E00188: Coptic child donation document of 29 August 766, certifying the gift of a male child to Apa *Phoibammon (soldier and martyr of Assiut, S00080) at Deir el-Bahari (Upper Egypt), after having been granted healing at the saint’s shrine located within the monastery of Apa Phoibammon on the mountain of Jeme.

P.KRU 86

Tachel, daughter of Sophia, from Ape in the district of Hermonthis, acting together with her sister Elisabeth, donates her son Athanasios to the saint. Tachel pledged her child already when he was ill at seven months old, but when he grew up, his mother decided against the donation. As punishment for this sin, God brought a severe illness over the boy, in the form of a demon. His mother decided to entreat the saint in his sanctuary to grant the boy healing. If so, she would fulfil her original promise and donate the boy as a life long servant to the saint at his shrine within the monastery.

Full text and translation:

+ ἐν ὀνόματι τοῦ τῆς ἁγία̣ς καὶ ζωωπι(οῦ) ὁμοσείου τριάδος
πατρὸς (καὶ) δοῦ εἱοῦ (καὶ) δ̣οῦ ἁγ̣(ί)ου πνεύματος ἐγράφ(η) μ(ηνὸς) Θὼ(θ) α, ἰνδ(ικτίωνος) ε
+ ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲧⲁⲭⲏⲗ ⲧϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲛⲥⲟⲫⲓⲁ ϩⲛ ⲁⲡⲏ̣ ⲡⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ
ⲛⲧⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ ⲉⲣⲙⲱⲛⲑ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉⲣⲉⲧⲁⲥⲱⲛⲉ ⲟⲛ ⲉⲗⲓⲥⲁⲃⲉⲧ ⲉⲓⲣⲉ ⲙⲡⲁⲓ ⲛⲙⲙⲁⲓ
5 ⲉⲛϯ ⲙⲛⲛⲥⲱⲥ ⲙⲡϩⲩⲡⲟⲅⲣⲁⲫⲉⲩⲥ ⲉⲧⲛⲁϩⲩⲡⲟⲅⲣⲁⲫⲉ ϩⲁⲣⲟⲛ
ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉⲛⲁⲓⲧⲉⲓ ⲛϩⲉⲛⲙⲁⲣⲧⲏⲣⲟⲥ ⲛⲁⲝⲓⲱⲡⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥ ⲉⲧⲣⲉⲩⲙⲁⲣⲧⲏⲣⲓⲍⲉ
ⲉⲡⲉⲓⲉⲛⲅⲣⲁⲫⲟⲛ ⲛⲇⲱⲣⲉⲁⲥⲧⲓⲕⲟⲛ ⲛⲁⲧⲡⲁⲣⲁ\ⲃⲁ/ ⲙⲙⲟϥ
ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲁⲧⲕⲓⲙ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲟⲟⲧⲟⲩ ⲛⲛⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ
ⲉⲧⲕⲏ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲉⲓⲥϩⲁⲓ ⲙⲡⲙⲟⲛⲁⲥⲧⲏⲣⲓⲟⲛ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲁⲡⲁ ⲫⲓⲃⲁⲙⲟⲛ ⲙⲡⲧⲟⲟⲩ
10 ⲛϫⲏⲙⲉ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲉⲧϩⲁ ⲧϩⲩⲡⲟⲧⲁⲅⲏ ⲙⲡⲉⲛⲇⲟⲝⲁⲧⲁⲧⲟⲥ ⲛϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲛⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲛⲁⲣⲭⲱ
ⲡⲕⲉⲓⲣⲓⲥ ⲯⲙⲱ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡⲇⲓⲉⲓ̣ⲕⲉⲧⲏⲥ ⲙⲡⲙⲟⲛⲁⲥⲧⲏⲣⲓⲟⲛ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲙⲛ ⲡⲕⲁⲥⲧⲣⲟⲛ
ⲧⲏⲣϥ ⲭⲁⲓⲣⲉⲧⲉ ⲉⲡⲓⲇⲏ ⲛⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲙⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲡϣⲁⲛϩⲧⲏϥ ⲡⲣⲟⲧⲣⲉⲡⲉ
ⲙⲡⲅⲉⲛⲟⲥ ⲧⲏⲣϥ ⲛⲛⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲩⲙⲛⲧⲣⲉϥⲣ ⲡⲡⲉⲧⲛⲁⲛⲟⲩϥ
