| Manuscript: | M171 |
| Sigla: | PCM 1 11 |
Text no. 
Position of the text within the manuscript. | 1 |
| Coptic Scriptorium: | |
| Date: | 551 – 800 |
| Text position: | p. 1 l. 1 – p. 14 l. 13 |
| Type of text: | Protection, exorcism (magical, formulary) |
| Original title: | ⲟⲩⲉⲩⲭⲏ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲟⲩⲉⲝⲟⲣⲅⲓⲥⲙⲟⲥ ⲉⲁⲓⲥϩⲁⲉⲓϥ ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲅ̅ⲣⲏⲅⲟⲣⲓ̈ⲟⲥ ⲡϩⲙ̅ϩⲁⲗ ⲙⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ |
| Original title (translated): | A prayer and an adjuration which I wrote, I, Gregory, the servant of the living God |
| Conventional title: | Prayer of Gregory |
| Language: | Egyptian (Coptic) |
| Dialect: | Sahidic |
| Script: | Coptic |
| Image: | https://hdl.handle.net/21.12126/21319 |
| Text: | Translation: |
| p. 1 (1r) p. 2 (1v) p. 3 (2r) p. 4 (2v) p. 5 (3r) p. 6 (3v) p. 7 (4r) p. 8 (4v) 1. ⲡϩⲙϩⲁⲗ ⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲉⲧⲟ- p. 9 (5r) p. 10 (5v) 1. ⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲛⲓ̈ⲙ ⲉⲧⲉⲟⲩⲉⲛⲧⲁⲩ p. 11 (6r) p. 12 (6v) p. 13 (7r) p. 14 (7v) |
[p. 1 l. 1] A prayer and an adjuration [2] which I wrote, I, [3] Gregory, the servant of the living God, [4] so that it might be a [5] phylactery to all [6] who take it and read it, [7] that it might undo every working [8] that comes about through [9] evil men, [10] that is sorceries [11] and enchantments and [12] bindings of [13] men through terrible sicknesses, [14] and jealousy [15] and envy and [16] idleness, that is [17] not finding any work to do, [18] and in general every [matter] [19] that we know about [20-21] and that we do not know about, and every thing [that] [22] comes about through [23] meddlesome men and [24] cunning men […] [25] evil. I invoke [26] you, O Lord God [27] almighty, [28] I, Gregory, [your] [p. 2 l. 1] servant, and I entreat [2] you, O Father of our Lord [3] Jesus Christ, god of [4] gods, king of all kings, [5] the imperishable, unpolluted, [6] uncreated, [7] untouchable, the morningstar, [8] the hand that rules, [9] Adonai Eloei Elemas [10] Sabaoth, god of [11] gods, the king who is mighty in [12] every work, the glorious one, [13] the father of truth, he whose mercies are many, [15] who rules alone [16] over all flesh and over [17] every authority, the Father [18] of [our] Lord Jesus Christ, may you [19] preserve all who will [20] [recite] this prayer or [21] who will place it for themselves as a [22] phylactery! I invoke [23] [you], O Lord God [24] almighty [25] [may you give] salvation and [26] [healing] and purity [27] [to the place in] which this [prayer] is placed, whether [p. 3 l. 1] male or female, [2] free and slave, the [3] little children and those who are [4] suckling, and also all livestock, [5] may you watch over the [6] entrance and the [7] exit and all its dwelling places [8] and its windows [9] and its courtyards and [10] its bedrooms and its [11] open places and [12] and its lands that belong to [13] it and its foundations and [14] its gardens and its wells [15] and its trees which bear fruit [16] and its trees which do not [17] bear fruit! I invoke you, O god of [19] gods, O king of all the powers, [20] the one who sits [21] upon the cherubim and [22] the seraphim, that you undo [23] every act of violence that [24] has been done against every place [25-26] in which this prayer will be recited, or [27] that has yet to happen, or that [p. 4 l. 1] is ordained to happen, or if [2] someone bound a place, [3] having placed in it the bond of [4] deceit, hidden in its [5] foundations, or in its [6] extended places, or in its [7] entrance or in its [8] exit, or in the door, or in the [9] window, or in the [10] bedroom or in the yard, or in the [11] dining-room or in the [12] courtyard in the middle of it, or