the Three Youths in the Furnace. In the winter, he would soak his garment with water and stand in the cold frosty air all through the night praying. He would also stand in freezing water during the night to keep away the need of sleep.

Such ascetic suffering is considered comparable to martyrdom:

Ed. Kuhn, p. 13, lines 7–18:

ⲁⲣⲁ ⲗⲟⲓⲡⲟⲛ ⲱ ⲡⲉⲧⲥⲱⲧⲙ ⲉⲛⲁⲓ · ⲛⲉⲓⲁⲅⲱⲛ ⲛⲧⲉⲙⲓⲛⲉ ϭⲟϫⲃ ⲛⲛⲁϩⲣⲁⲕ ⲉⲛⲁⲛⲉⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲟⲥ · ⲙⲁⲗⲗⲟⲛ ⲇⲉ ⲉϣϫⲉ ϣϣⲉ ⲉⲧⲁⲩⲉⲧⲙⲉ ·
ⲟⲩⲛⲟⲩⲙⲏⲏϣⲉ ϩⲛ ⲛⲉⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲟⲥ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ · ⲟⲩⲡⲣⲟⲥⲟⲩⲕⲟⲩⲓ ⲛⲟⲩⲛⲟⲩ ⲙⲙⲁⲧⲉ ⲏ ⲟⲩϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲛⲟⲩⲱⲧⲡⲉ ⲡⲉⲩⲁⲅⲱⲛ ⲧⲏⲣϥ · ⲡⲁⲓ ⲇⲉ
ⲛⲧⲟϥ ⲉⲛⲉϥⲙⲟⲟⲩⲧ ⲙⲙⲏⲏⲛⲉ ⲥⲭⲉⲇⲟⲛ ϩⲓⲧⲛ ⲛⲉϩⲓⲥⲉ ⲛⲧⲁⲥⲕⲏⲥⲓⲥ · ϩⲟⲧⲁⲛ ⲇⲉ ϫⲉ ⲛⲉⲓⲁⲅⲱⲛ ⲛⲧⲉⲓⲙⲓⲛⲉ ϭⲟϫⲃ ⲁⲛ ⲉⲛⲁⲙⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲟⲥ ·
ⲥⲱⲧⲙ ⲛⲁⲕ ⲉⲡⲛⲟϭ ⲃⲁⲥⲓⲗⲓⲟⲥ ⲉϥϫⲱ ⲙⲙⲟⲥ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲧⲉⲡⲣⲁⲕⲧⲓⲕⲏ · ⲉⲧⲉ ⲧⲁⲓ ⲧⲉ ⲧⲉⲅⲣⲁⲧⲓⲁ · ϫⲉ ⲛⲧⲁ ⲛⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲱⲛϩ ⲛϩⲏⲧⲥ ·
ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉⲁⲩⲣⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲟⲥ ⲟⲛ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲟⲟⲧⲥ · ⲡⲕⲉⲁⲡⲟⲥⲧⲟⲗⲓⲕⲟⲥ ⲇⲉ ⲟⲛ ⲁⲑⲁⲛⲁⲥⲓⲟⲥ ⲡⲥⲱⲧⲙ ϥⲣⲙⲛⲧⲣⲉ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲡⲛⲟϭ ⲁⲛⲧⲱⲛⲓⲟⲥ · ϫⲉ
ⲛⲉϥⲙⲁⲣⲧⲏⲣⲉⲓ ⲙⲙⲏⲏⲛⲉ ϩⲛ ⲧⲉϥⲥⲩⲛⲏⲇⲏⲥⲓⲥ ·

‘O you who hear this do then such contests as these seem to you inferior to those of the martyrs? Rather, if it is right that the truth be proclaimed, there are many among the holy martyrs whose whole contest lasted only for a brief hour or a single day, but this man was dying almost daily by ascetic sufferings. And since such contests are not inferior to those of the martyrs, listen to the great Basil when he says about the way of life which is asceticism: “All the saints lived in it and became martyrs through it.” (unidentified quotation) Also the apostolic Athanasius, the chosen, testifies concerning the great Antony: “He was a martyr daily in his conscience.” (Life of St. Antony, PG 26, 912B; Garitte, CSCO 117, p. 110.)’

When active conflict between the Chalcedonian and Monophysite positions erupted again during the time of Justinian I (527–565) also at Pbow, Apollo left the monastery after its Monophysite abbot Abraham had been expelled. Apollo went wandering north eventually founding his own monastery dedicated to Isaak (the patriarch), presumably located somewhere near Herakleopolis. Various events and players of the 6th century are mentioned, among them Severus of Antioch and Theodosius of Alexandria, as well as difficulties which Apollo encountered with Meletians living in the area of his new monastic foundation.

