SSCN Voumes 1-10, 1994-2004

St. Shenouda Coptic Newsletter

73-78 Luke

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Luke; and 8+ in John. Gospel verses are taken from the Bohairic version or translated from the original text used. It is arranged in the typical fashion of a 'text Catena', in which extracted gospel passages are followed by one or more commentaries taken from the fathers of the Church. At times, the passage is a mere title. Typically a Gospel passage is preceded by a heading ( euaggelion ), commentaries are often preceded by a heading ( erm/nia ) plus the name of the writer. The titles of the first three Gospels are preserved. Writers: In the surviving text, there are 23 major Orthodox writers or fathers included plus few quotes from heretics, such as Arius, Nestorius, ..etc. The selections varied in size, depending on the purpose that they served for the compiler of the original work. The top three overall are St. Cyril of Alexandria (244), St. John Chrysostom (140), St. Severus of Antioch (133). Another significant contribution is by Titus of Bostra who had 59 quotations in St. Luke. By book, In St. Matthew, St. John Chrysostom and St. Cyril of Alexandria were the most prominent. In St. Mark, St. Severus of Antioch was the most dominant. St. Cyril of Alexandria was the most dominant in St. Luke and he shared that honor with St. John Chrysostom in St. John. The most interesting of the commentaries was that of Didymus of Alexandria, which does not have any other surviving writings in Coptic. For a complete list of the names and number of quotes, consult Appendix A. Original language of the texts: This manuscript is most likely the first copy in the Bohairic Dialect of this work. Its date of the late 9 th century, coincides with the reemergence of the Library of St. Macarius Monastery after the last sack by the Berbers. It resembles very much the other works found in the monastery, now for the greater part preserved in the Vatican Apostolic Library, during that time period. Worthy of note is the writer's tendency to not

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259

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1

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7-16 17-18 19-20 21-28 29-30 31-32 33-34 35-46 47-48 49-54 55-56 57-58 59-64 65-80 81-96

7-11

91 90 84 89

k

85-88

207

ka

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214

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kb

93 92

wanting 151-158 159-166 167-174 175-182 183-190

kg

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97-112 113-128 129-144 145-160 161-162 163-164 165-176

ke

k6 kz k/ ky

12-19

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228

94-99

John 1-14 15-16 17-32 33-48 49-64 65-80 81-96

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l

26

27-34 35-42 43-50 51-58 59-66

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St. Shenouda Coptic Newsletter 97-112 67-74 113-128 75-82 129-130 wanting

131-132

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131ff wanting Contents: This Catena contains the four gospels. The contents are imperfect with 16 leaves wanting in Matthew; 3 in Mark; 14 in

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