New Coptic Texts from the Monastery of Saint Macarius

New Coptic Texts from the Monastery of Saint Macarius

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Homiletic Fragments: Four Homiletic Fragments

1 ..."in his body and his flesh (?) in Amenti. And after these things God gave him... besides the Kingdom of Heaven which he enjoyed for ever being in a state of joy unending... with the Angels. Consider... also Nineves the pitiless. He... (ll. 12-13) the poor...[and did not] give him charity. Perceive also that, when he was... after the ending of his life..., he said, being in Amenti in torments which scorched him with fire: "Job (is) in the repose of the Kingdom of Heaven in enjoyment of the good things..." "But when he has heard, he will say: Remember that in thy life thou didst receive thy good things." Thou seest that food and drink and wearing of goodly raiment did not profit that pitiless man. Behold the two parts of thy life at all times, O my beloved. Behold Job in the Kingdom of Heaven and in eternal bliss. Behold Nineves also in torments unquenchable, in endless pain for ever. Choose, then, for thyself that which thou shalt desire. If thou desirest the Kingdom of Heaven, make thyself like to the Kingdom of Heaven after which the righteous Job followed, even he whose door was open unto every man and did not turn away (?) any man [at] any time among those who... him...

2 The fragmentary endings of seven preceding lines are omitted. The fragmentary beginnings of ten lines are omitted. All except the last two letters are very doubtful. "The Angels...Remember O man...unto (?) a man. Do not...Knowest thou not that thou art a creature of thy Lord and the Lord of Heaven and Earth? Knowest thou not that the Angels stand in the presence of their Lord in the Church? That the Archangels stand ministering unto the commandment of their Lord God, the King of Glory, in the Church? Wherefore dost thou, O wretched man, hasten forth from the Church contrary to the command of thy Lord?" "...hundreds of thousands...incorporeal [beings]...chant hymns unto their Lord with fear and trembling. If the great host of the Incorporeal Ones and all the Powers of Heaven with hair of flame...and they are not able to sit nor do they transgress (?) the commandment of their Lord; but they all stand trembling, being...and beholding..."

3 "...together. In a word, by means of...grace and...when he (Jonah) had fled from the face of the Lord...even as he had already...He found a ship, and when he had paid his fare, he went on board. And when they had unmoored, they voyaged on the sea. But God straightway raised up a mighty tempest on the sea." "And the whale [swallowed up] Jonah...God [punished?] him by this means...even as he (Jonah) had excused himself from ministering unto His word and His command. Now every one whom He shall choose and whom He shall send after Jonah by means of His...[must not] dare..."

Monastic or Ascetic Precepts

1 ... according to the way which our Lord and Master hath appointed us. In a word, do everything as unto God with regularity and faithfulness. [Do not drink?] from vessels of silver; for...to us...contrary to the season which...in the life of brotherhood...to thyself to do this. And if the disposition already exists let us guard against it according to the rules of the monastery...who among the people...with persuasion and...do not allow victory over (?) them...because of (?)...life...And practise patience by means of a conversation...which is pure and of discipline. And be zealous at all times to bless…persuasion upon them. Just as ivy enshrouds a vineyard and destroys its fruit, so vain glory destroys the fruit of the monk, if it persuades him. Above all the virtues is humility, above (all the)…in all things...And knowledge loves toil, being a thing that hates...; and idleness...without toil. And do not (neglect?) continence and thy...

2 "... are not; but Mine are all they who harken to My commandments." Since He loves them who are His with a perfect love, He said unto us (?): "Fear not, My little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. Sell your goods..."... causing them to be undismayed in all the sufferings of this world, He said unto them: "Ye here in the world have affliction (toil): but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." And He gave them strength so as not to faint in tribulations. He put joy into their hearts... Frag. 4... "to murmur against his brother in thy presence, be not confused before him, lest haply he overpersuade thy heart with his words, and thou sin against God. But...... do likewise; for they receive thy complaint. And give the glory to them; for they showed mercy on me for your sakes. If thou shalt go into a strange land... Frag. 5 If thou bestowest him upon a brother of thine, thou hast sinned against God. Release him and let him go, or set him free if he himself desires to become a monk.... that thou mayest sit in thy cell in a state of gentleness (?) when thou wouldest eat thy bread. If thou shouldest go to a town or a village to sell thy handiwork...

