This book examines the function and development of the cult of saints in Coptic Egypt, focusing primarily on the material provided by the texts forming the Coptic hagiographical tradition of the early Christian martyr Philotheus of Antioch, and more specifically, the Martyrdom of St Philotheus of Antioch (Pierpont Morgan M583). This Martyrdom is a reflection of a once flourishing cult which is attested in Egypt by rich textual and material evidence. This text enjoyed great popularity not only in Egypt, but also in other countries of the Christian East, since his dossier includes texts in Coptic, Georgian, Ethiopic, and Arabic.
REVIEWS
...this book is an excellent analysis of the Martyrdom of Philotheus and of Egyptian martyrological literature in general. Rogozhina’s expertise in languages (Greek, Coptic, Georgian, etc.) and various genres of study (legal, archaeological, historical, liturgical, hagiographical, etc.) is expertly marshaled with perceptive analysis carried through to the reader with clear, perspicacious language.
-- T.C. Schmidt, Fairfield University, RBL 09/2023
Table of Contents (v)
Acknowledgments (vii)
Abbreviations (ix)
Introduction (1)
Comparative analysis of the two main versions of the Martyrdom (5)
The Nature of the Source Material (5)
Notes on transcription and translation (6)
Chapter 1. Description of the text and of its manuscript tradition (9)
I. Introduction (9)
II. Textual traditions of the legend of St Philotheus (14)
III. The hymnographic tradition (23)
Conclusions (25)
Table of episodes (26)
Chapter 2. The legend of Philotheus in the context of the Coptic martyr cycles (33)
I. Epic passions in Coptic hagiography (34)
II. Cycles in Coptic literary culture (40)
Conclusions (49)
Chapter 3. The Great Persecution and Diocletianic Legend in Coptic Passions (51)
I. Introduction: the cult of martyrs in Coptic Egypt and the impact of the Great Persecution (52)
II. The Great Persecution in contemporary historical sources (57)
III. Main features of the Diocletianic legend in Coptic texts (66)
Conclusions (94)
Chapter 4. Antioch as ‘the holy city’ in Coptic hagiography (97)
I. Antioch in hagiographical reality (99)
II. Fictional and real landmarks in Antioch; places of trial and places of worship (123)
III. Historical relations between the Churches of Alexandria and Antioch 131
Conclusions (144)
Appendix to Chapter 4. Martyrs who, according to the Coptic tradition, have connections with Antioch (146)
Chapter 5. Enduring motifs: a miracle of resurrection and a tour of hell (151)
I. Tour of hell and its literary and theological context (152)
II. Special features of the description of hell in the Martyrdom of Philotheus (183)
Conclusions (196)
Chapter 6. Enduring motifs: re-imagining paganism, magic and miracles in the Christian context (199)
I. Paganism of the parents of Philotheus (200)
II. Representations of magic; magic and Christian miracle-working (210)
Conclusions (227)
Chapter 7. The minds that shaped the text (231)
I. The development of the cult of St Philotheus in Egypt (232)
II. Performance, audience and authorship (254)
Conclusions (279)
Conclusion (281)
Epilogue (287)
Bibliography (291)
Primary Sources (291)
Secondary Sources (299)
Appendix I. The Georgian Martyrdom (321)
Appendix II. Translation of the Coptic Martyrdom (329)
Appendix III. Coptic hymns in honour of Philotheus from the Difnar (361)
Index (365)
