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E05114: Coptic Martyrdom of *Viktor (son of Romanos, S00749), the fourth Martyrdom, relates the saint’s interaction with the dux Sebastianos, his miraculous strength during tortures, his contest with a magician who converts to Christianity, and his eventual beheading causing miracles; written presumably in the 6th/7th century.
online resource
posted on 2018-02-21, 00:00 authored by gschenkeBrit. Mus. MS. Oriental, No. 7022, fol. 20a–26a
The account is introduced as follows:
Fol. 19b; Budge, p. 34, lines 1–3:
ⲡⲙⲉϩ ϥⲧⲟ · ⲇ · ⲙⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲓⲁ · ⲛⲁⲡⲁ ⲃⲓⲕ(ⲧⲱⲣ) ϩⲛ ⲟⲩⲉⲓⲣⲏⲛⲏ ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ · ⲥⲙⲟⲩ ⲉⲣⲟⲛ · ϩⲁⲙⲏⲛ ⁖
‘The fourth martyrdom of Apa Biktor. In peace of God. Bless us. Amen.’
When the dux Sebastianos arrived, he set up trial in the middle of the castron and had Viktor placed before him. Refusing to sacrifice, Viktor is subjected to many tortures and a contest with a magician who loses and converts to Christianity. The numerous tortures, including another fire in a furnace, leave the saint unharmed, but when a young girl of 15 named Stephanou (ⲥⲧⲉⲫⲁⲛⲟⲩ), the wife of a soldier, witnessed the trial, she became a martyr immediately.
Prior to his death, Viktor announces what he had been told about his future cult and asks the soldiers to hand over his body to the people who will come looking for it. He makes it clear that there will be two different shrines in which miracles will take place. One where is body will be placed, and one where his head will be located.
Fol. 25b; Budge, p. 43, line 25–p. 44, line 7:
ⲁⲩⲱ ⲙⲛⲛⲥⲁ ⲙⲏⲧ ⲛϩⲟⲟⲩ · ⲛⲁⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛⲁⲉⲓ ⲉⲩϣⲓⲛⲉ ⲛⲥⲁ ⲡⲁⲥⲱⲙⲁ ⲧⲁⲁϥ ⲛⲁⲩ · ⲁⲓⲟⲩⲱ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲉⲓϣⲱⲡ ⲛⲧⲁⲕⲁⲓⲥⲉ ⲙⲛ ⲧⲁⲧⲏⲃⲉ · ϫⲉⲕⲁⲥ
ⲛⲛⲉⲩⲕⲟⲥⲧ ϩⲛ ⲟⲩⲕⲁⲓⲥⲉ ⲛϣⲙⲙⲟ · ⲙⲟⲛⲟⲛ ⲙⲡⲣⲕⲱⲗⲩ ⲙⲡⲁⲥⲱⲙⲁ ⲉⲧⲁⲁϥ ⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲩϣⲁⲛϣⲓⲛⲉ ⲛⲥⲱϥ · ϫⲉ ⲟⲩⲛⲟϭ ⲉⲙⲁⲁⲧⲉ ⲡⲉ
ⲡⲉⲥⲕⲩⲗⲙⲟⲥ ⲛⲑⲁⲗⲁⲥⲥⲁ · ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲁϣⲉ ⲛϭⲟⲙ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲛⲁϣⲱⲡⲉ ϩⲙ ⲡⲙⲁ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲛⲁⲕⲁ ⲡⲁⲥⲱⲙⲁ ⲛϩⲏⲧϥ · ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲉⲭⲱⲣⲁ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲛⲏⲩ
ⲉⲣⲁⲧϥ ⲙⲡⲁⲧⲟⲡⲟⲥ · ⲁⲩⲱ ϩⲉⲛⲛⲟϭ ⲛϭⲟⲙ ⲛⲁϣⲱⲡⲉ ϩⲙ ⲡⲙⲁ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲛⲁϥⲓ ⲛⲧⲁⲁⲡⲉ ⲛϩⲏⲧϥ · ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲉⲭⲱⲣⲁ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲛⲏⲩ ⲉⲣⲁⲧϥ
ⲙⲡⲁⲧⲟⲡⲟⲥ · ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲛϭⲟⲙ ⲉⲧⲛⲁϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛϩⲏⲧϥ · ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϫⲉ ⲁⲛⲅ ⲟⲩϣⲏⲣⲉ ϣⲏⲙ ⲉⲓϩⲛ ϫⲟⲩⲱⲧⲉ ⲛⲣⲟⲙⲡⲉ · ϯϣⲓⲛⲉ ⲉⲣⲱⲧⲛ ⲧⲏⲣⲧⲛ
ⲛⲁϣⲃⲏⲣ ⲙⲁⲧⲟⲓ · ϫⲉ ⲉⲓⲛⲁⲃⲱⲕ ⲉⲣⲁⲧϥ ⲙⲡⲁϫⲥ ⲓⲥ ⲡⲉⲭⲣⲥ ϫⲉ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲉⲧⲉⲓϭⲱϣⲧ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲏⲧϥ · ⲉⲓⲥ ϩⲏⲏⲧⲉ ⲁϥⲧⲁϩⲟⲓ ⲙⲡⲟⲟⲩ ·
‘After ten days, my people will come looking for my body. Give it to them. For I have already obtained my burial shroud and my coffin, so that they shall not bury me in a foreign shroud. Only do not prevent my body to be given to them, if they are looking for it, since it is a very long sea journey (from Antioch). Many are the miracles that will take place at the spot where my body will be laid. All the countries (will) come to my shrine. Great miracles will take place in the place where my head will be placed. All the countries (will) come to my shrine because of the miracles that will take place there.