ⲧⲁⲣⲟⲩⲙⲁⲁⲧⲉ ⲙⲡⲕⲱ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛⲛⲉⲩⲛⲟⲃⲉ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ϫⲉ ⲙⲛ ⲁⲧⲛⲟⲃⲉ
15 ⲉⲓⲙⲏⲧⲉⲓ ⲉⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲡⲉⲓⲁⲧⲛⲟⲃⲉ ⲙⲛⲛⲥⲱⲥ ⲉ̣ⲙ̣ⲛ̣ ⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲛⲉ-
ⲝⲟⲩⲥⲉⲓⲁ ⲉϥⲛⲁⲁⲣⲭⲉⲓ ⲕⲁⲧⲉ ⲕⲁⲓⲣⲟⲥ ⲕⲱⲗⲩ ⲛⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲛⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲉⲣ
ⲡⲉⲧⲉϥⲟⲩⲁⲁϣϥ ϩⲛ ⲡⲉⲧⲉ ⲡⲱϥ ⲡⲉ ⲉⲡⲓⲇⲏ ϩⲛ ⲡⲉⲓⲕⲁⲓⲣⲟⲥ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲉⲧⲛⲛϩⲏⲧϥ
ⲁⲩϫⲡⲉ ⲟⲩϣⲏⲣⲉ ϣⲏⲙ ⲛϩⲟⲟⲩⲧ ⲛⲁⲓ ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲧⲁⲭⲏⲗ ⲧⲉⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲧⲉ-
ⲉⲗⲉⲩⲑⲉⲣⲁ ϩⲛ ⲡⲉϥⲙⲉϩⲥⲁϣϥ ⲛⲉⲃⲟⲧ ⲁⲓⲉⲣⲏⲧ ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⲛϭⲁⲟⲩⲟⲛ
20 ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲡⲙⲟⲛⲁⲥⲧⲏⲣⲓⲟⲛ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲛⲁⲡⲁ ⲫⲓⲃⲁⲙⲱⲛ ⲙⲡⲧⲟⲟⲩ ⲛϫⲏⲙⲉ
ϫⲉ ⲉⲣϣⲁⲛⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲧⲟⲩϫⲟϥ ⲉⲡⲙⲟⲩ ϯⲛⲁⲧⲁⲁϥ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲡⲧⲟⲡⲟⲥ
ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲙⲛⲛⲥⲱⲥ ϩⲙ ⲡⲧⲣⲉⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲁⲩⲝⲁⲛⲉ ⲙⲡⲕⲟⲩⲓ ⲛϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲛϥⲉⲓ
ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲛⲧⲁⲓϯ ⲣⲁⲛϥ ϩⲓ ⲡⲃⲁⲡⲧⲓⲥⲙⲁ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ϫⲉ ⲁⲑⲁⲛⲁⲥⲉⲓⲟⲥ
ⲁⲡⲁⲗⲟⲅⲓⲥⲙⲟⲥ ⲉⲧⲥⲟⲣⲙ ⲛⲟϫⲧ ⲉⲩⲛⲟϭ ⲛⲛⲟⲃⲉ ⲉⲓⲉⲡⲓⲃⲟⲩⲗⲉⲩⲉ
25 ⲉⲡⲉⲓⲕⲟⲩⲓ ⲛϣⲏⲣⲉ ϫⲉ ⲛⲛⲉⲓⲧⲁⲁϥ {ϫⲉ ⲛⲛⲁⲧⲁⲁϥ} [ⲉⲡ]ⲙⲁ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ
ϩⲙ ⲡⲧⲣⲉⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ϭⲱϣⲧ ⲉϫⲛ ⲧⲁⲛⲟⲙⲉⲓ ⲛⲧⲁⲓⲁⲁⲥ ⲁϥⲛⲉϫ
ⲡⲕⲟⲩⲓ ⲛϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲉⲩⲛⲟϭ ⲛϣⲱⲛⲉ ⲉⲁϥⲣ ⲟⲩⲛⲟϭ ⲛⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓϣ ϩⲙ
ϩⲱⲥⲧⲉ ⲛⲧⲁⲟⲡϥ ⲛⲧⲟⲟⲧ ⲙⲛ ⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲉⲧⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ϫⲉ ⲁϥⲙⲟⲩ ϩⲛ
ϩⲛ ⲡⲧⲣⲁⲣ ⲡⲙⲉⲩⲉ ⲙⲡⲛⲟⲃⲉ ⲙ[ⲛ ⲧ]ⲧⲟⲗⲙⲏⲣⲓⲁ ⲛⲧⲁⲓⲁⲁⲥ ⲁⲓⲟⲩⲉϩⲙ
30 ⲕⲧⲟⲓ ⲁⲓⲡⲁⲣⲁⲕⲁⲗⲉⲓ ⲙⲡⲡⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ϩⲛ ⲡⲉϥⲧⲟⲡⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲉⲕϣⲁⲛⲡⲁ-
ⲣⲁⲕⲁⲗⲉⲓ ⲙⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲛϥⲭⲁⲣⲓⲍⲉ ⲙⲡⲧⲁⲗϭⲟ ⲙⲡⲉⲓϣⲏⲣⲉ ϣⲏⲙ
ϯⲛⲁⲛⲟϫϥ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲡⲧⲟⲡⲟⲥ ϣⲁ ⲉⲛⲉϩ ⲡⲣⲟⲥ ⲧⲁϩⲟⲙⲟⲗⲟⲅⲉⲓⲁ ⲛϣⲟⲣⲡ
ⲗⲟⲓⲡⲟⲛ ⲁⲡⲛⲁⲏⲧ ⲛⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲡϣⲁⲛϩⲧⲏϥ ϣⲛ ϩⲧⲏϥ ⲉϫⲛ ⲡⲕⲟⲩⲓ
ⲛϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲁϥⲭⲁⲣⲓⲍⲉ ⲛⲁϥ ⲙⲡⲧⲁⲗϭⲟ ⲁⲓϥⲓⲧϥ ⲛⲛⲁϭⲓϫ ⲁⲓⲛⲟϫϥ
35 ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲡⲧⲟⲡⲟⲥ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϫⲉ ⲁϥϩⲉ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲉⲩϣⲱⲛⲉ
