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E01844: Coptic fragment from the legend of the *Seven Sleepers of Ephesos (brothers who fell asleep during the persecution of Decius, S00287), preserving the betrayal of their parents who give away their hiding place, as well as the names of two Christians who record their martyrdom; composed most likely during the 5th–7th century.
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posted on 2016-09-12, 00:00 authored by gschenkeK 09445
The text of the fragment begins with the parents of the seven young men legally distancing themselves from their children and giving away their hiding place:
ⲟⲩⲇⲉ ⲙⲡⲉⲛⲕⲱ ⲛⲥⲱⲛ ⲛⲑⲟⲧⲉ ⲛⲛⲉⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ · ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲟⲩ ϭⲉ ⲉⲛⲛⲁⲙⲟⲩ ϩⲁ ⲛⲉⲧⲙⲙⲁⲩ · ⲛⲁ ⲛⲧⲁⲩⲣ ⲁⲡⲟⲥⲧⲁⲧⲏⲥ · ⲁⲩⲣ ⲡⲕⲉϩⲁⲣⲡⲁⲍⲉ
ⲙⲡⲉⲛⲛⲟⲩⲃ · ⲙⲛ ⲡⲉⲛϩⲁⲧ · ⲁⲩⲥⲟⲣⲟⲩ ⲛⲛⲉϩⲏⲕⲉ :·· ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉⲥ ϩⲏⲏⲧⲉ ⲥⲉϩⲏⲡ ϩⲙ ⲡⲉⲥⲡⲩⲗⲁⲟⲛ ⲉⲧϩⲛ ⲙⲱⲭⲗⲱⲛ ⲡⲧⲟⲟⲩ · ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡⲁ
ⲛϥⲟⲩⲏⲩ ⲁⲛ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛⲧⲡⲟⲗⲥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲥⲉϩⲛ ⲟⲩⲛⲟϭ ⲛⲑⲗⲯⲥ ⲙⲡⲙⲁ ⲉⲧⲙⲙⲁⲩ · ⲉⲧⲉ ⲥⲉⲟⲛϩ ⲉⲧⲉ ⲁⲩⲙⲟⲩ · ⲛⲧⲛⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ ⲁⲛ ·
‘… nor have we abandoned the fear of the gods! Why then should we die because of those? These have become apostates! They have also stolen our gold and silver! And they have distributed it to the poor!
Behold, they are hiding in the cave in the Mochlon mountain. This is not far away from the city. They suffer great torment there, whether they are still alive, or have died, we do not know.’
In an attempt to preserve the bodies of the saints, God gives the emperor the idea to close the cave and turn it into their burial site:
ⲁ]ⲧⲉⲓ ⲇⲉ ⲉϥⲥⲕⲉⲡⲧⲉⲓ ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⲛϭ ⲡⲣⲣⲟ ϫⲉ ⲉϥⲛⲁⲣ ⲟⲩ ⲛⲛⲉϣⲏⲣⲉ ϣⲏⲙ ⲉⲧⲙⲙⲁⲩ :·· ⲁⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲡⲙⲁⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛⲟⲩϫⲉ ⲙⲙⲟⲥ ⲉⲡⲉϥϩⲏⲧ
ⲉⲧⲣⲉϥⲧⲱⲙ ⲉⲣⲱⲟⲩ ⲙⲡⲣⲟ ⲙⲡⲉⲥⲡⲩⲗⲁⲓⲟⲛ ⲉⲧⲙⲙⲁⲩ ϩⲛ ϩⲉⲛⲱⲛⲉ · ⲁⲩⲱ ⲧⲁ ⲧⲉ ⲑⲉ ⲛⲧⲁⲥϣⲱⲡⲉ :· ⲡⲁ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲧⲁϥϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲁⲛ ϩⲙ ⲡⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲙⲡⲧⲩⲣⲁⲛⲟⲥ · ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲡⲛⲟⲧⲉ ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲟⲕⲟⲛⲟⲙⲉ · ϫⲉⲕⲁⲥ ⲉⲩⲛⲁϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲉⲩⲧⲟⲙⲥ ⲙⲙⲁⲩ ⲛϭⲓ ⲛⲥⲱⲙⲁ ⲛⲛⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲉⲧⲙⲧⲣⲉⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲕⲙ ⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩ :··
‘While the emperor was still wavering what he should do with those youngsters, God, the compassionate, put it into his mind to let him close them up with stones at the entrance of that cave. This is how it happened! This did not take place through the wish of the ruler, but it was God who arranged it, so that the bodies of the saints would be buried there, in order to ensure that no one would move them.’
