| Manuscript: | M186 |
| Sigla: | PCM 1 25 |
Text no. 
Position of the text within the manuscript. | 11 |
| Coptic Scriptorium: | |
| Date: | 951 – 1000 |
| Text position: | p. 2 l.1-p. 9 l. 23 |
| Type of text: | Healing/protection/exorcism (magical, formulary) |
| Original title: | |
| Original title (translated): | |
| Conventional title: | Prayer of Mary |
| Language: | Egyptian (Coptic) |
| Dialect: | Sahidic with Fayumic features |
| Script: | Coptic |
| Image: | https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.39753 |
| Text: | Translation: |
| p. 2 p. 3 1. ⲛⲉⲇⲉⲙⲱⲛⲓⲱ̅ⲛ ⸗ ⲙⲁⲣⲟⲩⲛ̇ⲁⲭⲱⲣⲓ p. 4 1. ⲡⲉ ⲓ̅ⲁ̅ⲱ̅ ⸗ ⲥ̅ⲁ̅ⲃ̅ⲁ̅ⲱ̅ⲑ̅ ⲁ̅ⲧ̅ⲱ̅ⲛ̅ⲁ̅ⲉ̅ⲓ̅ ⸗ p. 5 1. ⲃ̅ⲁ̅ⲥ̅ⲁ̅ⲛ̅ⲓ̅ⲍ̅ⲉ̅ ≡ ⲛⲉⲇⲉⲙⲟⲛⲓⲱⲛ ⸗ ⲛⲁ ⲡⲉ·- p. 6 1. ⲙⲛ ⲯⲩⲭⲏ ⸗ ⲙⲛ ⲡⲉϥ·ⲛ̅ⲁ̅ : ⲙⲁⲣⲉϥⲉⲓ- p. 7 1. ϯⲱⲣⲕ ⲉⲣⲁⲕ · ⲙ̇ⲡⲟⲟⲩ ⸗ ⲙ̅ⲓ̅ⲭ̅ⲁ̅ⲏ̅ⲗ̅ · ⲙⲛ p. 8 1. ⲛϭⲓ ⲑⲁⲅⲓⲁ ⲙ̅ⲁ̅ⲣ̅ⲓ̅ⲁ̅ – ⲡⲁⲣⲑⲉⲛⲟⲥ ⲉⲧⲟⲩ- p. 9 1. ⲧϭⲓⲛⲉⲣϩⲱⲃ ⲍ̅ ⲛϭⲱⲃⲉ ⲛⲧⲁⲫⲉⲛ ⸗ ⲍ̅ ⲛϭⲱⲃⲉ ⲡϣ- Above image 8. · ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ ⸗ Left of image 10. ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ ⸗ Right of image 14. ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ ⲙⲁⲕⲧⲁⲗⲓ- |
[p. 2 l. 1] This is the twenty-first prayer of Mary [2] the Virgin, ⟨that she⟩ spoke on the day of her [3] falling asleep. It works on every power of [4] the Adversary; it heals every sickness [5] and every disease, in peace, amen. [6] And Mary lifted her eyes up [7] to heaven, to God Almighty, [8] saying: “I beseech you [9] today, you who has always existed, I praise you, [10] today, Iao, who comes upon the [11] clouds of heaven, Sabaoth, the one who is mightier [12] than them all, you who existed [13] before all of the aeons, before [14] the heavens and the earth had appeared; [15] heaven became a throne for you [16] and the earth ⟨a⟩ footstool for [17] your feet! Listen to me today, [18] in your great, blessed name – [19] let every thing submit (?) to me, [20] for I am Mary, I [21] am Mariham, I am the mother [22] of the life of the whole world, [23] I myself, NN, child of NN! Stone, let it [24] break before me today! Iron, let [25] it melt before me today! [p. 3, l. 1] The demons, let them withdraw [2] themselves before me today! The [3] authorities of light, let them appear [4] to me! The angels and [5] archangels, let them appear [6] to me today! The doors that are braced [7] and shut, let them be opened to me, [8] quickly and in haste, so that [9] your name might become for me a helper [10] and life, whether in all the day [11] or in all the night! [12] Adonai, Kherem, Atōma, [13] Khialas, Babōth, Stieph, [14] Ba, Satha, Khithi, Tha, Sabaoth, [15] God, listen to me today, [16] you who sits upon your [17] exalted throne, [18] every spirit trembling before you, those of the heaven [19] and those of the earth and those below the earth [20] and those under the air, who are [21] disturbed before your great [22] holy name, which is: [p. 4 l. 1] Iao Sabaoth Adonai [2] Eloei, he who undoes work [3] which has envy in it, magic [4] and every sorcery, the things that [5] come about through evil and meddlesome men, [6] whether blindness, [7] or deafness, or [8] speechlessness, or pain of his [9] head or a strike (?) of the demons, [10] or someone who has a fever, or someone [11] who is disturbed, or someone who is crushed, [12] or blood that was loosened under someone, or [13] someone who was given pain by the demons, [14] or ⟨caused by⟩ some oil, or some fruit, [15] or a drink, or a vessel, in short, [16] what he has, let it be undone [17] through your great, holy name, away from [18] NN, child of NN! Let NN, child of NN, be sound [19] in his body and his entire body [20] be strong, his sinews [21] and his bones, his flesh be [22] healthy, away from every magic [23] of men and every crushing (?) of [24] the demons, those of the day and of the night, neither fates, neither deities! [p. 5 l. 1] Torture the demons, those of the [2] day and those of the night, so that they [3] withdraw themselves from NN, child of NN, and he becomes [4] wholly sound in his body [5] and his soul and spirit! Let him know [6] that you are God and there is no [7] other except you, lest the [8] nations say: “There is no help [9] for them”, for you are the Lord [10] Sabaoth, the great in heavens and upon [11] the earth; every thing that you wish [12] you do. I adjure you today by [13] the wellbeing of the incorporeal 24 Presbyters, [14] whose names are Bēth, Bētha, Rouēl, Matatiēl, [15] Riēl, Rikhaēl, Khōbanta, Khōmē, [17] Eikham, Mam, Sabaoth, Rōēl, [18] Nōēl, Nōēl, Umiēl, Tatiēl, [19] Katatiēl, Zariēl, Ariēl, Iao, [20] Bētha, Patrouēl, Sakia, Ariēl; [21] forgive me, NN, child of NN, today! I entreat and [22] I invoke you today, I, NN, child of NN, [23] that you send to me your holy power, [24] so that it cleanses every spirit [25] of sickness that dwells in the body of NN, child of NN! Let [26] every magic flee away, so that he becomes [27] strong in his body [p. 6 l. 1] and soul and his spirit, let him [2] know that there is for him, the help [3] of the Father in heaven, Amen! Jesus (?), amen! [4] Jesus Christ, amen! Jesus, amen! [5] Jesus Christ, amen! The faith of [6] Nicea, amen, amen, amen, it is so! [7] Holy, holy, holy, Lord [8] Sabaoth, heaven and earth are full [9] of your holy glory! You are holy, [10] you are holy, you are holy, you who who sit [11] upon the chariot of the cherubim, [12] who fly under them, namely these great [13] creatures, each one having six wings, [14] Bathouriēl of the Father, those of the heaven [15] and those of the earth, the one who sits in on high, [16] as they appear to me: Marmarouēl, [17] Marmarouniēl, Marmarouēl, [18] Marmarouniēl, Marmaroun, [19] Marmarou, Marmar, Marmam, [20] the one who struck the sea with his holy power! [21] Come to me today, O great [22] God, who is in heaven! I adjure you today, [23] ⟨by⟩ the wellbeing ⟨of⟩ your seven archangels, [24] these who were with you since before you [25] created Adam, the first man, [26] so that they come to me today, and they protect [27] and shelter the body of NN, child of NN, [p. 7 l. 1] I adjure you today, Michael and [2] Gabriel, Raphael, Suriel, [3] Salaphuēl, Azouēl and the name of [4] the powers that I named! [5] Michael, let him be on his right [6] so that I may heal NN, child of