Η συλλογή του Πανεπιστημίου
του Wurzburg, «KYPRIANOS T 1479», διασώζει πάπυρο με επιστολή του βασιλιά της Εδέσσης,
Άγκμπαρ, προς τον Ιησού Χριστό. Ο
πάπυρος είναι του 6ου μ.Χ. αιώνα.
Φαίνεται πως, ίσως, την αντέγραφαν
συνέχεια, ως, πιθανώς, ιστορικό-αποδεικτικό στοιχείο της Εδέσσης και της σχέσης
της με τον Ιησού… Εκτός και αν δεν πρόκειται για τον γνωστό Ιησού του 1ου μ.Χ. αιώνα, αλλά για αξιωματικό τίτλο, που υφίστατο στην περιοχή…
Είναι γραμμένη στα κοπτικά, δηλ. μια διάλεκτο της ελληνικής.
Το κείμενο είναι δημοσιευμένο ήδη από το 1931…
Απόδοση του κειμένου στα
αγγλικά:
[p. 20, l. 6] Abgar, the king of Edessa, [7] the city, writes to the [8]
great king, the son of the [9] living God, Jesus Christ, Greetings! [10-12]
Some people, honoured and worthy of belief, have reported about you [13] saying
the world has been most worthy [14] in our time [15] of your good coming [16]
through [17] your appearance, this [18] in which you have come to us, [19] in
our humble generation [20] through your love of humanity [21] which has existed
since eternity, all enduring. [23] So, when I heard these things, I [24]
believed firmly, [25] without hesitation. And also [26] they said that you
perform [27] great healings without [p. 21, l. 1] medicines or herbs and [2]
that those who have for a long time been [3] blind, and [4] the lame and the
mute [5] and the deaf and the lepers, [6] you purify them greatly by [7] the
word of your mouth, [8] and the demons [9] leave in fear and [10] trembling, confessing
[11] your glorious name [12] publicly. And you command [13] the dead [14] with
authority, and they [15] depart the tombs after [16] having been buried. [17]
These deeds reveal you, [18] so that all flesh might know [19] you, [19] that
you are the [20] only-begotten son of [21] God, there is no other except [22]
you. Because of this, I have asked [23] of you, O Lord, in [24] writing, that
you remember [25] for its part Edessa in [26] the care of your divinity [27]
and your humanity, [p. 22, l. 1] for indeed, all the nations [2] are your
concern [3] and no one is able to [4] to escape from you. We [5] entreat you,
therefore, I and [6] the people, we worship [7] you, that you trouble [8]
yourself and come to us for the sake of [9] our salvation and the [10] healing ⟨of⟩ our numerous
illnesses, [11] and so that [12] your name will be pronounced over us, O [13]
Lord, and my city [14] will serve [15] your throne for all the days [16] of its
life. I [17] heard that your nation [18] rejected your lordship, [19] being
[20] wicked and envious [21] and they persecute you, [22] and they do not want
to let [23] you reign over them, [24] being ignorant of this, [25] that you are
the king ⟨of⟩ those [26] in the heavens and those [27] upon the earth, who gives [p.
23, l.1] life to everyone. And what [2] indeed is the people of Israel? The
dead dog, because [4] they have rejected the living God. [5] For indeed, they
are not [6] worthy of your holy gift. [7] But I tell [8] you, my Lord, that if
[9] indeed we are ever deemed worthy [10] for you to trouble ⟨yourself⟩ and come to [11]
me, to the small city which I [12] rule, it is enough for us [13] together, and
in love [14] without envy and jealousy, [15] that you be king [16] over us. I,
and the people, [17] we shall remain beneath you, [18] worshipping the
footstool [19] of your feet, and [20] serving your holy throne. [21] Glory to
you! [22] Glory to your invisible father [23] who sent [24] you to us! Glory to
your [25] Holy Spirit, which [26] is mighty [26] forever! Amen.
Στοιχεία του παπύρου: M171.
Sigla: Leiden Anastasi 9, P. Leiden I 385, AMS 9, Anastasy 9 (1828).
Κείμενο αρ. question mark icon 3.
ΣΥΛΛΟΓΗ: Κοπτικά κείμενα / Coptic Scriptorium,
του 501 – 600 μ.Χ.
Κείμενο στη σελ. 21 l. 6 – σελ. 24 l. 26.
Τύπος κειμένου: Healing/protection (magical, formulary)
Τίτλος: The letter of
Jesus Christ our Lord to Abgar
Γλώσσα: Αιγυπτιακή / κοπτική.
Διάλεκτος: Sahidic.
Μάλιστα αναφέρεται και
απάντηση του Ιησού:
[p. 24, 1] The letter of Jesus Christ our [2] Lord to Abgar. Amen.
[3] The copy of the letter [4] of Jesus Christ, the son [5] of the
living God, writing [6] to Abgar, the king [7] of Edessa.
Greetings! You are blessed, and that which is good [8] will happen to
you, [10] and blessed is your city, [11] whose name is [12] Edessa, for you
have not [13] seen ⟨but⟩ you have believed,
you will [14] receive according to your faith [15] and according to your [16]
good intention. Your [17] illnesses will be healed, [18] and if you have committed
many sins [19] as ⟨a⟩ man, they will be
forgiven [20] for you, and Edessa [21] will be blessed [22] forever, and the
glory [23] of God will multiply among [25] its people, and faith [25] and love
will [26] shine in its streets. [27] I, Jesus, it is I who commands [28] and it
is I who speaks. [29] Because you have loved greatly, [p. 25, 1] I shall
preserve your name as an [2] eternal memory and [3] an honour and a blessing
[4] among the generations who come after [5] you through your entire lineage,
[6] and they will hear [7] it to the end of the [8] earth. It is I, Jesus, who
has written [9] this letter with [10] my very own hand. The [11] place to which
[12] this manuscript will be affixed, [13] no power [14] of the Adversary [15]
nor unclean spirit [16] will be able to [17] approach nor to [18] reach into
that place, [19] and forever. [20] Be
well in peace, [21] amen!
[22] The letter of our Lord [23] Jesus Christ to Abgar. Amen.
Manuscript: M171
Sigla: Leiden Anastasi 9, P. Leiden I 385, AMS 9, Anastasy 9 (1828)
Text no. question mark icon 3
Coptic Scriptorium: Date: 501 –
600
Text position: p. 21 l. 6 – p. 24
l. 26
Type of text: Healing/protection (magical, formulary)
Τίτλος: The letter of
Jesus Christ our Lord to Abgar
Γλώσσα: Αιγυπτιακή / κοπτική – Egyptian
(Coptic)
Διάλεκτος: Sahidic
Κείμενο: κοπτικά.
Όλα αυτά είναι γνωστά από το 1828…
ΠΗΓΗ-ΒΙΒΛΙΟΓΡΑΦΙΑ: ΑΡΧΕΙΟΝ ΠΟΛΙΤΙΣΜΟΥ, 3.3.2020.
Kropp Angelicus «Ausgewählte koptische Zaubertexte.
Übersetzungen
und Anmerkungen», τ. 2, Βρυξέλλες, εκδ. de la Fondation
Égyptologique Reine Élisabeth, 1931, σελ. 73-75, αρ. 22.