The emperor then pronounces their death sentence:
ⲧⲟⲧⲉ ⲁϥϯ ⲛⲧⲉⲩⲁⲡⲟⲫⲁⲥⲥ ⲛⲧⲉⲩϩⲉ ⲛϭ ⲡⲣⲣⲟ ⲇⲉⲕⲟⲥ ⲉϥϫⲱ ⲙⲙⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲉⲡⲉⲇⲏ ⲁⲛⲁ ⲉⲣ ⲁⲧⲥⲱⲧⲙ ⲛⲥⲁ ⲧⲁⲡⲣⲟⲥⲧⲁⲅⲙⲁ ⲉⲧⲛⲁⲛⲟⲩϥ · ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁⲩⲕⲁⲧⲁⲫⲣⲟⲛⲉ ⲛⲛⲁⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ · ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲧⲟⲟⲩ ϩⲱⲟⲩ ⲙⲁⲣⲟⲩⲣϩⲁⲉ ⲉⲡⲥⲁ ⲛⲧⲁⲙⲛⲧⲉⲣⲟ
‘The emperor Decius then pronounced their particular verdict, saying: “Since these (boys) have been disobedient to my good edict and since they have disrespected my gods, they themselves shall be deprived of the beauty of my kingdom!”’
Two Christians are named who will ensure that the memory of the seven brothers in the cave lives on.
ⲑⲉⲱⲇⲱⲣⲟⲥ ⲇⲉ ⲙⲛ ⲟⲩⲁⲣⲟⲥ ⲉϩⲛⲕⲟⲩⲃⲟⲩⲕⲗⲁⲣⲟⲥ ⲛⲉ ⲉⲩⲟ ⲛϩⲟⲧ ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡⲣⲣⲟ · ⲛⲉϩⲛⲭⲣⲏⲥⲧⲁⲛⲟⲥ ⲛⲉ · ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲉⲩϩⲱⲡ ⲙⲙⲟⲟⲩ · ⲉⲧⲃⲉ
ⲑⲟⲧⲉ ⲙⲡⲇⲱⲅⲙⲟⲥ :··
‘Theodoros and Varos also being guards, were among the entourage of the emperor. They were Christians, but did so secretly, for fear of persecution. …’
Text: W. C. Till, 21–24. Translation: Gesa Schenke.
The text of the fragment begins with the parents of the seven young men legally distancing themselves from their children and giving away their hiding place:
ⲟⲩⲇⲉ ⲙⲡⲉⲛⲕⲱ ⲛⲥⲱⲛ ⲛⲑⲟⲧⲉ ⲛⲛⲉⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ · ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲟⲩ ϭⲉ ⲉⲛⲛⲁⲙⲟⲩ ϩⲁ ⲛⲉⲧⲙⲙⲁⲩ · ⲛⲁ ⲛⲧⲁⲩⲣ ⲁⲡⲟⲥⲧⲁⲧⲏⲥ · ⲁⲩⲣ ⲡⲕⲉϩⲁⲣⲡⲁⲍⲉ
ⲙⲡⲉⲛⲛⲟⲩⲃ · ⲙⲛ ⲡⲉⲛϩⲁⲧ · ⲁⲩⲥⲟⲣⲟⲩ ⲛⲛⲉϩⲏⲕⲉ :·· ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉⲥ ϩⲏⲏⲧⲉ ⲥⲉϩⲏⲡ ϩⲙ ⲡⲉⲥⲡⲩⲗⲁⲟⲛ ⲉⲧϩⲛ ⲙⲱⲭⲗⲱⲛ ⲡⲧⲟⲟⲩ · ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡⲁ
ⲛϥⲟⲩⲏⲩ ⲁⲛ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛⲧⲡⲟⲗⲥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲥⲉϩⲛ ⲟⲩⲛⲟϭ ⲛⲑⲗⲯⲥ ⲙⲡⲙⲁ ⲉⲧⲙⲙⲁⲩ · ⲉⲧⲉ ⲥⲉⲟⲛϩ ⲉⲧⲉ ⲁⲩⲙⲟⲩ · ⲛⲧⲛⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ ⲁⲛ ·
‘… nor have we abandoned the fear of the gods! Why then should we die because of those? These have become apostates! They have also stolen our gold and silver! And they have distributed it to the poor!
Behold, they are hiding in the cave in the Mochlon mountain. This is not far away from the city. They suffer great torment there, whether they are still alive, or have died, we do not know.’