NN, yea, yea, quickly! [7] Gabriel on my left, so that I [8] take away from him pain and every fear! [9] Raphael, let him put a crown upon his [10] head! Suriel, let him trumpet before [11] him! Raguel, let him give glory and [12] favour to him in the presence of all the generation [13] of Adam ⟨and⟩ all the children [14] of Zoe, in the name of Iao Sabaoth! [15] Let him be sound in the name of Adonai [16] Elōei! Let him be sound in the name of Iao [17] Sabaoth! Uriel, the great god [18] in heaven, I adjure you today by the one of these [19] great holy powers, Mēs Bētha [20] Phraggis! I adjure you today by the [21] 24 veils which you created in [22] your wisdom, yea, yea! I adjure you today [23] by the cup of blood, that which the angels [24] drank from so that they received the Holy Spirit, [25] that ⟨you⟩ send to me your holy hand [26] upon the water and this oil [27] that are placed before me, I, NN, child of NN, [28] and let ⟨her⟩ come down upon them, [p. 8 l. 1] namely, Saint Mary the holy virgin, [2] that she might bless the water so that it becomes [3] a healing and a purification, so that in the [4] moment that I will wash NN, child of NN, with it [5] let him heal, yea, yea, quickly quickly! [6] I adjure you today by the four imperishable [7] mysteries, which are [8] Daueithea, Eleleth, Ōrem, [9] Mōsiēl, who are the ones spread out [10] upon the four sides of heaven! I adjure you today [11] by the Father Almighty, by the holy sounds [12], whose names are Akhi, Akha, Akhamra! [13] I adjure you today by the first [14] word that came out from your heart, [15] and became for you an only son, [16] that is Jesus Christ and his [17] holy powers, that I have [18] named, that you will send [19] to me the holy mother of God, [20] Saint Mary the holy virgin, [21] so that she blesses them, and she sanctifies [22] them, and she seals ⟨this⟩ water ⟨and⟩ this oil, [23] so that in the moment that I will pour the water [24] upon NN, child of NN, ⟨NN, child of NN⟩ will become strong [25] and healed and at total peace [26] … through the power of the Father and the [27] Son and the Holy Spirit, forever [28] and ever and ever, amen, amen, amen, [29] yea, yea, quickly, quickly, Jesus Christ! [p. 9 l.1] The procedure: 7 bay leaves, 7 leaves of [2] marjoram, 7 branches of grass ⟨of⟩ Mary, 7 branches [3] of Nubian mint, 7 leaves of citron-tree, 7 [4] branches of wood ⟨of⟩ Abraham. A new pot, [5] eastern (?) water, [6] while you are fasting, while the moon is full, while you offer up myrrh, write with new alēkhtam, [7] true oil; a burning lamp until you finish. Above image [8] Mary, [9] Jesus Christ. Left of image [10] Mary, [11] Miriam, [12] Marihēu, [13] Marisei. Right of image [14] Mary Magdalene, [15] Mary the daughter [16] of Clopas, [17-18] Mary of James (kharakteres) [19-21] the … [22-23] The pain. |
| Tracing by: | Edward Love |
