E05395: Coptic Martyrdom of Apa *Sarapion (S02038): a wealthy young man from Panephosi (Lower Egypt) is tried at different locations, among them Antinoopolis (Middle Egypt), repeatedly tortured, but healed and protected by *Michael, the Archangel (S00181); he effects numerous miracles, resulting in mass confessions of faith and 4,262 martyrdoms along the way; prior to his death, the saint is promised two shrines with healing cult, one at his hometown, one at the site of his martyrdom and burial, complete with consecration date (5 September) and feast day (22 January) celebrations; written most likely sometime during the 7th century.

The text is introduced as follows:

Codex Vatic. Copt. 67, fol. 90, ed. Balestri–Hyvernat, p. 63, lines 1–4:

Ϯⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲓⲁ ⲛⲧⲉ ⲫⲏⲉⲑⲟⲩⲁⲃ ⲙⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲟⲥ ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡⲉⲛϭⲥ ⲓⲏⲥ ⲡⲭⲥ ⲡⲓⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲡⲁ ⲥⲁⲣⲁⲡⲓⲱⲛ ⲡⲓⲣⲉⲙⲡⲁⲛⲉⲫⲱⲥⲓ ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡⲑⲟϣ ⲛⲓⲙⲉϣϣⲱⲧ
ⲉⲧⲁϥϫⲟⲕⲥ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛⲥⲟⲩ ⲕⲍ ⲛⲡⲓⲁⲃⲟⲧ ⲧⲱⲃⲓ ϧⲉⲛ ⲟⲩϩⲓⲣⲏⲛⲏ ⲛⲧⲉ ⲫϯ ⲁⲙⲏⲛ

‘The martyrdom of the holy martyr of our Lord Jesus Christ, saint Apa Sarapion, the inhabitant of Panephosi in the district of Nimeshshot. He completed it on day 27 of the month Tybi (22 January). In God’s peace. Amen.’

When Arianus, the governor of Antinoopolis travelled north reaching the village of Panephosi in the district of Nimeshshot, he ordered the inhabitants of the area to sacrifice to the imperial gods. One of the wealthiest and most influential, a beautiful young man named Sarapion (ⲁⲡⲁ ⲥⲁⲣⲁⲡⲓⲱⲛ) refused to do so. He donated all his property to the poor and embraced the prospect of becoming a martyr for Christ. Accompanied by his friends Isidore (ⲓⲥⲓⲇⲱⲣⲟⲥ), a man of senatorial rank, and Erme (ⲉⲣⲙⲏ), his former slave, he confronts the governor (ed. Balestri–Hyvernat, p. 63–66).

When the governor was told that the local inhabitants were prepared to attack the governor to defend Sarapion, he had him and his two companions bound and thrown into the bottom of the boat. Sarapion prayed to the Lord asking for a strong wind to cause a commotion, which it did. Sarapion was miraculously freed from his shackles and appeared on top of the boat greeting his armed fellow townsfolk and bidding them farewell.

Twelve of them, however, attacked the governor, announcing that they were Christians too and jumping towards the boat to accompany Sarapion. Sarapion fished them out of the water and the governor had all of them bound and thrown back under deck, before sailing off to Nimeshshot Panephre (ⲛⲓⲙⲉϣϣⲱⲧ ⲡⲁⲛⲉⲫⲣⲏ) where they arrived three days later and were thrown into prison (ed. Balestri–Hyvernat, p. 67–69).

When Sarapion was brought out to face the governor in the morning and refused to sacrifice, he was severely tortured and burned in a fire. After praying extensively, referring to martyrs, prophets, apostles, and the three Hebrew Youths in the furnace, the Archangel Michael (ⲙⲓⲭⲁⲏⲗ ⲡⲓⲁⲣⲭⲏⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ) appeared and saved him from the flames, bringing him forth completely unharmed (ed. Balestri–Hyvernat, p. 69–71).

The governor seeing him unharmed bragged to Sarapion that he had already had 40,000 Christians executed.

Ed. Balestri–Hyvernat, p. 72, lines 2–5:

ⲡⲉϫⲁϥ ⲛⲁϥ ϫⲉ ⲥⲁⲣⲁⲡⲓⲱⲛ ⲁⲗⲏⲑⲱⲥ ⲁⲓⲕⲏⲛ ⲉϧⲱⲧⲉⲃ ⲛⲇ ⲛⲑⲃⲁ ⲛⲭⲣⲏⲥⲧⲓⲁⲛⲟⲥ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲙⲡⲓⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲉϥϫⲉⲙϫⲟⲙ ⲛⲡⲉⲕⲣⲏϯ
ⲁⲗⲏⲑⲱⲥ ⲛⲑⲟⲕ ⲟⲩⲥⲁϧ ⲙⲙⲁⲅⲟⲥ

‘He said to him: “Sarapion, truly I have already killed 40,000 Christians and I have not seen one capable of your manner. Truly, you are a master of magic.”’

