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One text, 2 sources · Trismegistos-Text 32661

Letter from Herakleides to Apa Paphnoutios asking for prayers in illness TM 32661unbekanntMitte IV

The same ancient text or artifact as recorded by 2 records across 2 independent projects, recognised as one entity by its TM-Text identifier. View on Trismegistos →

A Christian letter from Herakleides to the holy man Apa Paphnoutios, asking for his prayers and for oil because of a serious illness. Herakleides says no human help can save him, only hope through Christ by the father's prayers. It dates to the mid-4th century AD.

In English machine translation

[recto] To the father beloved of God, Apa Paphnoutios, Herakleides. Always indeed it is your season to pray for us, and we need the help from the Almighty through your prayers; but now I beseech you the more [to do this] both in my name and on account of the illness that has seized me and presses [me], and also to [give (?)] the oil […]. [For] I do not believe I can be helped otherwise […] […] Christ-bearing (?) as long as you have health. I pray that you may be well in the Lord Christ for a long time, praying for me continually, most God-fearing father. And the prophet cries out: in affliction I called, and he heard me. Now truly it is affliction that I am in, where neither the help of a brother nor of anyone else can help, except the hope awaited through our Lord Christ by means of your prayers. [verso] To the father beloved of God, Apa Paphnoutios, Herakleides.

The oil requested was probably blessed oil used for healing. The quotation from 'the prophet' echoes Psalm 119(120):1 or Jonah 2:3.

Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below. It has not been reviewed by a papyrologist: check the edition before citing. Restorations follow the edition; […] marks lost text and (?) an uncertain reading.

DDbDP-text Full record →

p.lond.6.1928

Papyri.info — DDbDP (Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri) — text · Mitte IV

[r] τῷ παρὰ θεῷ ἠγαπημένῳ πατρὶ ἄπα Παπνουτίῳ Ἡρακλείδης. ἀεὶ μὲν σὸς ὁ καιρὸς τοῦ εὔξασθαι ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν, καὶ τῆς παρὰ τοῦ κρειττονος διὰ τῶν εὐχῶν σου βοηθείας δεόμεθα· νῦν δὲ πλέον παρακαλῶ σε τοῦτο καὶ εἰς ὄνομά μου καὶ πρὸς τὴν καταλαβοῦσάν με νόσον ἐπείγουσάν με ποιῆσαι καὶ τὸ …