| Apparatus: | p. 2 1. ⲧⲙⲉϩ:ⲕ̅ⲁ̅ : translate “24th” i.e. ⲧⲙⲉϩ:ⲕ̅ⲇ̅ Kropp | ⲡⲣⲟⲥⲉⲩⲭⲏ i.e. Greek προσευχή p. 3 1. ⲇⲉⲙⲱⲛⲓⲱⲛ i.e. Greek δαιμόνιον p. 4 3. ⲡⲑⲟⲛⲟⲥ i.e. Greek φθόνος | ⲙ̅ⲁ̅ⲅ̅ⲓ̅ⲁ̅ i.e. Greek μαγεία p. 5 1. ⲃ̅ⲁ̅ⲥ̅ⲁ̅ⲛ̅ⲓ̅ⲍ̅ⲉ̅ i.e. Greek βασανίζειν | ⲇⲉⲙⲟⲛⲓⲱⲛ i.e. Greek δαιμόνιον p. 6 1. ⲯⲩⲭⲏ i.e. Greek ψυχή | ⲛ̅ⲁ̅ l. ⲡⲛ(ⲉⲩⲙ)ⲁ i.e. Greek πνεῦμα p. 7 3. ⲡⲣⲁⲛ : ⲛⲣⲁⲛ Meyer | ⲧⲉ i.e. Sahidic ⲛ̅ⲧⲉ p. 8 1. ⲑⲁⲅⲓⲁ l. ⲧ-ϩⲁⲅⲓⲁ i.e. Greek ἅγια | ⲡⲁⲣⲑⲉⲛⲟⲥ i.e. Greek παρθένος p. 9 1. ⲧⲁⲫⲉⲛ i.e. Greek δάφνη Above image 1. ⲓ̅ⲥ̅ ⲡⲉⲭ̅ⲥ̅ l. ⲓ(ⲏⲥⲟⲩ)ⲥ ⲡⲉ-ⲭ(ⲣⲓⲥⲧⲟ)ⲥ i.e. Greek χριστός Right of image 8-9. ⲛⲁⲣⲟⲧ : l. ⲛⲁⲧⲣⲟ i.e. Sahidic ⲛ̅-ⲁⲧ-ⲗⲟ Meyer |
| Notes: | p. 2 12. ⲉϩⲟⲩⲟ ⲉⲣⲁⲟⲩ ⸗ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ The parallel versions have a phrase here referring to God’s judgement of all mankind, so that we might understand an earlier version of this passage contained something similar (e.g. “to judge them all”, Sahidic ⲉϯ ϩⲁⲡ ⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ), cf. Tomb of Georgios, North wall, col. 1, l. 4 (M501/T1616): καὶ δικάζων παντὶ γένει; British Library MS Or 6796 (1-3) l. 12 (M118/T337): ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲅⲉⲛⲟⲥ ⲛⲙ [ⲛ̅ⲛⲣ]ⲱⲙⲉ; Collège de France 2 p. 23 l. 14 (M573/T744): ⲉϯϩⲁⲡ ⲉⲅⲉⲛⲟⲥ ‧ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲛⲣⲱⲙⲉ. p. 3 12. ⲟ This letter differs from the normal form of omicron, and may instead be some kind of punctuation or lectional mark. We do not translate it here. p. 5 5-7. ⲙⲁⲣⲉϥⲉⲓⲙ̇ⲉ ⸗ ϫⲉ ⲛⲧⲁⲕ ⸗ ⲧⲉ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⸗ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲙⲛ ⲕⲉ ⲟⲩⲁ̇ · ⲛⲃⲉⲗ:ⲗⲁⲕ Cf. e.g., Deuteronomy 4:35: “so that you know that the Lord, your God, this one is God, with no other beside him.” (ϩⲱⲥⲧⲉ ⲉⲧⲣⲉⲕⲉⲓⲙⲉ ϫⲉ ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲡⲉⲕⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲉⲙⲛⲕⲉⲟⲩⲁ ⲛⲃⲗⲗⲁϥ) p. 7 23-24. ⲙⲡⲁⲡⲁⲧ ⲛⲉⲥⲛⲟⲃ Kropp translates “cup of blessing” (“Becher des Segens”). This is likely correct for the original text of the Prayer of Mary; cf. Tomb of Georgios, North wall, col. 1, l. 33 (M501/T1616): τοῦ ποτηρίου τῆς εὐλογάς; British Library MS Or 6796 (1-3) l. 105 (M118/T337): ⲙ̣[ⲡ]ⲁⲡⲟⲧ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲥⲙⲟⲩ; P. Iand. inv. 9 p. 8 l. 11 (KYP M134; T654): ⲙⲡⲁⲡⲟⲧ ⲙⲡⲉⲥⲙⲟⲩ. Nonetheless, “cup of blood” seems a preferable translation here, perhaps as a later adaptation; the original text also describes the apostles rather than the angels drinking from the cup (Tomb of Georgios, North wall, col. 1, l. 33; P. Iand. inv. 9 p. 8 l. 12). p. 8 25-26. ⲟⲩⲉⲙⲧⲁ ⸗ ⲛⲓⲙ ⸗ ⲛⲧⲉⲛ This passage seems to be ungrammatical – ⲉⲙⲧⲁ is doubly determined by ⲟⲩ- and ⲛⲓⲙ, and ⲛⲧⲉⲛ would seem to be either a conjugation base or genitive marker missing a following noun. It seems likely that this is the result of miscopying or textual corruption; Meyer does not comment but simply translates “completely well”. p. 9 6. ⲛ̇ⲁⲗⲏⲭⲧ̇ⲁⲙ The ⲁⲗ- prefix makes an Arabic loanword certain here. Meyer suggests several possibilities, none completely convincing. We might understand القتم (al-qatam), a name for Myrsine africana (African boxwood; see Provençal p. 80). |
| Bibliography: | Drescher, James. “Two Coptic Magical Ingredients.” Bulletin de la Société d’Archéologie Copte 1 (1958): 59–60. |
| Editor: | Pages 3-9 from DDGLC project (entered 14/20/2019); KD and MP edition (28/4/2022) |