Liturgical Fragments: The Greek Liturgies of Saints Basil and Gregory

1 O Master, Lord Jesus Christ, the co-eternal Word of Thy pure Father and the Holy Spirit, the Bread that came down from Heaven and didst offer Thyself, a Lamb without blemish, for the life of the world, we beseech and entreat Thee, O loving and good 'Lord, show Thy face upon this Bread and upon this Cup which we have set forth upon this Thy Holy Table and sanctify them and transubstantiate them, that this bread may be changed into Thy Holy Body and this Cup into (Thy) Blood for the remission of sins. Through the grace and mercies and loving-kindness of the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and always and for ever and ever. Amen. x Fo. 2a... 'of the enemy, justify (us) in Thy graciousness as Thou didst Cornelius unto whom witness is borne in the Acts of Thy holy Apostles, and strengthen our mind and our understanding that we may become imitators of Thy Christ. Through the grace and mercy &c.

Prayer [ of Censing ].

2 O God, the Everlasting, without beginning and without end, Who art great in counsel and mighty in Thy works, Who art present 'everywhere and standest beside all men, be present with us at this hour and be in the midst of us all. Purify our hearts, purify our souls, cleanse us from all sin deliberate and indeliberate, and grant unto us to offer before Thee the reasonable service of praise, a spiritual incense-offering entering into the inner side of the veil, into the Holy of Holies. And be entreated to remember the peace of Thy one holy Catholic Church. Vouchsafe (?) Thy peace which is from Heaven vouchsafe (?) unto the hearts of us all, but the peace of this life also grant unto us. Our King, the ranks 'of our army, our magistrates, our Senate, our people, the quarters (of our city) do Thou endue with all peace. O King, Lord of peace, Lord of mercy, give unto us Thy peace, for Thou hast given us all things. Possess us, O God; for besides Thee we know no other, we call upon Thy holy Name which (is named) for the salvation and well-being of our souls. "Quicken the souls of us all through Thy Holy Spirit, that the death of our sins may not have dominion over us Thy servants nor over all Thy people. Lord, bless Thy Church. Through the grace and mercy...

3 "O Master, Lord Jesus Christ, Who didst send forth Thy holy Disciples and Apostles in all the world to preach and to teach the Gospel of Thy Kingdom, and to instruct all nations unto knowledge of Thee;—wherefore we entreat and beseech Thee, O Lover of men, good Lord, open the ears of our hearts unto the hearing of Thy holy Gospels. Open also the perceptions of our souls, and vouchsafe that we may become not only hearers but doers…"of the Catholic and Apostolic Church of God, granting unto them and unto us peace and health all our days. And for their prayers which they offer on behalf of us and of all Thy people, and our (prayers) on its' behalf—do Thou accept them upon Thy heavenly and blessed altar for a smell of sweet savor. Its every enemy, visible or invisible, do Thou soon "crush and set under our feet, but for itself, preserve it in peace in the holy Church.

4 Remember, O Lord, this holy Church and our assemblies. Our gatherings together do Thou bless. Grant unto us, O God, that they may be held without let and hindrance according to Thy holy and blessed will. Vouchsafe unto us and to them who are with us houses of prayer, houses of blessing for ever. Arise, O Lord, and let all Thine enemies be scattered, and let all that hate Thy holy Name flee before Thee, but upon Thy faithful and true people who in obedience do Thy holy will, bring thousands of thousands and tens of thousands of tens of thousands of blessings. Prayer of Salutation. O God the Everlasting, Who didst create man for incorruption, and didst destroy death, which had entered into the world through the envy of the Devil, through the life-giving presence of Thine only-begotten Son, and didst fill the earth with that peace from Heaven which also the hosts of the Angels glorified, saying: "Glory to God in the Highest, and..."