Because I am a young man, being twenty years of age, I am greeting you all my fellow soldiers, so that I will go to my Lord Jesus Christ, since this is the day for which I have been looking out. Behold it has come upon me today.’
When the decapitation goes wrong and the saint’s head is not fully cut off, he begs Horion, a reluctant fellow soldier, to do it properly for him.
Fol. 26a; Budge, p. 45, lines 1–12:
ⲁⲡⲕⲁⲥⲧⲣⲟⲛ ⲛⲟⲉⲓⲛ ⲛϣⲟⲙⲛⲧ ⲛⲥⲟⲡ · ⲁϥϥⲓ ϭⲉ ⲛⲧⲉϥⲁⲡⲉ ⲁϥϫⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛⲧⲉϥⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲓⲁ · ϩⲟⲣⲓⲟⲛ ⲇⲉ ⲁϥϥⲓ ⲛⲉϥⲃⲁⲗ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲉⲧⲡⲉ ·
ⲁϥⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲧⲉⲯⲩⲭⲏ ⲛⲁⲡⲁ ⲃⲓⲕⲧⲱⲣ · ⲉⲁⲩⲥⲟⲩⲉⲗ ⲟⲩⲱⲗⲥ ϩⲛ ϩⲉⲛⲙⲁⲡⲡⲁ ⲛϣⲛⲥ · ⲁⲛⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲁⲥⲡⲁⲍⲉ ⲛⲧⲉⲯⲩⲭⲏ ⲛ ⲁⲡⲁ ⲃⲓⲕⲧⲱⲣ ·
ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲧⲉⲣⲟⲩϥⲓ ⲛⲧⲉϥⲁⲡⲉ · ⲁⲩⲥⲛⲟϥ ⲉⲓ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙⲛ ⲟⲩⲉⲣⲱⲧⲉ · ⲁϥϫⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛⲧⲉϥⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲓⲁ ⲉⲧⲧⲁⲓⲏⲩ · ⲛⲥⲟⲩ ϫⲟⲩⲧⲥⲁϣϥⲉ ⲙⲡⲉⲃⲟⲧ ⲡⲁⲣ{ⲡⲁⲣ}ⲙⲟⲩⲧⲉ · ⲛϫⲡ ⲙⲏⲏⲧⲉ ⲙⲡⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ :- ⲁⲩⲱ ϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛⲙ ⲛⲧⲁϥϫⲟⲟⲩ ⲙⲡⲁⲧⲟⲩϥ ⲛⲧⲉϥⲁⲡⲉ · ⲁⲩϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛⲁⲙⲉ ·
‘The castron shook three times. He (Horion) then took off his head and he (Viktor) completed his martyrdom. But Horion lifted his eyes up to heaven and saw the soul of Apa Viktor as Ausouel was holding it in linen clothes. The saints greeted the soul of Apa Biktor. When his head was taken off, blood and milk came forth. He completed his glorious martyrdom on day 27 of the month Parmouthe (22 April) at the tenth hour of the day. Every word he said before his head was taken off became true.’
(Text: E. A. W. Budge; summary and trans.: G. Schenke)
The account is introduced as follows:
Fol. 19b; Budge, p. 34, lines 1–3:
ⲡⲙⲉϩ ϥⲧⲟ · ⲇ · ⲙⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲓⲁ · ⲛⲁⲡⲁ ⲃⲓⲕ(ⲧⲱⲣ) ϩⲛ ⲟⲩⲉⲓⲣⲏⲛⲏ ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ · ⲥⲙⲟⲩ ⲉⲣⲟⲛ · ϩⲁⲙⲏⲛ ⁖
‘The fourth martyrdom of Apa Biktor. In peace of God. Bless us. Amen.’