ⲛⲇⲁⲓⲙⲱⲛ ⲁⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲁⲩ̣ⲣ ϣⲡⲏⲣⲉ ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⲉⲡⲱⲣϫ ⲟⲩⲛ
ⲙⲡⲙⲁ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲁⲩ̣ϣⲓⲛⲉ ϩⲓⲧⲟⲟⲧ ⲛⲥⲁ ⲡⲉⲓⲇⲱⲣⲉⲁⲥⲧⲓⲕⲟⲛ ϩⲁ ⲡⲁ-
ⲙⲉⲣⲓⲧ ⲛϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲁⲑⲁⲛⲁⲥⲓⲟ(ⲥ) ⲡⲁⲓ ⲛⲧⲁⲓϯ ⲡⲁⲟⲩⲟⲓ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲉⲓⲟⲛϩ
ⲉⲣⲉⲡⲁⲛⲟⲩⲥ ⲙⲙⲟⲓ ⲉⲣⲉⲡⲁⲗⲟⲅⲓⲥⲙⲟⲥ ⲧⲁϫⲣⲏⲩ ⲉⲙⲛ ⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲛϣⲱⲛⲉ
40 ⲛⲥⲱⲙⲁⲧⲓⲕⲟⲛ ⲧⲱ ϩⲓⲱⲱⲧ ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ϩⲛ ⲡⲁⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲛϩⲏⲧ ⲙⲛ ⲧⲁⲡⲣⲟ-
ϩⲉⲣⲁⲓⲥⲓⲥ ⲙⲙⲓⲛ ⲉⲙⲙⲟⲓ ⲭⲱⲣⲓⲥ ⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲛⲕⲣⲟϥ ϩⲓ ϩⲟⲧⲉ ϩⲓ ϫⲓⲛϭ-
ⲟⲛⲥ ϩⲓ ⲁⲡⲁⲧⲏ ϩⲓ ⲥⲉⲛⲁⲣⲡⲁⲅⲏ ⲉⲓϩⲟⲙⲟⲗⲟⲅⲉⲓ ⲉⲓⲁⲡⲟⲧⲁⲥⲉ ⲙⲡⲁϣⲏⲣⲉ
ⲁⲑⲁⲛⲁⲥⲓⲟⲥ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲡⲙⲟⲛⲁⲥⲧⲏⲣⲓⲟⲛ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲛ-
ⲧⲁⲓϣⲣⲡ ⲥϩⲁⲓϥ ϫⲓⲛ ⲛⲧⲉ ϣⲁ ⲉⲛⲉϩ ⲁⲩⲱ ϣⲁ ⲭⲣⲟⲛⲟⲥ ⲛⲓⲙ
45 ⲉϥⲛⲏⲩ ⲙⲛⲛⲥⲱⲓ ϣⲁ ⲉⲛⲉϩ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲧⲛⲁⲧⲟⲗⲙⲁ
ⲉⲉⲓ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲉⲡⲉⲓϣⲏⲣⲉ ϣⲏⲙ ⲛⲧⲉⲓⲙⲓⲛⲉ ⲉϥⲛⲁⲥⲱⲕ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ
ϩⲁ ⲡⲉⲕⲣⲓⲙⲁ ⲛⲧⲁⲡⲣⲟⲥⲫⲟⲣⲁ ϩⲓ ⲡⲃⲏⲙⲁ ⲙⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲛⲧⲁ-
ϫⲓ ϩⲁⲡ ⲛⲙⲙⲁϥ ⲉⲩⲱⲣϫ ⲟⲩⲛ ⲙⲡⲙⲁ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲁⲓⲥⲙⲛ ⲡⲉⲓⲇⲱⲣⲉⲁⲥⲧⲓⲕⲟⲛ
ϥⲟⲣϫ ϥϭⲙ ϭⲟⲙ ϩⲛ ⲙⲁ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲉⲩⲛⲁⲁⲙⲫⲁⲛⲓⲍⲉ ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⲛϩⲏⲧϥ +
50 + ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲡⲁⲡⲁⲥ ⲛⲇⲓ(ⲁⲕⲟⲛⲟⲥ) ⲙⲛ ⲅⲉⲱⲣ(ⲅⲓⲟⲥ) ⲛⲫⲓⲗⲟⲑ(ⲉⲟⲥ) ⲙⲛ ⲭⲁⲏⲗ ⲛⲓⲱⲁ(ⲛⲛⲏⲥ) ⲛⲁⲓ ⲛⲣⲙ ⲁⲡⲏ̣ ⲧⲛⲟ
ⲙⲙⲛⲧⲣⲉ ⲥⲉⲛⲁⲅⲁ ⲁⲓⲥϩⲁⲓ ϩⲁⲣ\ⲟⲩ̣/

'In the name of the Holy, life-giving, and consubstantial Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Written in the month of Thoth, on the first, of the fifth indiction year.
I, Tachel, the daughter of Sophia, from Ape in the district of the city of Hermonthis, and also my sister Elizabeth partaking in this together with me, we are providing, hereafter, a scribal assistant who will sign for us and we are asking trustworthy witnesses to let them bear witness to this inviolable and, through the existing laws, unchangeable donation document.
I write to the holy monastery of Apa Phoibammon on the mountain of Jeme, this one which is yielding to the superiority of the most glorious fatherly ruling lord, master (kyrios) Psmo, the administrator (dioiketes) of the holy monastery and the entire castron (= Jeme), greetings.
