E04096: Coptic letter from the monastery of Apa Apollo at Bawit (Middle Egypt), asking a member of the monastery to arrange for two garments to be sent and to act mercifully, to ensure the blessing of the saints (unnamed, S00518); datable to the 8th century.

P.Mon. Apollo 55:

The fragmentary document seems to be a letter written to a representative of the monastery of Apa Apollo at Bawit. The sender asks for two maphoria (head covers or monastic garments) to be sent. The addressee is to act mercifully to ensure that the blessing of the saints will be upon the monastic congregation.

Lines 6–8 read as follows:

ⲧⲓⲡⲁⲣⲁⲕⲁⲗⲉⲓ ⲙⲙⲱⲧⲛ ⲧⲉⲡⲉⲧⲛ<ⲛ>ⲁ ⲧⲁϩⲟⲛ ⲧⲁⲣⲉ ⲡⲥⲙⲟⲩ ⲛⲉⲡⲉⲧⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲉⲓ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲉϫⲱⲧⲛ ⲙⲛ ⲡⲉⲧⲛⲉⲥⲟ̣ⲟ̣ⲩ̣ϩ̣ⲥ̣ ⲧ̣ⲏ̣ⲣ̣ϥ̣
ⲛ̣ⲉⲩⲗⲟⲅⲓⲙⲉⲛⲟⲛ

‘I am asking you to let your mercy reach us, so that the blessing of the saints may come upon you and your entire blessed congregation.’


(Text: S. J. Clackson; trans.: G. Schenke)