SSCN Voumes 1-10, 1994-2004

St. Shenouda Coptic Newsletter

The Popes of Rome and the Patriarchs of Constantinople commemorated in the Coptic Antiphonarion (By Dr. Youhanna N. Youssef)

Introduction: Previously, we highlighted the liturgical connections between Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian even after the schism of Chalcedon. 1 Today we will examine the image of the Roman popes and the Patriarchs of Constantinople commemorated as saints in the Coptic Antiphonarion. The Coptic Antiphonarion (Difnar) is one of the liturgical books 2 containing a collection of hymns for the whole year. The hymn of the Antiphonarium is sung in the service of the Psalmodia which follows the office of Compline.

These hymns summarise biographies of the saints arranged according to the Coptic calendar. 3 The Coptic text has been published 75 years ago in Coptic without any translation. Since, except few parts, the whole text remains in its original language. It is noteworthy to mention that the other books such as The Book of Psalies 4 or The book Glorifications 5 do not contain any commemoration of a Roman Pope or a Patriarch of Constantinople.

1- The Popes Of Rome A. Pope Liberius (9 Bâbah) 6

Tone Adam 7

My heart has welled up of a good word 8 to announce the honour of this man of God Abba Liberius, the archbishop of Rome and (the affiliated regions?) 9 He was monk since his childhood doing ascetic exercises beyond minds He became over all the ranks of the priesthood by his purity God chose him to become the great (in the rank of) priesthood in the city of Rome, the throne of Peter, when he sat on the throne of our holy fathers, the apostles, he taught his flock the law of God and he run after the impious. When Constantine rested, Julian became king.

a

n oucaji na gayon e jw

pah/t

afbebi

mpw ou nem p tai o m pairwmi n te v]

pi a r,/epickopoc

n te

abba

liberioc

]rwmani a twonoumaaut/c

af i ri

ne

oumona,oc

icjen

tefmetkouji

n han a ckucic eu[oci e ninouc

aferhou o

n te

[ici

qen

nitagma

t/rou

]metou/b hiten peftoubo

a v] cwtp m mof e ]met a r,/ereuc e ]polic rwm/ py ronoc m petroc etafhemci de hijen pi y ronoc n te nenio] e yu na poctoloc naf] c bw m peflaoc mv nomoc m v] ouoh naf[oji pe n niparanomoc etaf m ton m mof n je koctantinoc aferouro e pefma n je iouli a noc

St. Shenouda Coptic Newsletter af i ri n han h b/ou i eu]jwnt m v] afouwst afouwst n nidemwn afsemsi m mwou He did things which give angry to God and worshipped and served the Devils af i n je peniwt sa abba bacilioc afcohi mp ouro afhitou e pi s teko Our father came to Abba Basil and he rebuked the king. He (the king) threw them in prison.

God sent Mercurius (in order to) kill Julian in the war.

n je

m merkourioc

afouwrp

v]

qwteb

n iouli a noc qen pipolemoc

ausenwou These saints returned to their places glorifying Christ and his martyr. afjwk e bol n je liberioc af m ton m mof Liberius died and rested in the day 9th of Paopi e pouma n je nai a gioc eu] w ou m p ,c nem pef`

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