E00661: Coptic fragmentary papyrus sheet with a short account of the trial, followed by martyrdom in 305, of an otherwise unattested martyr, the priest *Stephanos of Lenaios (Middle Egypt; S00409), datable by its script and layout to the 4th c.

P.Duk. inv. 438

[ϩⲛ ⲧⲙⲉϩⲙⲛⲧⲁϥⲧⲉ ⲛⲣⲟ]ⲙⲡⲉ ϩⲛ ⲧⲙⲛⲧⲉⲣⲟ ⲛⲟⲩⲁⲗⲉⲣⲓⲟⲥ ⲕⲱⲥⲧⲁⲛ-
[ⲇⲓⲟⲥ ⲡⲉⲣⲣⲟ ⲁⲩⲱ ϩⲛ] ⲧⲙⲉϩⲣⲙⲡⲉ ⲥⲛⲧⲉ ⲛⲛⲉⲛϫⲓⲥⲟⲩⲉ ⲟⲩⲁ-
[ⲗⲉⲣⲓⲟⲥ ⲥⲉⲩⲏⲣⲟⲥ] ⲙ̣ⲛ ⲙⲁⲝⲓ<ⲙⲓ>ⲁⲛⲟⲥ ⲛⲉⲛⲣⲱⲟⲩ : ⲉⲣⲉ ⲁⲣⲓⲁ-
[ⲛⲟⲥ ⲟ ⲛϩⲏⲅⲉⲙⲱⲛ ⲉⲑ]ⲩ̣ⲃⲁⲉⲓⲥ ⲁϥϩⲙⲟⲥ ⲉⲡⲃⲏⲙⲁ ϩⲛ ⲕⲗⲉⲟⲡⲁ-
5 [ⲧⲣⲓⲥ ⲛⲥⲟⲩ ] ⲛⲕⲓⲁϩⲕ : ⲛⲧⲉⲣⲟⲩⲛ ⲥⲧⲉⲫⲁⲛ̣ⲟ̣ⲥ̣ ⲉⲧⲙⲏ-
[ⲧⲉ ] ⲡⲉϫⲉ ϩⲓⲉⲣⲁⲝ ⲡⲕⲟⲙⲧⲁⲛⲏⲥⲓⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲥⲧⲉ-
[ⲫⲁⲛⲟⲥ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲉⲡⲣⲉ]ⲥⲃⲩⲧⲉⲣⲟⲥ ⲛⲗⲏⲛⲁⲉⲓⲥ ⲡⲧⲟϣ ⲛⲁⲛⲇⲓ-
[ⲛⲟⲟⲩ ⲁⲩⲕⲉⲗⲉⲩⲉ ⲇⲉ] ⲉⲛⲟϫϥ ⲉⲡⲉϣⲧⲉⲕⲟ ⲙⲛⲛⲥⲱⲥ ⲉⲧⲁϩⲟϥ ⲉ-
[ⲣⲁⲧϥ ⲉⲡⲃⲏⲙⲁ ⲇⲏⲙⲟ]ⲥⲓⲁ : ⲁⲣⲓⲁⲛⲟⲥ ⲫⲏⲅⲉⲙⲱⲛ ⲛⲧ̣ⲉⲑⲩ̣ⲃⲁⲉⲓⲥ
10 [ⲡⲉϫⲁϥ ϫⲉ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲣⲛⲧⲕ] ⲡⲉϫⲁϥ ϫⲉ [ⲥⲧⲉⲫⲁⲛⲟ]ⲥ ⲡⲉϫⲁϥ ⲛⲁϥ ϫⲉ
[ⲛⲧⲕ ⲟⲩⲣⲙⲛⲧⲱⲛ ⲡⲉ]ϫⲁϥ ϫⲉ ⲁⲛ̣[ⲅ ⲟⲩⲣⲙⲗ]ⲏⲛⲁⲉⲓⲥ ⲛⲧⲙ̣ⲟⲩ
[ⲡⲉϫⲁϥ ϫⲉ ⲛⲧⲕ ⲟⲩⲣⲙ]ⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲁϥ̣[ⲟⲩⲱϣⲃ ϫⲉ ⲁ]ⲛ̣ⲅ ⲟⲩⲡⲣⲉⲥⲃⲩⲧⲉ-
[ⲣⲟⲥ ⲡⲉϫⲉ ⲁⲣⲓⲁⲛⲟⲥ] ⲫⲏⲅⲉⲙⲱ[ⲛ ϫⲉ ⲡⲁⲟⲩⲱϣ]ⲉ̣ ⲡⲉ ⲉⲧⲣⲉⲕⲱⲛⲛϩ
[ⲁⲙⲟⲩ ⲛⲅⲣⲑⲩⲥⲓⲁ ⲡⲉϫⲉ] ⲥⲧⲉⲫⲁⲛ[ⲟⲥ ⲛⲁϥ ϫⲉ] ⲁⲕⲅ ⲟⲩⲭⲣⲏⲥⲇⲓⲁⲛⲟⲥ
