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E01848: Fragment of Coptic Miracles of *Merkourios (soldier and martyr under Decius, S00225), performed at his martyr shrine, punishing a thief and showing mercy on him, resulting in a large donation to the shrine, as well as healing a crippled man; composed most likely during the 5th–7th century.
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posted on 2016-09-12, 00:00 authored by gschenkeK 09456
The saint seems to have punished a thief with blindness who then prays at his shrine for forgiveness. The supplicant’s eyesight is eventually restored, the former thief returns the stolen money and makes a large offering at the martyr’s shrine.
ⲙ]ⲛⲛⲥⲁ ⲥⲁϣϥ ⲇⲉ ⲛϩⲟⲟⲩ · ⲁⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲙⲡϩⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲙⲉⲣⲕⲟⲩⲣⲓⲟⲥ ϣⲛϩⲧⲏϥ ⲉϫⲱϥ · ⲁϥⲭⲁⲣⲍⲉ ⲛⲁϥ ⲙⲡⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓⲛ ⲛⲛⲉϥⲃⲁⲗ ⲛⲑⲉ ⲛϣⲟⲣⲡ · ⲁϥⲃⲱⲕ ⲉⲡⲉϥⲏⲓ ⲉϥϯ ⲉⲟⲟⲩ ⲙⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ · [ⲁ]ϥⲉⲓⲛⲉ ⲛⲛⲛⲟⲩⲃ · ⲛⲧⲁϥϥⲓⲧⲟⲩ ⲛϫⲟⲩⲉ · ⲙⲛ ⲧⲕⲉⲙⲏⲧⲉ ⲛⲗⲓⲧⲣⲁ ⲛⲛⲟⲩⲃ ⲛⲧⲁϥⲉⲣⲏⲧ ⲙⲙⲟⲟⲩ · ⲁϥⲧⲁⲁⲩ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲡⲧⲟⲡⲟⲥ ⲙⲡϩⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲙⲉⲣⲕⲟⲩⲣⲟⲥ ·ⲉⲩⲉⲟⲟⲩ ⲙⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲙⲛ ⲡⲉϥⲙⲁⲣⲧⲏⲣⲟⲥ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ·
‘After seven days, the God of saint Merkourios had mercy on him. He granted him the light of his eyes just as it was before. He (the supplicant) went back home, praising God. He brought the gold which he had stolen and gave another ten pounds of gold which he had vowed (to give) to the shrine (topos) of saint Merkourios as an honour to God and his holy martyr.’
A crippled beggar is brought into the shrine and asks for healing. He remains for a very long time at the topos waiting at the shrine and witnessing many healing miracles, save for his own. Discouraged, he finally has a vision of the saint who tells him how to obtain healing. Joyfully, the man follows the saint’s advice which will bring about his recovery.
ⲛⲉⲩⲛ ⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲟⲛ ⲛϭⲁⲗⲉ ⲉⲛⲉϥⲟⲩⲉⲣⲏⲧⲉ · ϣⲟⲟⲡ [one line missing] ϥ̣ϩⲙⲟⲟⲥ ϩⲁϩⲧⲛ ⲧⲡⲩⲗⲏ · ⲉϥϫ[ⲓ] ⲙⲛⲧⲛⲁ ⲛⲛⲁⲩ ⲛⲓⲙ
