NAQLUN N. 76/93: CYRIL OF JERUSALEM,
THE MARIAN DORMITION AND
THE SAHIDIC ANTIPHONARY
BY I BRAHIM S AWEROS AND J ACQUES VA N DER V LIET
Abstract
First edition of a tenth-eleventh century parchment sheet found during exca-
vations in the Monastery of Naqlun (Dayr al-Malâk, Fayoum). The sheet contains
informal copies of two hymns in Fayoumi-Sahidic. The longest of these is an acros-
tic hymn on the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, which reflects the direct influence
of the rich Coptic Dormition literature. Both hymns are interesting witnesses to
the Sahidic Antiphonary.
Description and edition
The inscribed parchment leaf published here (pls. 1–2) was discovered
in 1993, during Polish excavations at the Monastery of Naqlun (present-
day Dayr al-Malâk, Fayoum), directed by Włodzimierz Godlewski.
1
At
Kom D, the Polish excavations unearthed a couple of parallel monastic
structures, dubbed I.DB and II.DB. Room 22, located to the west of II.DB,
was the findspot of the present piece. Room 22 is connected with another
room (numbered 19) by an arcade. Both rooms have a stone floor and are
covered with finely polished, waterproof mortar.
2
Room 22 has a large
container decorated with a cross in its northern corner. It is thought likely
that room 22 together with its neighbour, room 19, was used for medical
purposes.
3
1
We thank Professor Godlewski and the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology,
University of Warsaw, for granting permission to publish the find here. The piece is men-
tioned in Urbaniak-Walczak, “The Literary Texts” 102, and briefly discussed in van der Vliet,
“Literature, Liturgy, Magic” 568–569. It will be included in the volume of P.NaqlunCopt.,
currently in preparation.
2
Godlewski and Parandowska, “Naqlun 1993” 57–58.
3
Godlewski and Parandowska, “Naqlun 1993” 57.
Journal of Coptic Studies 22 (2020) 187–203 doi: 10.2143/JCS.22.0.3287553
© 2020 by Peeters. All rights reserved.