E05975: Coptic ostracon from Deir el-Bahari (Upper Egypt) with a letter addressed to a presbyter mentioning the celebration and the canon of Apa *Shenetom/Senetom (S02241), as well as an institution dedicated to Apa *Theodore (possibly the soldier and martyr of Amaseia and Euchaita , S00480), in which a judgement was to be made; datable to the 7th century.

O.Crum 105

In this letter addressed to the presbyter Ioannes, the sender is telling him that two people have been appointed to celebrate the feast at the place of Apa Shenetom and to receive a canon. Something or someone is also going to be judged inside the church of saint Theodore.

Lines 3–6 of the front of the ostracon read as follows:

ⲉⲓⲥ ⲓⲱϩⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ ⲙⲛ ⲕⲟⲛⲁⲣⲓⲟⲥ ⲛⲇ̣ⲓ̣ⲁ̣ⲕ̣(ⲟⲛⲟⲥ?) ⲁⲓⲧⲟϣⲟⲩ [ⲉⲧⲣⲉ]ⲩⲣϣⲁ ⲉⲡⲙⲁ ⲛⲁⲡⲁ ϣ[ⲉ]ⲛⲉⲧⲱⲙ ⲛⲥⲉϫⲓ ⲡ[ⲉⲩ]ⲕⲁⲛⲟⲛ

'Behold, Ioannes and Konarios, the deacons (?), I have appointed them [to have] them celebrate the feast at the place of Apa Shenetom and to have them receive [their?] canon.'

Lines 1–2 and 6–7 of the reverse read as follows:

[ⲉ]ⲧⲃⲉ ⲡⲕⲁⲛⲟⲛ ϩⲓⲧⲛ ⲁⲡⲁ ⲥⲉⲛⲉⲧⲱⲙ

'Concerning the canon from Apa Senetom, …'

ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲙⲡϩⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲡⲁ ⲑⲉⲟ[ⲇ]ⲱⲣⲟⲥ

'… in (the church of) saint Apa Theodore.'


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