ⲛⲧⲟⲟⲧⲟⲩ ⲛⲛⲉⲧⲃⲏ[ⲕ] ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉ[ⲡⲙⲁ] ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡⲉⲓⲣⲱ[ⲙⲉ] ⲛⲧⲉⲓⲙⲛⲉ ⲛⲉϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ ⲙⲙⲏⲏⲛⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲟⲟⲧⲟⲩ ⲛⲛⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲛϭⲟⲙ
ⲉⲧϣⲟⲟⲡ ϩⲙ ⲡⲙⲁⲣⲧⲏⲣⲓⲟⲛ ⲙⲡϩⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲙⲉⲣⲕⲟⲩⲣⲟⲥ · ⲁϥϫⲓ ϣⲟϫⲛⲉ ⲙⲛ ⲧⲉϥⲥϩⲙⲉ ⲙⲛ ⲛⲉϥϣⲏⲣⲉ · ϫⲉ ⲁⲣ ⲧⲁⲅⲁⲡⲏ ⲛⲧⲉⲧⲛⲧⲁⲗⲟⲓ
ⲛⲧⲉⲧⲛϫⲓⲧ ⲉⲡⲧⲟⲡⲟⲥ ⲙⲡϩⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲙⲉⲣⲕⲟⲩⲣⲟⲥ ⲙⲉϣⲁⲕ ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡⲉϥⲛⲁ ⲧⲁϩⲟ · ⲁⲓⲥⲱⲧⲙ ⲅⲁⲣ [one line missing] ϭ̣ⲟⲙ ⲉⲧϥⲉⲓⲣⲉ [ⲙ]ⲙⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̣ⲙ̣ⲏ̣ⲏ̣ⲛⲉ · ⲗⲟⲓⲡⲟⲛ ⲁⲩⲧⲁⲗ̣[ⲟϥ] ⲁ̣ⲩ̣ⲛ̣ⲧϥ [ⲉⲡⲧⲟⲡⲟ]ⲥ̣ ⲙ[ⲡϩⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲙⲉ]ⲣ̣ⲕ̣[ⲟⲩⲣⲟ]ⲥ̣ · ⲁϥϭ̣ⲱ ϩⲙ ⲡⲧⲟⲡⲟⲥ ⲙ̣ⲡⲙⲁ̣ ⲉⲧⲙⲙⲁⲩ ⲉϥϫⲓ ⲙⲛⲧⲛⲁ · ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁϥⲱⲥⲕ ⲙⲡⲉⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲙⲡⲁⲣⲁⲙⲏⲑⲁ · ϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛⲁϥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲧⲉⲓϩⲉ ⲁϥⲣ ⲕⲟⲩ ⲛϩⲏⲧ · ⲉϥϫⲱ ⲙⲙⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲙⲉϣⲁⲕ ⲙⲡⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲙⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ
ⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ · ⲉⲧⲣⲁⲙⲁⲧⲉ ⲙⲡⲧⲁⲗϭⲟ · ⲙⲁⲣⲉⲓⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ ⲧⲁⲃⲱⲕ ⲛⲁⲓ ⲉⲡⲁⲏ · ⲙⲙⲟⲛ ⲛϯⲛⲁⲗⲟ ⲁⲛ · [ⲛ]ⲁ̣ⲓ ⲇⲉ ⲙⲛ ⲛ[ⲕⲟ]ⲟ̣ⲩⲉ ⲛⲉⲣⲉ ⲡϭⲁ̣ⲗ̣ⲉ
ⲙⲟⲕⲙⲉⲕ ⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩ ϩⲛ ⲧⲉϥⲙⲛⲧⲁⲧⲛⲁϩⲧⲉ · ⲉⲓⲥ ⲡϩⲁⲅⲟⲥ ⲙⲉⲣⲕⲟⲩⲣⲓⲟⲥ ⲁϥⲟⲩⲱⲛϩ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ϩⲛ ⲟⲩϩⲟⲣⲟⲙⲁ · ⲉϥϫⲱ ⲙⲙⲟⲥ ⲛⲁϥ ϫⲉ ⲉϣϫⲉ
ⲕ[ⲟ]ⲩⲱϣ ⲉⲙⲁⲧⲉ ⲙⲡⲧⲁⲗϭⲟ : - ⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ ⲛⲅⲥⲩⲣⲁ ⲛⲅⲃⲱⲕ · ⲛⲅⲁⲗⲉ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲉϫⲙ ⲡⲙⲁ ⲛⲛⲕⲟⲧⲕ ⲛⲧⲉⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ ⲉⲧⲟ ⲛⲙⲡⲟ · ⲁⲩⲱ ⲕⲛⲁⲙⲧⲟⲛ · ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲁϥⲛⲉϩⲥⲉ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ϩⲙ ⲡϩⲟⲣⲟⲙⲁ · ⲉϥⲥⲧⲱⲧ · ⲡⲉϫⲁϥ ϫⲉ ⲁⲗⲏⲑⲱⲥ ⲉⲣⲉ ⲙⲉⲣⲕⲟⲩⲣⲓⲟⲥ ϫ ϩⲟ · ⲁϥⲧⲁⲗ[ⲟϥ . . .]