The cycle of tortures, prison, and prayer, generating the Archangel Michael’s appearance and help, continued. Sarapion withstood the tortures and in prison encouraged and possibly converted an archon with 400 of his men, all imprisoned for being unable to pay their taxes.

[Seemingly a substantial portion of the text is missing here, in which there appears to have been a move made back to Antinoopolis to imprison and interrogate Sarapion, where he would become associated with the important city; see ed. Balestri–Hyvernat, p. 84, where Christ appears to Sarapion and announces that he will also receive a crown for his pains suffered at Antinoopolis (ed. Balestri–Hyvernat, p. 72–77).]

Witnessing Sarapion overcoming severe tortures and the destruction of the instruments of torture through divine intervention, many bystanders confess their faith and suffer martyrdom, 332 souls.

Ed. Balestri–Hyvernat, p. 78, lines 3–12:

ⲡⲓⲙⲏϣ ⲧⲏⲣϥ ⲉⲧⲁⲩⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲧⲁⲓⲛⲓϣϯ ⲛϣⲫⲏⲣⲓ ⲉⲧⲁⲥϣⲱⲡⲓ ⲁⲩⲱϣ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϧⲉⲛ ⲟⲩⲣⲟ ⲛⲟⲩⲱⲧ ⲛϫⲉ ⲧ ⲛⲣⲱⲙⲓ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲕϯ ⲛⲥϩⲓⲙⲓ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲇ
ⲛⲕⲟⲩϫⲓ ⲛⲁⲗⲟⲩ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲏ ⲛⲙⲟⲩⲛⲁⲭⲟⲥ ⲉⲩϫⲱ ⲙⲙⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲁⲛⲟⲛ ϩⲁⲛⲭⲣⲏⲥⲧⲓⲁⲛⲟⲥ ⲙⲡⲁⲣⲣⲏⲥⲓⲁ ⲉⲛⲛⲁϩϯ ⲉⲓⲏⲥ ⲡⲭⲥ ⲫϯ ⲙⲡⲓⲙⲁⲕⲁⲣⲓⲟⲥ
ⲥⲁⲣⲁⲙⲓⲱⲛ ⲡⲓϩⲏⲅⲉⲙⲱⲛ ⲇⲉ ⲁϥϣⲑⲟⲣⲧⲉⲣ ⲉϥⲥⲱⲧⲉⲙ ⲉⲛⲁⲓ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲁϥⲉⲣⲕⲉⲗⲉⲩⲓⲛ ⲉⲑⲣⲟⲩⲟⲗⲟⲩ ⲉⲟⲩⲙⲁ ⲛϣⲁϥⲉ ⲁϥⲑⲣⲉ ⲛⲓⲙⲁⲧⲟⲓ
ⲫⲉⲧⲫⲱⲧⲟⲩ ϧⲉⲛ ϩⲁⲛⲕⲉⲗⲉⲃⲓⲛ ⲫⲁⲓ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲓⲣⲏϯ ⲉⲧⲁⲩϫⲱⲕ ⲛⲧⲟⲩⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲓⲁ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϧⲉⲛ ⲟⲩϩⲓⲣⲏⲛⲏ ⲁⲙⲏⲛ

‘The whole crowd who saw this great miracle which had taken place cried out with one voice, 300 men, 20 women, 4 children and 8 monks, saying: “We are Christians openly, believing in Jesus Christ, the God of the blessed Sarapion.” The governor then was furious hearing these things and gave orders to have them gathered up at a desert place. He let the soldiers cut them down with axes. This is the manner in which they completed their martyrdom. In God’s peace. Amen.’

Sarapion’s tortures continued when he continued to refuse to give in and sacrifice to the imperial gods. The blood from his wounds caused numerous healing miracles, and even the resurrection of a dead man who was already prepared for burial, resulting in even more confessions of faith and martyrdoms of bystanders, this time counting 640 people who die as martyrs.

Ed. Balestri–Hyvernat, p. 79, lines 7–26:

ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲁⲡⲉϥⲥⲛⲟϥ ⲱϣϫ ⲉⲛⲓⲱⲛⲓ ⲛⲧⲉ ⲛⲓⲡⲗⲁⲧⲓⲁ ⲛⲧⲉ ϯⲃⲁⲕⲓ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲛⲓⲃⲉⲛ ⲉⲑϣⲱⲛⲓ ⲉⲑⲛⲁϭⲓ ⲙⲡⲥⲛⲟϥ ⲙⲡⲓⲙⲁⲕⲁⲣⲓⲟⲥ
ⲛⲧⲉϥⲗⲁⲗⲱϥ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ϣⲁϥⲟⲩϫⲁⲓ ⲛϯⲟⲩⲛⲟⲩ ⲓⲧⲉ ⲟⲩⲕⲟⲩⲣ ⲡⲉ ϣⲁϥⲥⲱⲧⲉⲙ ⲓⲧⲉ ⲟⲩⲃⲉⲗⲗⲉ ⲡⲉ ϣⲁϥⲛⲁⲩ ⲙⲃⲟⲗ ⲓⲧⲉ ⲟⲩϣⲁⲗⲉ ⲡⲉ
ϣⲁϥⲙⲟϣⲓ ⲓⲧⲉ ⲟⲩⲕⲁⲕⲥⲉϩⲧ ⲡⲉ ϣⲁϥⲧⲟⲩⲃⲟ

‘His blood soaked the stones of the town squares. Anyone suffering an illness who was about to take the blessed man’s blood and anoint himself with it would be healed instantly. Be it a deaf man, he would hear. Be it a blind man, he would see. Be it a lame man, he would walk. Be it a leper, he would become pure.’

ⲟⲩⲟϩ ϩⲏⲡⲡⲉ ⲓⲥ ϩⲁⲛⲣⲱⲙⲓ ⲁⲩⲓ ⲉⲩⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛⲟⲩ ⲛⲟⲩⲣⲉϥⲙⲱⲟⲩⲧ ⲉⲩⲱⲗⲓ ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⲉⲑⲟⲙⲥϥ ⲁⲩⲱⲗⲓ ⲙⲡⲓⲥⲛⲟϥ ⲉⲧⲁϥⲓ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϧⲉⲛ ⲡⲥⲱⲙⲁ
ⲛⲡⲓⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲩⲗⲁⲗⲱϥ ⲉⲡⲓⲣⲉϥⲙⲱⲟⲩⲧ ⲥⲁⲧⲟⲧϥ ⲁϥⲧⲱⲛϥ ⲛϫⲉ ⲡⲓⲣⲉϥⲙⲱⲟⲩⲧ ⲁϥⲟⲩⲱⲛ ⲛⲛⲉϥⲃⲁⲗ ⲡⲓⲙⲏϣ ⲇⲉ ⲧⲏⲣϥ ⲁϥⲱϣ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϫⲉ
ⲁⲗⲏⲑⲱⲥ ⲟⲩⲑⲙⲏⲓ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲁⲓⲣⲱⲙⲓ ⲉⲑⲃⲉ ⲫⲁⲓ ⲛⲁⲓϫⲟⲙ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲥⲉⲛⲏⲟⲩ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⲁⲩⲛⲁϩϯ ⲉⲫϯ ϧⲉⲛ ⲡⲓⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲛϫⲉ ⲭⲙ ⲛⲯⲩⲭⲏ
ⲉⲩⲱϣ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ϧⲉⲛ ⲟⲩⲣⲟ ⲛⲟⲩⲱⲧ ϫⲉ ⲁⲛⲟⲛ ϩⲁⲛⲭⲣⲏⲥⲧⲓⲁⲛⲟⲥ ⲛⲡⲁⲣⲏⲥⲓⲁ ⲉⲛⲛⲁϩϯ ⲉⲫϯ ⲛⲁⲡⲁ ⲥⲁⲣⲁⲡⲓⲱⲛ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲁϥⲉⲣⲕⲉⲗⲉⲩⲓⲛ ⲛϫⲉ
ⲡⲓϩⲏⲅⲉⲙⲱⲛ ⲉⲑⲣⲟⲩⲟⲗⲟⲩ ⲥⲁⲃⲟⲗ ⲛϯⲃⲁⲕⲓ ⲛⲧⲟⲩⲱⲗⲓ ⲛⲧⲟⲩⲁⲫⲉ ⲫⲁⲓ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲓⲣⲏϯ ⲉⲧⲁⲩϫⲱⲕ ⲛⲧⲟⲩⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲓⲁ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛⲥⲟⲩ ⲕ ⲛⲡⲓⲁⲃⲟⲧ
ⲧⲱⲃⲓ ϧⲉⲛ ⲟⲩϩⲓⲣⲏⲛⲏ ⲁⲙⲏⲛ

‘Behold, some people arrived carrying a corpse taking him to bury him. They gathered the blood which had come forth from the saint’s body and anointed the deceased man with it. The dead man rose and opened his eyes. The whole crowd cried out: “Truly, this man is just, because of all the miracles occurring through him!” They believed in God on that day, 640 souls all crying out with one voice: “We are Christians openly, believing in the God of Apa Sarapion!” The governor ordered them to be taken outside the town and beheaded. This is the way in which they completed their martyrdom on day 20 of the month Tybi (15 January). In peace. Amen.’

