E05973: Coptic ostracon from Deir el-Bahari (Upper Egypt) with a guarantee for the good service of a new deacon of a church of Apa *Mena (presumably the soldier and martyr celebrated at Abu Mena, S00073); datable around the year 600.

O.Crum 45

In this document, two men, Zacharias and Athanasios are addressing bishop Apa Abraham and acting as guarantors for a newly ordained deacon named Ezekiel who they claim will serve at the church of Apa Mena without neglect. They assure the bishop that should there be any neglect on the deacon's part that they are keeping secret, concerning either the lamp or the offering, it is they who are to be made responsible.

Lines 6–10 read as follows:

... ⲉⲍⲉⲕⲓⲏⲗ ⲡⲇⲓⲁⲕ(ⲟⲛⲟⲥ) ⲉⲧⲣⲉϥⲡⲣⲟⲥⲉⲭⲉ ⲉⲧⲉⲕⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ ⲛⲁⲡⲁ ⲙⲏⲛⲁ ⲁϫⲛ ⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲛⲕⲁⲧⲁⲫⲣⲟⲛⲏⲥⲓⲥ

'… Ezekiel, the deacon, to have him attend to the church of Apa Mena without any neglect.'

Lines 11–17 read:

ⲉⲛϣⲁⲛⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲛⲕⲁⲧⲁⲫⲣⲟⲛⲏⲥⲓⲥ ⲛⲧⲟ̣ϥ̣ ⲉⲓⲧⲉ ϩⲁ ⲡϩⲏⲃⲥ̣ ⲉⲓⲧⲉ ϩⲛ ⲧⲉⲑⲩⲥⲓⲁ ⲛⲧⲛⲧⲙϫⲟⲟⲥ ⲛⲁⲕ ⲡⲉϥⲕⲣⲓⲙⲁ ⲛⲁϣⲱⲡⲉ ϩⲓϫⲱⲛ

'But should we encounter negligence, either with respect to the lamp or to the offering, and we do not tell you, his condemnation shall be on us.'


(Text: W. E. Crum; trans.: G. Schenke)