in the [13] field, or among the fruits, [14] or in the garden, or in a [15] forked road or crossroad, [16] or in a fruitless tree, [17] or in the waters [18] that are in the rivers [19] or in the canals, or in vineyards, or [20] in any place! O acts of violence, [21] every one that has happened, [22] or that is among those ordained to happen, [23] [I] adjure you (pl.), I, [24] Gregory, the servant of Jesus [25] Christ (?), the great name that [26] [is fearful] and that is filled [27] with trembling and terror, that is [p. 5 l. 1] glorious, and the honoured [2] one, worthy of prostration, [3] the indescribable one, the immeasurable one , [4] the name that is holy and [5] blessed, Adonai [6] Elōei Elemas Sabaoth, [7] that you release [8] and you withdraw from [9] everyone who [10] will recite in themselves this [11] prayer, and every place [12] in which it will be put, and [13] all those belonging to it, and [14] that you go, each one [15] of you, upon the head of [16] the one who sent you [17] to do these abominations, and [18] upon the head of the ones who consented [19] to them, whether it is a [20] foreigner, or it is someone who is [21] related to him, or a it is someone who is [22] passing by, or a [23] slave, or a free person, [24] or it is a magician, or a [25] female magician, or a [26] Persian man, [27] or a Persian woman, [p. 6 l. 1] or a Chaldaean, or a [2] Chaldaean woman, or a [3] Hebrew, or a [4] Hebrew woman, or an [5] Egyptian, or an Egyptian [6] woman, and in short [7] whoever it is! [8] Let all violence be undone [9] through this adjuration [10] and through the holy seal [11] of the one who is coming to [12] judge the living and the [13] dead, who is [14] King and God, [15] who was crucified for [16] us! Michael, Gabriel, [17] Raphael, Uriel, O [18] holy angels standing [19] before [20] the one who dwells in the [21] heavens, the holy [22] and exalted one, guard [23] all the body parts of [24] the ones who possess [25] this prayer, not only those who [26] recite it, [27] but those who [p. 7 l. 1] have it in their hand as a phylactery, [2] and save them again from [3] every evil thing and [4] every evil! Again, [5] I adjure you (pl.), [6] every act of violence, by the great name [7] that is glorious, God [8] Almighty — the one who [9] brought his people out from [10] the land of Egypt with a [11] strong hand and an [12] exalted arm, the one who [13] struck Pharaoh and [14] all his power, the one who [15] spoke with Moses on [16] the mountain of Sinai, as he gave [17] his law and his [18] ordinance to the children [19] of Israel, and he caused him to [20] eat manna — [21] that you flee [22] far away, and you do not [23] return at all [24] to stand [25] in the place in which will be placed [26] this prayer! [27] Yet again, I, Gregory, [p. 8. l. 1] the servant of the living God, [2] I invoke [3] you (pl.), you, every act of violence, [4] by the great name that [5] is fearful of the Father of our [6] Lord, Jesus Christ, the god of [7] Abraham and Isaac and [8] Jacob, just as you acted [9] together, whether [10] it was a magic, or [11] idols, or from places of [12] worship, or any place you [13] were sent from [14] to cause [15] terror and [16] torments and [17] dumbness and deafness [18] and speechlessness [19] and disgrace of his face (?) [20] and all types of pain, [21] whether you have come [22] near or are far [23] away, be afraid [24] before the name of the Lord, [25] and withdraw yourselves [26] from every place in which [27] this prayer will be read [p. 9 l. 1] or placed [2] in, and all those belonging [3] to them, and go, [4] each of you, upon the head [5] of every one who brought [6] you, or that [7] sent you, them [8] and those who consented [9] to them! God is [10] peace. God is [11] healing. God is [12] justice. God [13] is light, the Lord [14] God of powers. [15] Michael is interpreted [16] as “peace”, that is [17] “God ⟨is⟩ light”, Gabriel as “god and man”, [19] Raphael as “healing”, [20] Uriel as “power”, [21] Sedekiēl as “justice”, [22] Anaēl as “obedience”, [23] Azael as “mercy”; [24] these are all [25] the names of God and [26] these are all the names of [27] archangels, and [p. 10 l. 1] everyone who has [2] these with them, carrying [3] them, have with them [4] a great help, which is filled [5] with every good thing, for [6] God is with us. Listen, [7] you ⟨who come⟩ from the end of the earth, [8] for God is with us, [9] for when you [10] are strong, again, you [11] will be defeated, for [12] God is with us, and the scheme [13] that you prepare, [14] the Lord will bring it to naught, [15] and the words that you will [16] say, they shall not remain within you, [17] for God is with us. [18] A stone of stumbling and a [19] rock of offence, [20] do not permit them to dare approach [21] those who have [22] this prayer with them, [23] for God is with [24] us, for everyone who [25] will bring this prayer [26-27] to the place within which the prayer will be put [28] will not fear [p. 11 l. 1] your fear, nor [2] will they be disturbed, for God [3] is with us. But you, [4] yourselves, every one [5] who has [6] with them this prayer of [7] this entreaty, the Lord [8] God will purify him of [9] you, and he will be [10] with us as a guardian [11] and he will deliver us from all the fears [12] of the Enemy and [13] his demonic works, [14] and if we are [15] faithful in all our heart, [16] the Lord God will be a purification for us, [18] for God is with [19] us. For this reason, we will [20] speak the word of the Lord: [21] “Behold, I am with [22] the children whom [23] God gave to me. The people [24] that dwell in darkness [25] saw a great light, [26] for God is with us.” [27] Christ Jesus is with us, the one of whom [28] it is written, [p. 12 l. 1] “For they will call his [2] name the angel of [3] great counsel, God [4] who is strong, God of [5] great and wondrous counsel.” [6] Let us therefore lift our eyes [7] up to heaven and bless [8] him with joy in our souls, [9] crying out, saying, [10] “Glory and [11] adoration and greatness [12] are fitting for you, O Father and [13] Son and Holy Spirit [14] who exist in unity, [15] and a unity in a trinity; [16] it is a single divinity [17] in three [18] hypostases and a [19] single lordship and [20] a single rule and a [21] single power and a [22] single energy and [23] every authority, and a [24] single person, and [25] a single baptism, [26] a single lord, a [27] single god, the Father, [28] and the Son and the Spirit!” [p. 13 l. 1] A slanderous thought, [2] a thought of envy and hate [3] and enmity and [4] arrogance and pride [5] and disobedience and [6] gluttony and [7] greed, the root of [8] every evil, and [9] boastfulness and every slander [10] and every defiled thought [11] and every bitterness; [12] O Holy Trinity, spare [13] everyone! O Holy Trinity, [14] purify the man [15] from within and from without; [16] deliver us from every [17] temptation that is difficult [18] to escape, and every work [19] of the Devil [20] and every work of [21] evil and [22] every treachery of evil men; [23] O Holy Trinity, [24] spare everyone who [25] has with them this [26] seal, and those who [27] have with them this [28] prayer, and every place [29] in which it will be affixed, [p. 14 l. 1] so that it will be for them a [2] phylactery and [3] a remedy and every healing [4] in (?) every pain of every sort. [5] Let the Holy Trinity [6] be with us, the glory [7] and honour and [8] greatness and the power of the [9-10] consubstantial and life-giving Holy Trinity, now [11] and at all times, forever [12] and ever, amen! —— · · —— · · —— · · —— |