15 [ⲡⲉϫⲁϥ ⲛⲁϥ ϫⲉ ⲁⲣⲓⲑ]ⲩⲥⲓⲁ ⲛ<ⲛ>ⲛⲟⲩⲧ[ⲉ ⲡⲉϫⲁϥ ϫ]ⲉ ⲛⲧⲓⲛⲁ<ⲣ>ⲑⲩⲥⲓ<ⲁ> ⲁⲛ : ⲡⲉϫⲉ
[ⲁⲣⲓⲁⲛⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ϩⲛ ⲛⲉ]ⲕⲙⲉⲉⲟⲩⲉ [ⲙⲡⲣⲙⲟⲩⲛⲕ ⲧⲓⲛⲁ]ⲧ̣ⲓ ⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓϣ ⲛⲁⲕ ⲛⲥⲁ ⲟⲩ-
[ ]ⲛ̣ ⲁϩⲉ· ⲡⲉⲉⲓ[ϩⲱⲃ ⲉⲧⲉⲕ]ⲙⲉⲉⲟⲩⲉ <ⲉ>ⲣⲟϥ ϣⲟⲩⲉⲓⲧ
[ⲁⲣⲓⲥⲁⲃⲉ ⲛⲅⲣⲑⲩⲥⲓⲁ] ⲛ<ⲛ>ⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲏ ⲙ[ⲟⲩⲛ]ⲕ ϩⲛ ⲛⲉⲕⲙⲉⲉⲟⲩⲉ ⲛϩⲏⲧ-
[ⲕ ⲧⲉⲛⲟⲩ ⲉⲕϫⲱ ⲙⲙ]ⲟ̣ⲥ ϫⲉ ⲟⲩ ⲕⲛ̣[ⲁⲣⲑⲩⲥⲓⲁ ⲥ]ⲉ ϫⲛ ⲙⲙⲟⲛ ⲡⲉϫⲉ
20 [ⲥⲧⲉⲫⲁⲛⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲟⲩ]ⲭⲣⲏ<ⲥ>ⲇⲓⲁⲛⲟⲥ [ⲛϥⲛⲁⲣⲑⲩⲥ]ⲓⲁ ⲁⲛ : ⲡⲉϫⲉ ⲁ̣ⲣ̣ⲓ̣ⲁ̣-
[ⲛⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲁⲣⲓⲑⲩⲥⲓⲁ] ⲛ<ⲛ>ⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲡⲉϫ[ⲁϥ ϫⲉ ⲙ]ⲙ̣ⲟⲛ ⲡⲉϫⲉ ⲫⲏ[ⲅⲉ]-
[ⲙⲱⲛ ϫⲉ ⲕⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲉⲧ]ⲣ̣ⲁⲕⲁⲁⲕ ⲛϩⲉ[ⲛⲕⲉϩⲟ]ⲩⲉⲟⲩ ⲉⲧⲣⲉⲕ[ϣⲁϫ]-
[ⲛⲉ ⲉⲣⲟⲕ ⲡⲉϫⲉ ⲥ]ⲧⲉⲫⲁⲛⲟⲥ ϫⲉ [ⲙⲙⲟⲛ ⲁⲩⲱ] ⲡⲉϫⲉ ⲁⲣⲓⲁ[ⲛⲟⲥ]
[ⲫⲏⲅⲉⲙⲱⲛ ⲛⲧⲉⲑ]ⲩⲃⲁⲉⲓⲥ ϫⲉ [ ]ⲓⲧⲟ .ⲩ̣ⲛ· ⲡⲉϫ[ⲉ ⲥⲧⲉⲫⲁ]-
25 [ⲛⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲛⲧⲓⲛⲁⲣⲑ]ⲩⲍⲓⲁ ⲁⲛ : ⲁⲣ̣[ⲓⲁⲛⲟⲥ ⲫ]ⲏⲅⲉⲙⲱⲛ ⲛ[ⲧⲉⲑⲩⲃⲁⲉⲓⲥ]
[ⲡⲉϫⲁϥ ϫⲉ ⲥⲧⲉⲫⲁ]ⲛⲟⲥ ⲉⲝⲓⲥⲧ[ⲓ ⲛⲁⲉⲓ ⲉ]ⲧ̣ⲣⲁⲕⲁⲁⲕ ⲉⲕ̣[ⲱⲛϩ ]
[ ]ⲡⲉ ϩⲱⲕ ⲉⲑ̣[ ] . ⲡⲉϫⲉ ⲥⲧⲉ[ⲫⲁⲛⲟⲥ]
[ϫⲉ ⲁⲛⲅ ⲟⲩⲭⲣⲏⲥ]ⲇⲓⲁⲛⲟⲥ· ⲡⲉ[ϫⲉ ⲫⲏ]ⲅⲉⲙⲱⲛ ⲛⲁϥ ϫ̣[ⲉ ]
[ ⲛ]ⲧⲁⲉⲓⲡⲣⲟⲧⲣ̣[ⲉⲡⲉ ⲙ]ⲙ[ⲟ]ⲕ ⲁⲗⲗⲁ[ ]
30 [ ]ⲧⲁⲣⲉⲕⲱⲛϩ [ ] . ⲅⲁⲣ . . . . . . . . . .