5 ...regeneration through water and the Spirit, and made us an especial people, sanctify us through Thy Holy Spirit. He Who loved His own that were in the world, gave Himself as a ransom unto Death, who reigned over us and unto whom we were subject, being sold into slavery by our sin; and when He had descended through the Cross into Hades, He rose again on the third day from the dead; and when He had ascended into Heaven, He sat at the right hand of Thy (sic) Father, having appointed a day of retribution whereon He shall appear and judge the world in righteousness and reward every man according to his work; (The People: According to Thy mercy, O Lord.) —and He left unto us this great mystery of holiness. For when He was about to deliver Himself up unto death for the life of the world... He took bread in...

6 ... "who wait upon Thee and call upon Thy holy Name; for the eyes of all wait upon Thee, and Thou givest them their meat in due season. Deal with us according to Thy goodness, Thou Who givest food unto all flesh. Fill our hearts with joy and gladness, that having at all times all sufficiency we may abound unto every good work, to do Thy holy will. Remember also, O Lord, them who offer these gifts and grant unto them all a heavenly reward. Forasmuch as it is a commandment of Thine only-begotten Son, O Lord, that we should partake in memory of Thy Saints, vouchsafe to be mindful of them who well-pleased Thee from the beginning, the holy Fathers, Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs, Confessors…"of Thine angelic and archangelic liturgy... Remember, O Lord, them who offer these our sacrificial (?) gifts. 7 Remember, O Lord, the peace of the one, holy, Catholic, and Apostolic, Orthodox Church.. Remember, O Lord, our holy Father Papa Abba Benjamin, the Patriarch of the great city Alexandria, and (all) Orthodox Bishops. "Remember, O Lord, this holy Church and our assemblies... As Thou didst accept the gifts of Thy righteous Abel, the sacrifice of our Father Abraham, the incenseoffering of Zacharias, the prayers and alms of Cornelius, and the widow's two mites; even so accept the thankofferings of Thy servants who desire to... their much and their little secretly and openly... [Sic exit.]

The Liturgy of Saint Gregory.

8 ... "of partaking in His holy Mysteries, O Lord our God Almighty.

Prayer at the Breaking of the Bread.

9 O Master, Lord God the Father Almighty, the Great, the Eternal, Who art wondrous in glory; Who keepest Thy covenant and Thy mercy unto them that love Thee; Who hast given us remission of our sins through Thine only-begotten Son, our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ; the Life of all, "the Help of them who flee unto Thee, and Hope of them who call upon Thee; beside Whom stand tens of thousands of Angels and Archangels, Cherubim and Seraphim, and all the countless multitude of the heavenly powers; Thou Who hast hallowed these gifts which lie before Thee, cleanse us from our secret and our open sins, and [remove far from us] every thought which is displeasing [to Thy goodness...] But Thyself, without change, though made flesh and putting on manhood, didst become in all points like us saving only sin, and didst become a Mediator between us and the Father. And when Thou hadst broken down the middle wall of partition and the ancient enmity, Thou didst unite things earthly with things heavenly, and bring the twain together in one, "and fulfil the dispensation in the flesh. And when Thou hast about to mount up into the Heavens bodily, divinely fulfilling all things Thou didst say to Thy holy Disciples and Apostles:

10 "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you." That peace do Thou now also give unto us, O Master. Vouchsafe to cleanse us from all stain, all guile, all In marg. (?) (later hand), "Here he cuts the (bread)". evil, from wickedness and from deadly malice. And vouchsafe that we "may greet one another with a holy kiss, to the end that we may partake without condemnation of Thy deathless and heavenly gift, through Thy grace and the good pleasure of the Father and the operation of Thy Holy Spirit. For Thou art the Bestower and Giver of all good things, and unto Thee we offer up glory, the eternal praisegiving, together with Thy Father Who is from everlasting, and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen. The love of God the Father, and the grace of the Only-Begotten Son, our Lord "and God and Savior Jesus

