The Barcelona Papyrus and the Opening Dialogue of the Christian Anaphora

Resituating Egyptian Scribal Practice Amid Scholarly Anaphoral Reconstructions

Authors

  • Arsany Paul

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25365/exf-2022-1-5

Keywords:

Early Christian Anaphoras, Early Christian Papyri, Early Christian Inscriptions, Paleography, Greek, Papyrology, Greek, Coptic Liturgy

Abstract

Inscribed within the liturgical portions of the manuscript commonly known as the “Barcelona Papyrus” (MS P.Monts.Roca Inv. 128–178, 292, and 338) are various acclamations consisting of Εἷς Θεός, among others. Previous scholars studying these phrases have argued that they represent a part of the liturgical formulary, generally replacing the staple opening of the anaphoral dialogue of the celebrant’s “The Lord be with you,” and the congregational response, “And with your spirit.” In this paper, I demonstrate, through a detailed paleographical analysis of the phrase Εἷς Θεός with its various appendages in the liturgical portions of the said manuscript, and in comparison to other literary and material, visual cultural sources within Egyptian Christian customs, that these invocations are scribal practices rather than part of the pronounced prayers and thus are “marginalia” that function externally to the liturgical formulary.

Author Biography

Arsany Paul

Arsany Paul completed his Master of Theological Studies degree at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana (USA) and is currently working on his doctorate in Liturgical Studies at the same university with a broad focus on Alexandrian Christian liturgy.

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Published

2022-10-04

How to Cite

Paul, A. (2022). The Barcelona Papyrus and the Opening Dialogue of the Christian Anaphora: Resituating Egyptian Scribal Practice Amid Scholarly Anaphoral Reconstructions. Ex Fonte - Journal of Ecumenical Studies in Liturgy, 1, 129–168. https://doi.org/10.25365/exf-2022-1-5

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