‘There was then also a man crippled with respect to his legs, [probably hometown mentioned], sitting by the gate receiving alms all the time from those who went inside [the place]. In this way, this man heard daily from the people about the miracles that took place in the martyr shrine (martyrion) of saint Merkourios.
He took counsel with his wife and his children, (saying): “Be so kind and lift me up and take me into the shrine (topos) of saint Merkourious! Perhaps his mercy will come upon me, for I have heard [of the many miracles and?] wonders which he performs daily.”
So they lifted him up and brought him [into the shrine of] saint Merkourios. He remained in the shrine at that place receiving alms. He prolonged his stay, but no blessing happened to him. Thus, he became faint-hearted, saying: “Perhaps this is not the will of God to let me obtain healing. Let me rise and go home, for I will not be healed.” These things and others, the crippled man considered in his faithlessness.
Behold, the saint Merkourios appeared to him in a dream, saying to him: “If you wish for healing very much, rise and drag yourself, go and climb onto the resting place (grave) of the dumb woman, and you will be relieved (of your illness).”
The man awoke from the dream trembling. He said (to himself): “Truly, Merkourios is aware (of me)!” He lifted [himself up …].’
Text: W.C. Till. Translation: Gesa Schenke.
The saint seems to have punished a thief with blindness who then prays at his shrine for forgiveness. The supplicant’s eyesight is eventually restored, the former thief returns the stolen money and makes a large offering at the martyr’s shrine.
ⲙ]ⲛⲛⲥⲁ ⲥⲁϣϥ ⲇⲉ ⲛϩⲟⲟⲩ · ⲁⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲙⲡϩⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲙⲉⲣⲕⲟⲩⲣⲓⲟⲥ ϣⲛϩⲧⲏϥ ⲉϫⲱϥ · ⲁϥⲭⲁⲣⲍⲉ ⲛⲁϥ ⲙⲡⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓⲛ ⲛⲛⲉϥⲃⲁⲗ ⲛⲑⲉ ⲛϣⲟⲣⲡ · ⲁϥⲃⲱⲕ ⲉⲡⲉϥⲏⲓ ⲉϥϯ ⲉⲟⲟⲩ ⲙⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ · [ⲁ]ϥⲉⲓⲛⲉ ⲛⲛⲛⲟⲩⲃ · ⲛⲧⲁϥϥⲓⲧⲟⲩ ⲛϫⲟⲩⲉ · ⲙⲛ ⲧⲕⲉⲙⲏⲧⲉ ⲛⲗⲓⲧⲣⲁ ⲛⲛⲟⲩⲃ ⲛⲧⲁϥⲉⲣⲏⲧ ⲙⲙⲟⲟⲩ · ⲁϥⲧⲁⲁⲩ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲡⲧⲟⲡⲟⲥ ⲙⲡϩⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲙⲉⲣⲕⲟⲩⲣⲟⲥ ·ⲉⲩⲉⲟⲟⲩ ⲙⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲙⲛ ⲡⲉϥⲙⲁⲣⲧⲏⲣⲟⲥ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ·
‘After seven days, the God of saint Merkourios had mercy on him. He granted him the light of his eyes just as it was before. He (the supplicant) went back home, praising God. He brought the gold which he had stolen and gave another ten pounds of gold which he had vowed (to give) to the shrine (topos) of saint Merkourios as an honour to God and his holy martyr.’