11 And the fellowship and the gift of the Holy Spirit Shall be with you all. Let us give thanks unto the Lord. Beginning [of the Oblation]. Verily it is meet and right to praise Thee, to hymn Thee, to bless Thee, to worship Thee, to glorify Thee, the Only True God, the Lover of man, the Ineffable, the Invisible, the Uncontained, without beginning, the Eternal, without time…"Thou didst suggest the rising again after my fall; Thou didst give release unto them who were under the power of Hades; Thou didst drive away the curse of the Law; in the flesh Thou didst set sin at naught; the might of Thy authority Thou didst make known to me; to the blind Thou didst restore sight; the dead Thou didst raise up from the tombs; by Thy word Thou didst restore nature; Thou didst show unto me the dispensation of Thy loving-kindness; Thou didst endure the violence of wicked men; Thou hast given Thy [Rubric in two lines effaced by damp.]

12 [Rubric in two lines effaced by damp.] Therefore, O Master, do Thou Thyself with Thy voice transform these offerings; Do Thou Thyself be present and perform this mystic service; do Thou Thyself strengthen in us the remembrance of Thy worship; send down Thy All-Holy Spirit that, coming, it may through its holy and good and glorious presence hallow and transform these precious and holy gifts now offered into the very Body and Blood of our Redemption, The Deacon says: Let us give heed. The People say: Amen. The Priest shall say aloud— —and cause this Bread to become the Holy Body of Thee, our Lord and God and Savior and supreme King, Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins and for eternal life unto them who partake of it, —and this Cup to become Thy precious Blood of the New Testament of our Lord and God and Savior and supreme King Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins and for...

13 ... do Thou grant unto them all. (The rubric following is illegible.) Remember also, O Lord, my miserable and wretched soul and my lowliness, and forgive me all my transgressions; and where sin has abounded, make Thy grace more to abound, and because of my sins and the uncleanness of my heart deprive not Thy people of the grace of Thy Holy Spirit. (The rubric following is illegible.) [Rubric in one line effaced by damp.] Them who are present in this 'place do Thou make imitators of the Angels; and though we be unworthy do Thou accept us who have been called to Thy service. (The rubric following is illegible.) Remember also, O Lord, this our city, and them who dwell therein in the Orthodox Faith, and every city and country together with all their people. Deliver us from famine and pestilence, earthquake and flood, fire and captivity of the barbarians, and from alien swords and insurrection of enemies and heretics.

14 Remember also, O Lord, the predeceased, our holy Fathers the Orthodox Bishops, And all who from the beginning have pleased Thee well, Especially our all-holy, most glorious, immaculate, and ever-blessed Lady, the Mother of God and ever- Virgin Mary; The holy, glorious, Prophet, Forerunner, Baptist, and Martyr John; The holy Stephen, the first Deacon and first Martyr, And our holy and blessed Father, Mark the Apostle and Evangelist, And our sainted Father Gregory the Divine, and them of whom we make remembrance on this day, and all the company of Thy saints. Through the prayers and intercessions of these have mercy upon us and save us for the sake of Thy holy Name which is called over us. (The Deacon reads the Diptychs.) Remember, O Lord, our fathers and brethren who have fallen asleep in times past in the Orthodox Faith, And give repose to their souls with the holy, with the righteous;

15 Gather them together unto a place of pasture by the water of refreshment in a paradise of delight together with those whose names we have mentioned.

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16 ... "consubstantial and coeternal with the Father and the Holy Spirit, receive from us sinners and from our unworthy lips praise with the Powers above. For Thee befitteth all glory, honor, and worship for ever and ever. Amen. [The following variants from Swete's (Cambridge) text occur: [The remainder of the page is left blank.] [For the text see Maas, Frühbyzantinische Kirchenpoesie 1, no. 2. The following variants occur:

Liturgical Fragments: Anaphora, Ordinal, Horologia, Pascha, Difnâr, Hymns and Psalmody