When the dux Sebastianos arrived, he set up trial in the middle of the castron and had Viktor placed before him. Refusing to sacrifice, Viktor is subjected to many tortures and a contest with a magician who loses and converts to Christianity. The numerous tortures, including another fire in a furnace, leave the saint unharmed, but when a young girl of 15 named Stephanou (ⲥⲧⲉⲫⲁⲛⲟⲩ), the wife of a soldier, witnessed the trial, she became a martyr immediately.
Prior to his death, Viktor announces what he had been told about his future cult and asks the soldiers to hand over his body to the people who will come looking for it. He makes it clear that there will be two different shrines in which miracles will take place. One where is body will be placed, and one where his head will be located.
Fol. 25b; Budge, p. 43, line 25–p. 44, line 7:
ⲁⲩⲱ ⲙⲛⲛⲥⲁ ⲙⲏⲧ ⲛϩⲟⲟⲩ · ⲛⲁⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛⲁⲉⲓ ⲉⲩϣⲓⲛⲉ ⲛⲥⲁ ⲡⲁⲥⲱⲙⲁ ⲧⲁⲁϥ ⲛⲁⲩ · ⲁⲓⲟⲩⲱ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲉⲓϣⲱⲡ ⲛⲧⲁⲕⲁⲓⲥⲉ ⲙⲛ ⲧⲁⲧⲏⲃⲉ · ϫⲉⲕⲁⲥ
ⲛⲛⲉⲩⲕⲟⲥⲧ ϩⲛ ⲟⲩⲕⲁⲓⲥⲉ ⲛϣⲙⲙⲟ · ⲙⲟⲛⲟⲛ ⲙⲡⲣⲕⲱⲗⲩ ⲙⲡⲁⲥⲱⲙⲁ ⲉⲧⲁⲁϥ ⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲩϣⲁⲛϣⲓⲛⲉ ⲛⲥⲱϥ · ϫⲉ ⲟⲩⲛⲟϭ ⲉⲙⲁⲁⲧⲉ ⲡⲉ
ⲡⲉⲥⲕⲩⲗⲙⲟⲥ ⲛⲑⲁⲗⲁⲥⲥⲁ · ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲁϣⲉ ⲛϭⲟⲙ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲛⲁϣⲱⲡⲉ ϩⲙ ⲡⲙⲁ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲛⲁⲕⲁ ⲡⲁⲥⲱⲙⲁ ⲛϩⲏⲧϥ · ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲉⲭⲱⲣⲁ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲛⲏⲩ
ⲉⲣⲁⲧϥ ⲙⲡⲁⲧⲟⲡⲟⲥ · ⲁⲩⲱ ϩⲉⲛⲛⲟϭ ⲛϭⲟⲙ ⲛⲁϣⲱⲡⲉ ϩⲙ ⲡⲙⲁ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲛⲁϥⲓ ⲛⲧⲁⲁⲡⲉ ⲛϩⲏⲧϥ · ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲉⲭⲱⲣⲁ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲛⲏⲩ ⲉⲣⲁⲧϥ
ⲙⲡⲁⲧⲟⲡⲟⲥ · ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲛϭⲟⲙ ⲉⲧⲛⲁϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛϩⲏⲧϥ · ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϫⲉ ⲁⲛⲅ ⲟⲩϣⲏⲣⲉ ϣⲏⲙ ⲉⲓϩⲛ ϫⲟⲩⲱⲧⲉ ⲛⲣⲟⲙⲡⲉ · ϯϣⲓⲛⲉ ⲉⲣⲱⲧⲛ ⲧⲏⲣⲧⲛ
ⲛⲁϣⲃⲏⲣ ⲙⲁⲧⲟⲓ · ϫⲉ ⲉⲓⲛⲁⲃⲱⲕ ⲉⲣⲁⲧϥ ⲙⲡⲁϫⲥ ⲓⲥ ⲡⲉⲭⲣⲥ ϫⲉ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲉⲧⲉⲓϭⲱϣⲧ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲏⲧϥ · ⲉⲓⲥ ϩⲏⲏⲧⲉ ⲁϥⲧⲁϩⲟⲓ ⲙⲡⲟⲟⲩ ·
‘After ten days, my people will come looking for my body. Give it to them. For I have already obtained my burial shroud and my coffin, so that they shall not bury me in a foreign shroud. Only do not prevent my body to be given to them, if they are looking for it, since it is a very long sea journey (from Antioch). Many are the miracles that will take place at the spot where my body will be laid. All the countries (will) come to my shrine. Great miracles will take place in the place where my head will be placed. All the countries (will) come to my shrine because of the miracles that will take place there.