A crippled beggar is brought into the shrine and asks for healing. He remains for a very long time at the topos waiting at the shrine and witnessing many healing miracles, save for his own. Discouraged, he finally has a vision of the saint who tells him how to obtain healing. Joyfully, the man follows the saint’s advice which will bring about his recovery.
ⲛⲉⲩⲛ ⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲟⲛ ⲛϭⲁⲗⲉ ⲉⲛⲉϥⲟⲩⲉⲣⲏⲧⲉ · ϣⲟⲟⲡ [one line missing] ϥ̣ϩⲙⲟⲟⲥ ϩⲁϩⲧⲛ ⲧⲡⲩⲗⲏ · ⲉϥϫ[ⲓ] ⲙⲛⲧⲛⲁ ⲛⲛⲁⲩ ⲛⲓⲙ
ⲛⲧⲟⲟⲧⲟⲩ ⲛⲛⲉⲧⲃⲏ[ⲕ] ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉ[ⲡⲙⲁ] ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡⲉⲓⲣⲱ[ⲙⲉ] ⲛⲧⲉⲓⲙⲛⲉ ⲛⲉϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ ⲙⲙⲏⲏⲛⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲟⲟⲧⲟⲩ ⲛⲛⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲛϭⲟⲙ
ⲉⲧϣⲟⲟⲡ ϩⲙ ⲡⲙⲁⲣⲧⲏⲣⲓⲟⲛ ⲙⲡϩⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲙⲉⲣⲕⲟⲩⲣⲟⲥ · ⲁϥϫⲓ ϣⲟϫⲛⲉ ⲙⲛ ⲧⲉϥⲥϩⲙⲉ ⲙⲛ ⲛⲉϥϣⲏⲣⲉ · ϫⲉ ⲁⲣ ⲧⲁⲅⲁⲡⲏ ⲛⲧⲉⲧⲛⲧⲁⲗⲟⲓ
ⲛⲧⲉⲧⲛϫⲓⲧ ⲉⲡⲧⲟⲡⲟⲥ ⲙⲡϩⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲙⲉⲣⲕⲟⲩⲣⲟⲥ ⲙⲉϣⲁⲕ ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡⲉϥⲛⲁ ⲧⲁϩⲟ · ⲁⲓⲥⲱⲧⲙ ⲅⲁⲣ [one line missing] ϭ̣ⲟⲙ ⲉⲧϥⲉⲓⲣⲉ [ⲙ]ⲙⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̣ⲙ̣ⲏ̣ⲏ̣ⲛⲉ · ⲗⲟⲓⲡⲟⲛ ⲁⲩⲧⲁⲗ̣[ⲟϥ] ⲁ̣ⲩ̣ⲛ̣ⲧϥ [ⲉⲡⲧⲟⲡⲟ]ⲥ̣ ⲙ[ⲡϩⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲙⲉ]ⲣ̣ⲕ̣[ⲟⲩⲣⲟ]ⲥ̣ · ⲁϥϭ̣ⲱ ϩⲙ ⲡⲧⲟⲡⲟⲥ ⲙ̣ⲡⲙⲁ̣ ⲉⲧⲙⲙⲁⲩ ⲉϥϫⲓ ⲙⲛⲧⲛⲁ · ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁϥⲱⲥⲕ ⲙⲡⲉⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲙⲡⲁⲣⲁⲙⲏⲑⲁ · ϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛⲁϥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲧⲉⲓϩⲉ ⲁϥⲣ ⲕⲟⲩ ⲛϩⲏⲧ · ⲉϥϫⲱ ⲙⲙⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲙⲉϣⲁⲕ ⲙⲡⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲙⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ
ⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ · ⲉⲧⲣⲁⲙⲁⲧⲉ ⲙⲡⲧⲁⲗϭⲟ · ⲙⲁⲣⲉⲓⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ ⲧⲁⲃⲱⲕ ⲛⲁⲓ ⲉⲡⲁⲏ · ⲙⲙⲟⲛ ⲛϯⲛⲁⲗⲟ ⲁⲛ · [ⲛ]ⲁ̣ⲓ ⲇⲉ ⲙⲛ ⲛ[ⲕⲟ]ⲟ̣ⲩⲉ ⲛⲉⲣⲉ ⲡϭⲁ̣ⲗ̣ⲉ
ⲙⲟⲕⲙⲉⲕ ⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩ ϩⲛ ⲧⲉϥⲙⲛⲧⲁⲧⲛⲁϩⲧⲉ · ⲉⲓⲥ ⲡϩⲁⲅⲟⲥ ⲙⲉⲣⲕⲟⲩⲣⲓⲟⲥ ⲁϥⲟⲩⲱⲛϩ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ϩⲛ ⲟⲩϩⲟⲣⲟⲙⲁ · ⲉϥϫⲱ ⲙⲙⲟⲥ ⲛⲁϥ ϫⲉ ⲉϣϫⲉ
