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E07856: The pilgrim Egeria, in her Itinerary, mentions a church built at the well where *Jacob (Old Testament patriarch, S000280) met his wife Rachel (S00701), and other places connected with his history around Carrhae/Karrhai (Mesopotamia). Written in Latin during Egeria's journey to the East, probably in 381-384.
online resource
posted on 2020-02-12, 00:00 authored by robertEgeria, Itinerary 21.1-3
21.1 Post biduo autem, quam ibi feceram, duxit nos episcopus ad puteum illum ubi adaquauerat sanctus Iacob pecora sanctae Rachel, qui puteus sexto miliario est a Charris. In cuius putei honorem fabricata est ibi iuxta sancta ecclesia ingens ualde et pulchra. Ad quem puteum cum uenissemus, facta est ab episcopo oratio, lectus etiam locus ipse de genesi, dictus etiam unus psalmus competens loco, atque iterata oratione benedixit nos episcopus. (2) Vidimus etiam loco iuxta puteum iacente lapidem illum infinitum nimis, quem mouerat sanctus Iacob a puteo, qui usque hodie ostenditur. (3) Ibi autem circa puteo nulli alii commanent nisi clerici de ipsa ecclesia, quae ibi est, et monachi habentes iuxta monasteria sua, quorum uitam sanctus episcopus nobis retulit, sed uere inauditam. Ac sic ergo facta oratione in aecclesia accessi cum episcopo ad sanctos monachos per monasteria ipsorum, et deo gratias agens et ipsis, qui dignati sunt me per monasteria sua, ubicumque ingressa sum, libenti animo suscipere et alloqui illis sermonibus, quos dignum erat de ore illorum procedere.
'21.1 We stayed there for two days. Then the bishop took us to the well, where holy Jacob watered the animals of holy Rachel, which is six miles from Carrhae. A holy church has been built there in honour of this well; the church is very large and beautiful. When we reached the well, the bishop said a prayer, the passage was read from Genesis, we had one psalm suitable to the place, and then after another prayer the bishop gave us his blessing. (2) Beside the well was the enormous stone which Jacob rolled away from it, and it is still to be seen today. The only people who lived near the well were the clergy of the church, and some monks who had cells near by. (3) The bishop told me some amazing things about their way of life, so, after we had had our prayer in the church, I went round with the bishop and visited the holy monks in their cells. I gave thanks to God, and to them too, since they were so kind and welcoming when I entered their cells, and entertained me with the kind of conversation which befits monks.'
Egeria is also shown the village and tomb of Laban, Jacob's father-in-law.
Text: Franceschini and Weber 1965, 65. Translation: Wilkinson 1971, 120, lightly modified.
21.1 Post biduo autem, quam ibi feceram, duxit nos episcopus ad puteum illum ubi adaquauerat sanctus Iacob pecora sanctae Rachel, qui puteus sexto miliario est a Charris. In cuius putei honorem fabricata est ibi iuxta sancta ecclesia ingens ualde et pulchra. Ad quem puteum cum uenissemus, facta est ab episcopo oratio, lectus etiam locus ipse de genesi, dictus etiam unus psalmus competens loco, atque iterata oratione benedixit nos episcopus. (2) Vidimus etiam loco iuxta puteum iacente lapidem illum infinitum nimis, quem mouerat sanctus Iacob a puteo, qui usque hodie ostenditur. (3) Ibi autem circa puteo nulli alii commanent nisi clerici de ipsa ecclesia, quae ibi est, et monachi habentes iuxta monasteria sua, quorum uitam sanctus episcopus nobis retulit, sed uere inauditam. Ac sic ergo facta oratione in aecclesia accessi cum episcopo ad sanctos monachos per monasteria ipsorum, et deo gratias agens et ipsis, qui dignati sunt me per monasteria sua, ubicumque ingressa sum, libenti animo suscipere et alloqui illis sermonibus, quos dignum erat de ore illorum procedere.
'21.1 We stayed there for two days. Then the bishop took us to the well, where holy Jacob watered the animals of holy Rachel, which is six miles from Carrhae. A holy church has been built there in honour of this well; the church is very large and beautiful. When we reached the well, the bishop said a prayer, the passage was read from Genesis, we had one psalm suitable to the place, and then after another prayer the bishop gave us his blessing. (2) Beside the well was the enormous stone which Jacob rolled away from it, and it is still to be seen today. The only people who lived near the well were the clergy of the church, and some monks who had cells near by. (3) The bishop told me some amazing things about their way of life, so, after we had had our prayer in the church, I went round with the bishop and visited the holy monks in their cells. I gave thanks to God, and to them too, since they were so kind and welcoming when I entered their cells, and entertained me with the kind of conversation which befits monks.'
Egeria is also shown the village and tomb of Laban, Jacob's father-in-law.
Text: Franceschini and Weber 1965, 65. Translation: Wilkinson 1971, 120, lightly modified.
History
Evidence ID
E07856Saint Name
Jacob, Old Testament patriarch : S00280Saint Name in Source
IacobRelated Saint Records
Type of Evidence
Literary - Pilgrim accounts and itinerariesLanguage
- Latin