[ ] ⲉϥⲥⲙⲟⲛⲧ ⲛ[ ]ⲁ ϫⲛ ⲕⲱⲣϣ ⲉⲣⲟⲕ ⲉⲧⲣⲉⲕ-
[ⲥⲱⲧⲙ ⲛⲥⲁⲧⲕⲉⲗⲉⲩⲥⲓ]ⲥ ⲛⲛⲉⲛϫⲓⲥⲟⲟⲩ[ⲉ] ⲛⲉⲣⲣⲱⲟⲩ ⲧⲁⲣⲉⲕⲱⲛϩ ⲡⲉ-
[ ] ⲉⲕⲧⲟⲛⲧⲛ ⲙⲙⲟⲕ ⲉⲛⲉⲑⲩⲣⲓⲟⲛ ⲛⲁⲕⲣⲓⲟⲛ
[ⲥⲱⲧⲙ ⲉⲧⲉⲕⲁⲡⲟ]ⲫⲁⲥⲓⲥ ⲉⲧⲕⲙⲡϣⲁ <ⲙ>ⲙⲟⲥ : ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁϥⲕⲉⲗⲉⲩⲉ
35 [ⲛϭⲓ ⲁⲣⲓⲁⲛⲟⲥ ⲉⲧⲣⲉ]ϥⲥϩⲁⲓ ⲙⲡⲉϥⲣⲁⲛ <ⲛ>ⲧⲉⲉⲓϩⲉ ϫⲉ ⲥⲧⲉⲫⲁⲛⲟⲥ
[ⲣⲙⲗⲏⲛⲁⲉⲓⲥ ⲉⲩⲉⲣⲟ]ⲕϩϥ ⲉϥⲟⲛϩ: ⲁϥϫⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛⲧⲉϥⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩ-
[ⲣⲓⲁ ϩⲛ ⲟⲩⲙⲛⲧⲙⲁⲕ]ⲁⲣⲓⲟⲥ ⲙⲛ ⲟⲩⲙⲛⲧⲕⲉⲛⲛⲉⲟⲥ ϩⲁⲙⲏⲛ

[In the fourteenth] year of the reign of Valerius Constan[tius the emperor and in] the second year of our lords
Va[lerius Severus] and Maximinus the emperors [= AD 305], Aria[nos being governor for the] Thebaid sat on the tribunal (bema) in Kleopa[tris on day … of the month] Choiak.
(5) After Stephanos was brought into the midst […], Hierax the commentariensis said: “Ste[phanos is the] priest of Lenaios in the nome of Anti[noopolis.” An order was given] to throw him into prison and afterwards to place him [on the tribunal (bema)] in public.
Arianos the governor of the Thebaid [said: “What is your name?”] (10) He said: [“Stephanos.”] He (Arianos) said to him: [“Where are you from?”] He said: “I [am from] Lenaios in … .” [He said: “Are you a man of] God?” He [answered:] “I am a priest.” [Arianos] the governor [said:] “My wish is it to let you live. [Come and sacrifice!] Stephanos [said to him:] “I am a Christian.” (15) [He said to him:] “Sacrifice to the gods!” [He said:] “I will not sacrifice.” [Arianos] said: [“Do not perish at the cause of] your thinking! [I will] give you time for a […] … . This [conduct which you are] considering is vain. [Be sensible and sacrifice] to the gods or [perish] due to your own thinking! [Now] what [do you say?] Will you [sacrifice?] Yes or no? (20) [Stephanos] said: [“A] Christian [will] not [sacrifice.”] Arianos said: [“Sacrifice] to the gods!” [He] said: “No.” The governor said: [“Do you want] me to leave you some [more days] to let you [reconsider for yourself?”] Stephanos [said: “No.” And] Arianos [the governor of the] Thebaid said: “[…] …” [Stephanos] said: [“I will] not sacrifice.” (25) [Arianos the] governor of [the Thebaid said: “Stephanos, I have] authority [to] let you [live …] … […].” Stephanos said: [“I am a] Christian.” [The] governor said to him: [“…] I ordered you, but […] (30) and you will live […]. For … […] who sets […] or plead with to make you [obey the command] of our lords the emperors that you shall live. … […] you make yourself like the wild animals. [Hear the] verdict which you deserve. Arianos ordered [to let] his name be written down in the following manner: Stephanos [from Lenaios shall be burnt] alive. He fulfilled his martyrdom [in a] blessed and noble manner. Amen.

(Text, Integration and Translation: P. van Minnen, partly modified)