More tortures follow, among them setting the saint on fire for nine hours. Michael saves him again and the saint steps out of the flames completely unharmed. This causes another mass confession and martyrdom, this time by a group of 1500 people. When the crowd turned violent starting to throw stones and threatening the governor, he had them condemned, taken away and beheaded (ed. Balestri–Hyvernat, p. 80–81).

Ed. Balestri–Hyvernat, p. 81, lines 6–8:

ϧⲉⲛ ϯⲟⲩⲛⲟⲩ ⲉⲧⲉⲙⲙⲁⲩ ⲁⲩⲱϣ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛϫⲉ ⲓⲉ ⲛϣⲉ ⲛⲯⲩⲭⲏ ⲉⲩϫⲱ ⲙⲙⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲁⲛⲟⲛ ϩⲁⲛⲭⲣⲏⲥⲧⲓⲁⲛⲟⲥ ⲛⲡⲁⲣⲏⲥⲓⲁ ⲉⲛⲛⲁϩϯ ⲉⲫϯ
ⲛⲁⲡⲁ ⲥⲁⲣⲁⲡⲓⲱⲛ

‘At that moment 1500 souls cried out saying: “We are Christians openly. We believe in the God of Apa Sarapion.”’

Ed. Balestri–Hyvernat, p. 81, lines 13–16:

ⲫⲁⲓ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲓⲣⲏϯ ⲉⲧⲁⲩϫⲱⲕ ⲛⲧⲟⲩⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲓⲁ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛⲥⲟⲩ ⲕⲃ ⲛⲡⲓⲁⲃⲟⲧ ⲧⲱⲃⲓ ⲁⲩⲉⲣⲫⲟⲣⲓⲛ ⲛⲡⲓⲭⲗⲟⲙ ⲛⲁⲧⲧⲁⲕⲟ ϧⲉⲛ ⲑⲙⲉⲧⲟⲩⲣⲟ
ⲛⲛⲓⲫⲏⲟⲩⲓ

‘This is the way in which they completed their martyrdom on day 22 of the months Tybi (17 January). They bore the incorruptible crown in the kingdom of heaven.’

The governor then offered Sarapion a political career in exchange for his sacrifice. Sarapion prayed for a sign from God and the incense turned into three wild lions at the touch of the saint’s hand. The animals licked Sarapion’s feet before attacking the governor and could only be stopped by the saint’s command. This miracle caused another 500 people to confess their Christian faith and complete their martyrdom by being beheaded outside of the city (ed. Balestri–Hyvernat, p. 81–83).

Ed. Balestri–Hyvernat, p. 83, lines 11–14:

ϧⲉⲛ ϯⲟⲩⲛⲟⲩ ⲉⲧⲉⲙⲙⲁⲩ ⲁⲩⲛⲁϩϯ ⲉⲫϯ ⲛϫⲉ ⲫ ⲛⲣⲱⲙⲓ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϧⲉⲛ ⲡⲓⲙⲏϣ ⲉⲩⲱϣ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲉⲩϫⲱ ⲙⲙⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲁⲛⲟⲛ ϩⲁⲛⲭⲣⲏⲥⲧⲓⲁⲛⲟⲥ
ⲙⲡⲁⲣⲣⲏⲥⲓⲁ

‘At that moment, 500 people from among the crowd believed in God crying out saying: “We are Christians openly!”’

Ed. Balestri–Hyvernat, p. 83, lines 17–19:

ⲫⲁⲓ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲓⲣⲏϯ ⲉⲧⲁⲩϫⲱⲕ ⲛⲧⲟⲩⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲓⲁ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛⲥⲟⲩ ⲕⲅ ⲛⲡⲓⲁⲃⲟⲧ ⲧⲱⲃⲓ ⲉⲁⲩϭⲓ ⲙⲡⲓⲭⲗⲟⲙ ⲛⲁⲧⲧⲁⲕⲟ ϣⲁ ⲉⲛⲉϩ

‘This is the way in which they completed their martyrdom on day 23 of the months Tybi (18 January), receiving the incorruptible crown eternally.’

Sarapion is put back into prison awaiting his sentence and conversing with his two companions, Isidore and Erme, and all the other prisoners. There he is visited by Christ who praises his fortitude and announces that he will receive three crowns: one for the suffering he endured under Arrianus at Antinoopolis, one for leaving his home town and possessions behind to become a stranger, and one for his martyrdom (ed. Balestri–Hyvernat, p. 84, lines 13–19). He announces that Sarapion will have a shrine (topos) in Panephre as well because of the prayers he offered there before suffering his martyrdom, in addition to the one at his hometown (Panephosi) (ed. Balestri–Hyvernat, p. 84, lines 22–24). Christ then lays out Sarapion’s future cult.

Ed. Balestri–Hyvernat, p. 84, line 28–p. 85, line 7:

ⲣⲱⲙⲓ