E01849: Fragment from the beginning of Coptic Martyrdom of *Besamon (young soldier in Egypt, S00938), who refuses to serve any longer and to act according to the imperial edict; composed most likely during the 5th–7th century.

K 09508

The parchment fragment preserves the publication of the imperial edict ordering everyone to sacrifice at the palace, most likely in Alexandria. The soldier Besamon acts immediately and takes off his uniform, confronting the emperor in order to become a soldier of Christ.

ⲛⲉⲩⲛ ⲟⲩϣⲏⲣⲉ ϣⲏⲙ ⲇⲉ · ⲉⲡⲉϥⲣⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ ⲃⲏⲥⲁⲙⲱⲛ ⲉⲡϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲡⲉ · ⲛⲟⲩⲥⲧⲣⲁⲧⲩⲗⲁⲧⲏⲥ ⲉⲡⲉϥⲣⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ ⲃⲁⲥⲗⲓⲧⲏⲥ · ⲁϥⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲡⲉⲥϩⲁ
ⲉⲩⲧⲏϭ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲙ ⲡⲡ[ⲁ]ⲗⲗⲁⲧⲓⲟⲛ · ⲁϥ[ⲱϣ] ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲉϥⲣⲓⲙⲉ ⲉϥϫⲱ ⲙⲙⲟⲥ · ϫⲉ ⲡⲁϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲓⲥ ⲡⲉⲭⲥ ⲃⲟⲏⲑⲉⲓ ⲉⲣⲟ ·

'There was a youth, whose name was Besamon, the son of a general named Basilides. He saw the letter fixed to the palace. He [cried] out weeping, saying: "My Lord Jesus Christ, help me!"'

Asked by the emperor why he had taken off his uniform, the youth firmly states his intention.

ⲡⲉϫⲉ ⲡϣⲏⲣⲉ ϣⲏⲙ ⲛⲁϥ · ϫⲉ ⲛϯⲛⲁⲉⲣ ⲙⲁⲧⲟ ⲛⲁⲕ ⲁⲛ ⲛϫⲓⲛ ⲉⲡⲉⲓⲛⲁⲩ · ϫⲉ ⲁⲡⲙⲉⲉⲩⲉ ⲙⲡⲇⲓⲁⲃⲟⲗⲟⲥ · ϫⲉⲛⲟⲩⲛⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛϩⲏⲧⲕ ·:·
ⲁⲗⲗⲁ· ⲉⲛⲁⲉⲣ ⲙⲁⲧⲟ ⲛⲓⲥ ⲡⲉⲭⲥ ·

'The youth said to him: "From now on I will no longer be a soldier for you, since the mind of the devil has taken root in you. But I will be a soldier for Jesus Christ."'

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