E05699: Coptic Ostracon from the area of Hermonthis (Upper Egypt) with a letter mentioning a place of Apa *Joseph (possibly the Old Testament patriarch, S00277) were a service takes place; datable to the 8th century.

O.CrumVC 63

The letter is mainly concerned with sending and receiving various commodities, but in lines 11–16 a service performed at Apa Joseph is mentioned which appears to be a church dedicated to Apa Joseph. The passage reads as follows:

ⲁⲡⲁⲡⲁⲥ ϫⲟⲟⲩ ⲛⲁ ϫⲉ ϣⲁⲕⲃⲱⲕ ⲉⲁⲡⲁ ⲱⲥⲏⲫ ⲛⲅⲥⲩⲛⲁⲅⲉ ⲁⲃⲱⲕ ⲙⲡⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲛⲧⲱⲡ̣ⲉ : ϯⲛⲁⲃⲱⲕ ⲟⲛ ⲙⲡⲟⲟⲩ ⲙⲛ ⲣⲁⲥⲧⲉ · ⲛⲧⲁⲱϣⲙ
ⲡⲕ‘ⲱ’ϩⲧ ⲙⲡϭⲱⲛⲧ · ϫⲉ ϯⲛⲟ̣ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲉⲁϥⲛ̣ⲟ̣‘ⲩ’ϭⲥ

‘Papas has sent to me saying: “You usually go to Apa Joseph and perform the service.” I did go in the holiday of Tybi. I will go again today and tomorrow and will quench the flame of anger, because I know him having been angry.’

(Text and translation: W. E. Crum, slightly modified)