In an attempt to preserve the bodies of the saints, God gives the emperor the idea to close the cave and turn it into their burial site:
ⲁ]ⲧⲉⲓ ⲇⲉ ⲉϥⲥⲕⲉⲡⲧⲉⲓ ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⲛϭ ⲡⲣⲣⲟ ϫⲉ ⲉϥⲛⲁⲣ ⲟⲩ ⲛⲛⲉϣⲏⲣⲉ ϣⲏⲙ ⲉⲧⲙⲙⲁⲩ :·· ⲁⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲡⲙⲁⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛⲟⲩϫⲉ ⲙⲙⲟⲥ ⲉⲡⲉϥϩⲏⲧ
ⲉⲧⲣⲉϥⲧⲱⲙ ⲉⲣⲱⲟⲩ ⲙⲡⲣⲟ ⲙⲡⲉⲥⲡⲩⲗⲁⲓⲟⲛ ⲉⲧⲙⲙⲁⲩ ϩⲛ ϩⲉⲛⲱⲛⲉ · ⲁⲩⲱ ⲧⲁ ⲧⲉ ⲑⲉ ⲛⲧⲁⲥϣⲱⲡⲉ :· ⲡⲁ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲧⲁϥϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲁⲛ ϩⲙ ⲡⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲙⲡⲧⲩⲣⲁⲛⲟⲥ · ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲡⲛⲟⲧⲉ ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲟⲕⲟⲛⲟⲙⲉ · ϫⲉⲕⲁⲥ ⲉⲩⲛⲁϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲉⲩⲧⲟⲙⲥ ⲙⲙⲁⲩ ⲛϭⲓ ⲛⲥⲱⲙⲁ ⲛⲛⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲉⲧⲙⲧⲣⲉⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲕⲙ ⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩ :··
‘While the emperor was still wavering what he should do with those youngsters, God, the compassionate, put it into his mind to let him close them up with stones at the entrance of that cave. This is how it happened! This did not take place through the wish of the ruler, but it was God who arranged it, so that the bodies of the saints would be buried there, in order to ensure that no one would move them.’
The emperor then pronounces their death sentence:
ⲧⲟⲧⲉ ⲁϥϯ ⲛⲧⲉⲩⲁⲡⲟⲫⲁⲥⲥ ⲛⲧⲉⲩϩⲉ ⲛϭ ⲡⲣⲣⲟ ⲇⲉⲕⲟⲥ ⲉϥϫⲱ ⲙⲙⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲉⲡⲉⲇⲏ ⲁⲛⲁ ⲉⲣ ⲁⲧⲥⲱⲧⲙ ⲛⲥⲁ ⲧⲁⲡⲣⲟⲥⲧⲁⲅⲙⲁ ⲉⲧⲛⲁⲛⲟⲩϥ · ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁⲩⲕⲁⲧⲁⲫⲣⲟⲛⲉ ⲛⲛⲁⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ · ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲧⲟⲟⲩ ϩⲱⲟⲩ ⲙⲁⲣⲟⲩⲣϩⲁⲉ ⲉⲡⲥⲁ ⲛⲧⲁⲙⲛⲧⲉⲣⲟ
‘The emperor Decius then pronounced their particular verdict, saying: “Since these (boys) have been disobedient to my good edict and since they have disrespected my gods, they themselves shall be deprived of the beauty of my kingdom!”’
Two Christians are named who will ensure that the memory of the seven brothers in the cave lives on.
ⲑⲉⲱⲇⲱⲣⲟⲥ ⲇⲉ ⲙⲛ ⲟⲩⲁⲣⲟⲥ ⲉϩⲛⲕⲟⲩⲃⲟⲩⲕⲗⲁⲣⲟⲥ ⲛⲉ ⲉⲩⲟ ⲛϩⲟⲧ ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡⲣⲣⲟ · ⲛⲉϩⲛⲭⲣⲏⲥⲧⲁⲛⲟⲥ ⲛⲉ · ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲉⲩϩⲱⲡ ⲙⲙⲟⲟⲩ · ⲉⲧⲃⲉ
ⲑⲟⲧⲉ ⲙⲡⲇⲱⲅⲙⲟⲥ :··
‘Theodoros and Varos also being guards, were among the entourage of the emperor. They were Christians, but did so secretly, for fear of persecution. …’
Text: W. C. Till, 21–24. Translation: Gesa Schenke.
History
Evidence ID
E01844Saint Name
Seven Sleepers of Ephesus, brothers who fell asleep during the persecution of Decius : S00287Related Saint Records
Type of Evidence
Literary - Hagiographical - Accounts of martyrdomLanguage
- Coptic