At this new location, Apollo’s sanctity became famous:

Ed. Kuhn, p. 21, 1–7:

ⲡⲉⲛⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲉⲧⲛϣⲁϫⲉ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ϩⲙ ⲡⲧⲣⲉⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲧⲟϭϥ ϩⲙ ⲡⲉⲓⲧⲟⲟⲩ · ⲁϥϫⲉⲛⲟⲩⲛⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲗⲟⲓⲡⲟⲛ ⲛⲑⲉ ⲙⲡⲗⲓⲃⲁⲛⲟⲥ ·
ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁⲩⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛϭⲓ ⲛⲉϥⲕⲗⲁⲧⲟⲥ · ⲉⲧⲉ ⲛⲉⲭⲁⲣⲓⲥⲙⲁⲛⲉ ⲙⲡⲉⲡⲛⲁ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲉⲧⲛϩⲏⲧϥ ⲛⲧⲁⲓϣⲣⲡϫⲟⲟⲩ · ⲟⲩⲡⲣⲟⲅⲛⲱⲥⲓⲥ
ⲉⲥⲧⲁⲓⲏⲩ · ⲟⲩⲑⲉⲱⲣⲁ ⲉⲥⲟ ⲛϣⲡⲏⲣⲉ · ⲟⲩⲙⲛⲧⲣⲉϥϯⲥϥⲱ ⲉⲥⲟⲩⲟϫ ⲟⲩⲧⲁⲗϭⲟ ⲛⲛⲉⲧϣⲱⲛⲉ · ϩⲱⲥⲧⲉ ⲛⲧⲉ ⲧϭⲓⲛϫⲱϩ ⲙⲙⲁⲧⲉ ⲉⲛⲉϥϩⲟⲓⲧⲉ ϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛⲁⲩ ⲛⲑⲉⲣⲁⲡⲓⲁ ·

‘Now our holy father of whom we speak, when the Lord planted him in this mountain, then took root as a Lebanaon (tree) and its branches went forth, that is the gifts of the Holy Spirit that are in him which I mentioned before: excellent foreknowledge, marvellous vision, sound teaching, healing of the sick, so that the touching of only his garments gave them healing.’

Apollo continued his severe asceticism, fasting and keeping vigils, so that he spent six years together without sleeping at night or going indoors during the winter cold or the summer heat, a fact for which the speaker refers to people who met Apollo in person and testified that this is true (ed. Kuhn, p. 22, lines 3–7).

Apollo was also building a small church at his monastery. When urged to consecrate it, he insisted that this should only be completed by the Lord. As a result, Apollo received a vision of an angel who urged him to come to the church as Christ was calling him. Apollo then saw the ceiling of the church open and filled with angels descending into church. Christ was standing at the table and so Apollo consecrated this church on day 25 of the month Epeiph (19 July). Christ would also reveal to Apollo who was worthy to receive communion and who was not. Likewise, Paul would appear to him often to give advice (ed. Kuhn, p. 25, line 17–p. 26, line 14).


Ed. Kuhn, p. 27, lines 7–13:

ⲟⲩⲙⲏⲏϣⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲟⲛ ⲛⲥⲟⲡ ⲛⲉϣⲁⲣⲉ ⲡⲡⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲛⲁⲡⲟⲥⲧⲟⲗⲟⲥ ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ ⲟⲩⲱⲛϩ ⲛⲁϥ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲉϥⲇⲓⲟⲣⲑⲟⲩ ⲛⲁϥ ⲛϩⲁϩ ⲛⲥⲟⲡ · ⲁⲩⲱ
ⲛⲉϣⲁϥϫⲟⲟⲥ ⲛⲁϥ ϫⲉ ⲁⲕⲣϩⲱⲃ ⲉⲡϣⲱϫⲡ ⲛⲧⲁⲇⲓⲁⲕⲟⲛⲁ · ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲡⲁⲓ ϣⲁϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲉⲡⲟⲟⲩ ⲛϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲁⲩⲡⲏⲥⲥⲉ ⲛⲛⲟⲩⲥ⳨ⲟⲥ ϩⲙ ⲡⲙⲁ
ⲉⲧⲉϣⲁϥⲟⲩⲱⲛϩ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲛϩⲏⲧϥ ϩⲙ ⲡϩⲓⲣⲙⲟⲥ ⲉⲧⲥⲁⲣⲏⲥ ⲛⲧⲉⲕⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ · ⲉⲩⲇⲓⲁⲡⲟⲇⲏⲝⲓⲥ ⲙⲛ ⲟⲩⲡⲗⲏⲣⲟⲫⲟⲣⲓⲁ ⲛⲛⲁⲓⲱⲛⲓⲟⲛ ·

‘Also, the holy apostle Paul appeared to him many times, putting him right often. And he said to him: “You have worked on the remainder of my ministry.” Therefore to this day a cross was erected at the spot where he used to appear to him, in the enclosure which is at the south side of the church, as proof and assurance for ever.’

But Apollo, when awake at night praying, also had visions of the devil appearing in disguise at his monastery and sniffing on his sleeping brothers to verify whether they had his stench or not (ed. Kuhn, p. 28, lines 17–21).

Apollo’s sanctity, we are told, was such that numerous miracles would occur through him. When he was walking, someone gathered the earth from under his feet and put it on his loaves of bread. At once the loaves started to multip