Since the laws of God, the compassionate, encourage the entire human race to an attainment of what is good, so that the forgiveness of their sins is obtained, since there is no sinless one, except for God, this sinless one. Moreover, there is no authority, who will rule at any time, hindering anyone to do what he wants with that which is his own.
At this time in which we are now, a small male child was born to me, Tachel, the wife and married woman. In his seventh month, I pledge him as a servant to the holy monastery of Apa Phoibammon on the mountain of Jeme, in the following manner: “If God saves him from death, I shall donate him to the holy place (topos).” Afterwards, when God let the small boy grow up and he developed, this one who I have named Athanasios at the holy baptism, my confused reasoning led me into great sin, deciding, with respect to the young boy, that I shall not donate him to the holy place.
When God looked onto the lawlessness I had committed, he cast the young boy into a severe illness, which lasted a long time, so that I, and anyone who saw him, assumed that he died. When I remembered the sin and audacity I had committed, I turned around again and I entreated the saint in his place (topos) in the following manner: “If you entreat God and he grants healing to this small child, I shall place him in the topos eternally in accordance with my first agreement.”
Now, the merciful God, the compassionate, took pity on the young boy and granted him healing. I had carried him in my arms and had placed him in the holy place (topos), because he had fallen into a demonic illness. Everyone saw him and marvelled at him.
With respect then to the security for the holy place, this donation document was asked from me concerning my beloved son Athanasios, this document with which I have proceeded, while being alive, my mind with me, my reasoning strong, without any physical impairment on me, but through my inner desire and my very own decision, without any guile, fear, force, deceit or deception, I acknowledge and assign my son Athansios to the aforementioned holy monastery, from now on until eternity and for any time coming after me until eternity.
The person who shall dare to come forth against this mentioned young child, will submit to the condemnation of my sacrifice at God’s tribune (bema) and I will litigate with him.
As security then for the holy place, I have produced this donation document, it being firm and valid at any place at which it will be shown.
I, the deacon Papas, and Georgios, son of Philotheos, and Chael, son of John, these men, residents of Ape, we bear witness.
I, Senaga, have written for them.'

(Text: W. E. Crum and G. Steindorff, German trans. W. C. Till, Engl. trans. G. Schenke)