| Tableau: | |
| Tracing by: |
| Apparatus: | p. 1 1. ⲉⲩⲭⲏ i.e. Greek εὐχή p. 2 1. ϩ̣̅ⲙ̣ϩⲁⲗ : ⲛⲛ̅ⲁⲁ Pleyte/Boeser : l. ⟨ⲡ⟩ϩⲙϩⲁⲗ ⟨ⲙⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲉⲧⲟⲛϩ⟩, ⟨the⟩ servant ⟨of the God almighty⟩ (“der Diener des allmächtigen Gottes”) Kropp, Boeser, Smith p. 3 1. ⲉⲓ̅ⲧⲉ i.e. Greek εἴτε p. 4 5. ⲏ̅ i.e. Greek ἤ p. 5 2. ⲡⲣⲟⲥⲕⲩⲛⲉⲓ̈ i.e. Greek προσκυνεῖν p. 6 1. ⲏ̅ i.e. Greek ἤ (twice) | ⲭⲁⲗⲇⲁⲓ̅ⲟⲥ i.e. Greek Χαλδαῖος p. 7 p. 6 l. 27 – p. 7 l. 1. ⲛⲉⲧⲉⲥⲉⲛⲧⲟⲟⲧⲟⲩ : l. ⲛⲉⲧⲉⲛⲧⲟⲟⲩ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ϩⲓϫⲱⲥ Boeser p. 8 2. ⲡⲁⲣⲁⲕⲁⲗⲉⲓ̈ i.e. Greek παρακαλεῖν p. 9 1. ⲏ i.e. Greek ἤ : ⲏ̅ Pleyte/Boeser p. 10 1. ⲉⲧⲉⲟⲩⲉⲛⲧⲁⲩ i.e. Sahidic ⲉⲧⲉ-ⲟⲩⲛⲧⲁ⸗ⲩ p. 11 1. ⲟⲩⲇⲉ i.e. Greek οὐδέ p. 12 2. ⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ i.e. Greek ἄγγελος p. 13 1. ⲕ̅ⲁⲧⲁⲗⲁⲗⲓ̈ⲁ i.e. Greek καταλαλία p. 14 2. ⲫⲩⲗⲁⲕⲧⲏⲣⲓ̈ⲟⲛ i.e. Greek φυλακτήριον |
| Notes: | Pleyte/Boeser use the sign = to indicate words which continue over multiple lines, but these are found in the codex. Due to the complexity of this text, we do not note minor divergences between our reading and that of Pleyte and Boeser, e.g., letters dotted in only one edition, a supralinear stroke marked in place of diaeresis, etc.; we do however note where letters are restored in one edition but not the other, or where punctuation is noted for a letter in one edition but not the other. p. 1 ll.1–p. 14 l. 14. Prayer of Gregory: As first noted by Crum (1899), parallel versions of the Prayer of Gregory are attested in several Greek codices dating from at least the eleventh to sixteenth centuries CE, suggesting that this was its original language (Strittmatter 1930: 178; Strittmatter 1932: 141–144; Nesseris 2021: 93–94 with n. 12; Kropp 1931: II 169). This text belongs to a larger genre of exorcistic prayers attributed to saints which are common in Greek magical and liturgical handbooks; parallels exist in other languages, notably Syriac (see the discussion on p. 23). Other examples are attributed to figures such as John Chrysostom, Basil of Caesarea, Athanasius of Alexandria, and Ephraim the Syrian (Delatte 1927: 125, 230–263; Nesseris 2021: 91–97). Like the later Greek examples, the Prayer of Gregory makes extensive use of adjurations (“I adjure you…”), but only against negative external forces (demons, diseases, and evil acts), unlike many of the other magical texts in this collection, which also adjure God and his subordinate beings, such as the saints and the angels. The Gregory to whom the prayer is attributed is unclear; the versions published by Strittmatter (1932: 141–144) are attributed to Gregory Thaumaturgus (ca. 213–270 CE), while that first noted by Crum (Kropp 1931: II 169) is attributed to Gregory the Theologian, i.e., Gregory of Nazianzus (ca. 329–390 CE). |
| Bibliography: | Blumell, Lincoln. Lettered Christians: Christians, Letters, and Late Antique Oxyrhynchus. New Testament Tools, Studies and Documents 39. Leiden: Brill, 2012. |
| Editor: | Text entered until 3v l. 16 by KD based on edition in Pleyte/Boser with working translation (30/20/2019), text entered by EL from Pleyte and Boeser from 3v l. 16 to 8r l. 12 (2/1/2019); corrections (addition of end title) KD (16/10/2020); MPS and Korshi final check (15/2/2022); updated to PCM version by SG + KD (22/7/2026); JS (9/1/2023) |
How to cite:
[Editor names]. "KYP T61: Prayer of Gregory," Kyprianos Database of Ancient Ritual Texts and Objects, Korshi Dosoo, Markéta Preininger, & Roxanne Bélanger Sarrazin (principal editors), www.coptic-magic.phil.uni-wuerzburg.de/index.php/text/kyp-t-61. Accessed on 28/07/2026For the "editor names", see the abbreviated names in the field "Editor", and to resolve the abbreviations, see the help page.