Hail, thou Healing of sore sickness! Hail, Might and Strong Refuge! Hail, thou that didst bear the Word of God! Hail, only Virgin and uncorrupt! Hail, thou Bride, pure and undefiled! Hail, Destruction of graven images! Hail, all-holy Mount of God! Hail, thou who dost procure eternal joy! Hail, Rod that budded with the ear of life! Hail, Crown and Boast of the righteous! Hail, thou living and pure Volume (?)! Hail, thou that raisest the fallen from destruction! Hail, Light and Worship of Orthodoxy! Hail, thou Shelter of the tempest-tossed! Hail, thou who didst smite the soul-destroying enemy! Hail, Chariot of God... The text of this fragment is given in full. 232 × And the Sacrifice of Isaac 54.22. On the Nativity, 49: Chrysostom On the Nativity 91.1.93 The Little Month. Theophilus On the Archangel (?).

Supplementary Texts: Pseudo-Linus, The Martyrdom of Saint Paul; Ode on the Four and Twenty Elders; Acrostic Hymn on the Finding of the Cross

1 [Nero inflicted great] torments on them and cast them into the prison. And since he was in a great rage and fury, he caused search to be made for every one who should say, "I am a soldier of that eternal King." And he established a decree after this manner, saying: "All who shall be found being soldiers of Jesus the Christ let them be..., one and all." Now when this decree was made, the whole army scattered throughout the city... And he (Nero) said unto him: "O man of the great king who art delivered bound into my hands, tell me what hath happened unto thee that thou hast ventured to come into Rome and to raise soldiers for thy king from mine own realm?" But Paul said in the presence of every one: "Caesar, not only from thine own realm will we raise soldiers; (for our King) hath commanded..."

2 Red ink. The last two syllables are added in black by a later hand.

The Four and Twenty Elders.

3 O who can tell the glory and the honor of Four and Twenty Elders—they who are clad in robes of light and have crowns of glory upon their heads? Four and twenty vials of gold are in their hands, filled with perfume exceeding precious, even the prayers of the saints which they send up on high unto the Holy Trinity. These are they of the glory of whose greatness the holy John the Evangelist spake: "For I saw," said he, "four and twenty thrones round about the throne of the Almighty; and upon them sat Elders." No tongue of flesh might express their glory. I heard the Lamb declaring their names from the beginning with alpha unto the end with omega. Nearer unto God are these exalted priests than all the heavenly hosts, as they beseech the Holy Trinity at all times, saying: "Let Thy compassion encompass the whole earth, that Thou mayest have mercy upon men, that Thou mayest have compassion upon cattle, that Thou mayest bless the rivers of water, that Thou mayest make them to rise duly."

4 Through the intercessions of these... Grouped in the xs. with the preceding line. The seventeenth day of the Month Thibout. The Feast of the Holy Cross. Helen the queen desired to behold the holy wood of the Cross, the wood whereon my Lord was crucified. She stayed not her hand at all in seeking for it earnestly, until she found it with joy because of her faith therein. "There was joy on that day in heaven and upon earth at the revealing of the life-giving Cross. The Cross do we worship, the wood of immortality, the wood whereon my Lord was crucified that He might save us from our sins. Helen arose and took three thousand soldiers and went to Jerusalem, seeking for the Cross. The Jews took counsel together, saying: "If she come unto our kingdom, we will not reveal the Cross." Justly spake "Helen the queen unto them: Show me the Cross, the wood whereon my Lord was crucified." The Jews answered, speaking among themselves: "Lo, the words of our fathers are come to pass upon us, 'The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the teeth of the children are set on edge.'" The persecution which overtook them is come upon their children."

5 When Helen the queen had seized all the Jews (saying): "Lo death and life are before you: show me the Cross," they delivered unto her Judas, "because he was the son of a prophet and knew well the Law, that he might show her the Cross. Judas answered and said to the Jews: Fulfilled today are the words of our fathers. Zacchaeus, the father of my father, spake unto Simon my father, saying, 'Needs must that they will seek after the wood of the Cross. If they seek after it, reveal it, that thou mayest not die; for in the race of the Hebrews there is none shall reign again.'' Readily spake he unto her...