The theotokias are prayers dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God (Theotokos). In the early fourteenth century, the Patriarch of the Coptic Church, Ibn Qiddis, composed and paraphrased – in Coptic – the Theotokias. His work has only survived in a single manuscript. This book introduces the author, John Ibn Qiddis, his liturgical, pastoral, and literary activities, and the Coptic language of his time, followed by the texts and an English translation.
Acknowledgements ................................................................................ vii
Introduction .............................................................................................. 1
The Author ...................................................................................... 2
Liturgical activities of Ibn Qiddis ............................................... 11
Pastoral activities of Ibn Qiddis ................................................. 25
Literary activities of Ibn Qiddis .................................................. 33
Literary Activities During His Time .......................................... 35
The Interpretations of the Theotokias as a Literary Genre ... 35
Coptic language at his time .......................................................... 37
The manuscript ............................................................................. 38
John Ibn Qiddis or John of Naqada .......................................... 40
The Interpretations of the Theotokias: Text and Translation ........ 43
Glossary of technical terms ................................................................ 143
Bibliography .......................................................................................... 145
Index of Proper Names ...................................................................... 153
Index of Greek Words ........................................................................ 155
Index of Biblical References .............................................................. 163
