E01846: Fragments of the Coptic Life of *Marina (S00936), describing her severe asceticism, living disguised as a monk, and her endurance and faith when suffering false accusation; composed most likely during the 5th–7th century.

K 09450, K 09439, and K09515

The Life of Marina who as a child joined her widowed father to live in a male monastery under the name Marinos, is well known. Her feast day is listed in the Synaxarium of the Coptic Church on 15 Mesore (8 August). When Marina’s father died, she remained at the monastery growing up disguised as a young monk. Even when she was accused of fathering a child, she took the blame and accepted the punishment rather than disclose her disguise. Expelled from the monastery proper, she cared for the infant who grew up as a monk himself under her guidance. Only after death, was her true identity was revealed and in return, her endurance and faith were celebrated.

K 09450:
ⲁⲥϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲧⲉⲣⲉϥⲉⲣ ⲛⲟϭ · ⲙⲡⲉⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲛⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲙⲉ ⲉⲡⲉϥⲙⲩⲥⲧⲏⲣⲟⲛ ⲁϥⲧⲁⲁϥ ⲛϩⲉⲛⲛⲟϭ ⲛⲁⲥⲕⲏⲥⲥ · ⲙⲛ ϩⲉⲛⲡⲟⲗⲓⲧⲁ ⲉⲩϩⲏⲡ ·:·· ⲛⲧⲉⲣⲉ ⲛⲉⲥⲛⲏⲩ ⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲣⲟϥ · ϫⲉ ⲙⲡⲉⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲛⲃⲱ · ⲣⲱⲧ · ⲉⲧⲉϥⲙⲟⲣⲧ · ⲁⲩⲙⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ϫⲉ ⲙⲁⲣⲛⲟⲥ ⲡⲉⲥⲟⲩⲣ ·:·· ⲁⲧⲉϥⲯⲩⲭⲏ ϣⲛⲉ ⲛⲥⲁ ⲡⲱⲣϥ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ

‘And it happened, when he grew up, no one knew his secret. He put himself through great asceticism and withdrawn existence. When the brethren saw that no hair grew on his beard, they called him “Marinos, the eunuch”. His soul was searching for seclusion.’

Text: W. C. Till. Translation: Gesa Schenke.