Because I am a young man, being twenty years of age, I am greeting you all my fellow soldiers, so that I will go to my Lord Jesus Christ, since this is the day for which I have been looking out. Behold it has come upon me today.’
When the decapitation goes wrong and the saint’s head is not fully cut off, he begs Horion, a reluctant fellow soldier, to do it properly for him.
Fol. 26a; Budge, p. 45, lines 1–12:
ⲁⲡⲕⲁⲥⲧⲣⲟⲛ ⲛⲟⲉⲓⲛ ⲛϣⲟⲙⲛⲧ ⲛⲥⲟⲡ · ⲁϥϥⲓ ϭⲉ ⲛⲧⲉϥⲁⲡⲉ ⲁϥϫⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛⲧⲉϥⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲓⲁ · ϩⲟⲣⲓⲟⲛ ⲇⲉ ⲁϥϥⲓ ⲛⲉϥⲃⲁⲗ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲉⲧⲡⲉ ·
ⲁϥⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲧⲉⲯⲩⲭⲏ ⲛⲁⲡⲁ ⲃⲓⲕⲧⲱⲣ · ⲉⲁⲩⲥⲟⲩⲉⲗ ⲟⲩⲱⲗⲥ ϩⲛ ϩⲉⲛⲙⲁⲡⲡⲁ ⲛϣⲛⲥ · ⲁⲛⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲁⲥⲡⲁⲍⲉ ⲛⲧⲉⲯⲩⲭⲏ ⲛ ⲁⲡⲁ ⲃⲓⲕⲧⲱⲣ ·
ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲧⲉⲣⲟⲩϥⲓ ⲛⲧⲉϥⲁⲡⲉ · ⲁⲩⲥⲛⲟϥ ⲉⲓ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙⲛ ⲟⲩⲉⲣⲱⲧⲉ · ⲁϥϫⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛⲧⲉϥⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲓⲁ ⲉⲧⲧⲁⲓⲏⲩ · ⲛⲥⲟⲩ ϫⲟⲩⲧⲥⲁϣϥⲉ ⲙⲡⲉⲃⲟⲧ ⲡⲁⲣ{ⲡⲁⲣ}ⲙⲟⲩⲧⲉ · ⲛϫⲡ ⲙⲏⲏⲧⲉ ⲙⲡⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ :- ⲁⲩⲱ ϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛⲙ ⲛⲧⲁϥϫⲟⲟⲩ ⲙⲡⲁⲧⲟⲩϥ ⲛⲧⲉϥⲁⲡⲉ · ⲁⲩϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛⲁⲙⲉ ·
‘The castron shook three times. He (Horion) then took off his head and he (Viktor) completed his martyrdom. But Horion lifted his eyes up to heaven and saw the soul of Apa Viktor as Ausouel was holding it in linen clothes. The saints greeted the soul of Apa Biktor. When his head was taken off, blood and milk came forth. He completed his glorious martyrdom on day 27 of the month Parmouthe (22 April) at the tenth hour of the day. Every word he said before his head was taken off became true.’
(Text: E. A. W. Budge; summary and trans.: G. Schenke)
History
Evidence ID
E05114Saint Name
Viktor, son of Romanos, martyr in Egypt : S00749 John the Baptist : S00020Saint Name in Source
ⲁⲡⲁ ⲃⲓⲕⲧⲱⲣ ⲓⲱ(ϩⲁⲛⲛⲏ)ⲥ ⲡⲃⲁⲡⲧⲓⲥⲧⲏⲥRelated Saint Records
Type of Evidence
Late antique original manuscripts - Parchment codex Literary - Hagiographical - Accounts of martyrdom Literary - Colophons, marginalia etc.Language
- Coptic
Evidence not before
500Evidence not after
900Activity not before
303Activity not after
900Place of Evidence - Region
Egypt and CyrenaicaPlace of Evidence - City, village, etc
EdfuPlace of evidence - City name in other Language(s)
Edfu Hermopolis ϣⲙⲟⲩⲛ Ashmunein HermopolisCult activities - Places
Cult building - monasticCult activities - Places Named after Saint
- Monastery