ⲕ[ⲟ]ⲩⲱϣ ⲉⲙⲁⲧⲉ ⲙⲡⲧⲁⲗϭⲟ : - ⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ ⲛⲅⲥⲩⲣⲁ ⲛⲅⲃⲱⲕ · ⲛⲅⲁⲗⲉ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲉϫⲙ ⲡⲙⲁ ⲛⲛⲕⲟⲧⲕ ⲛⲧⲉⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ ⲉⲧⲟ ⲛⲙⲡⲟ · ⲁⲩⲱ ⲕⲛⲁⲙⲧⲟⲛ · ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲁϥⲛⲉϩⲥⲉ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ϩⲙ ⲡϩⲟⲣⲟⲙⲁ · ⲉϥⲥⲧⲱⲧ · ⲡⲉϫⲁϥ ϫⲉ ⲁⲗⲏⲑⲱⲥ ⲉⲣⲉ ⲙⲉⲣⲕⲟⲩⲣⲓⲟⲥ ϫ ϩⲟ · ⲁϥⲧⲁⲗ[ⲟϥ . . .]
‘There was then also a man crippled with respect to his legs, [probably hometown mentioned], sitting by the gate receiving alms all the time from those who went inside [the place]. In this way, this man heard daily from the people about the miracles that took place in the martyr shrine (martyrion) of saint Merkourios.
He took counsel with his wife and his children, (saying): “Be so kind and lift me up and take me into the shrine (topos) of saint Merkourious! Perhaps his mercy will come upon me, for I have heard [of the many miracles and?] wonders which he performs daily.”
So they lifted him up and brought him [into the shrine of] saint Merkourios. He remained in the shrine at that place receiving alms. He prolonged his stay, but no blessing happened to him. Thus, he became faint-hearted, saying: “Perhaps this is not the will of God to let me obtain healing. Let me rise and go home, for I will not be healed.” These things and others, the crippled man considered in his faithlessness.
Behold, the saint Merkourios appeared to him in a dream, saying to him: “If you wish for healing very much, rise and drag yourself, go and climb onto the resting place (grave) of the dumb woman, and you will be relieved (of your illness).”
The man awoke from the dream trembling. He said (to himself): “Truly, Merkourios is aware (of me)!” He lifted [himself up …].’
Text: W.C. Till. Translation: Gesa Schenke.
History
Evidence ID
E01848Saint Name
Merkouria, martyr in Egypt, ob. 250/1 : S00225Saint Name in Source
ⲙⲉⲣⲕⲟⲩⲣⲟⲥRelated Saint Records
Type of Evidence
Literary - Hagiographical - Collections of miracles Late antique original manuscripts - Parchment codexLanguage
- Coptic
Evidence not before
400Evidence not after
1099Activity not before
250Activity not after
251Place of Evidence - Region
Egypt and CyrenaicaPlace of evidence - City name in other Language(s)
Hermopolis ϣⲙⲟⲩⲛ Ashmunein HermopolisCult activities - Places
Cult building - independent (church)Cult activities - Activities Accompanying Cult
- Begging