Ḥorvat Hesheq - ST. GEORGE

Church/Monastery name: 
Ḥorvat Hesheq - ST. GEORGE
Inscription number: 
4
Selected bibliography: 
384-385, no. 4 (ph.) (ed. pr.)
148, no. 218
Abbreviation for Journals and Series
Epigraphical corpora: 

SEG 40 (1990): 1447

Inscription type: 
invocation/prayer
Location: 

In the mosaic pavement at the entrance to the southern apsis, facing east.

Physical description : 

Mosaic inscription in a frame (25 x 140 cm) at the entrance to the southern apse. Average height of letters 6 cm. The omicron is very small. Abbreviations include stigmas for abbreviation and καί, horizontal strokes for abbreviation (short over the nomen sacrum), and OY in ligature.

Text: 

Κ(ύρι)ε ὁ Θ(εὸ)ς τοῦ ἁγίου Σεργίου ἐλέησον τοῦ δούλο(υ) σοῦ

Δημήτρι(ο)ν δ(ιάκονον) (καὶ) Γεόργι(ο)ν υἱὸν καὶ παντὸς τοῦ οἴκου αὐτῶ(ν).

Translation: 

O Lord God of Saint Sergius, have mercy on Thy servant Demitrius the deacon and on George (his) son and on all of their household.

Commentary: 

Γεόργι(ο)ν for Γεώργι(ο)ν.  Confusion of cases. The southern apse, where the inscription is located, must have been consecrated to the cult of Saint Sergius, and its reliquary must have contained some of his relics.

Date: 
early 6th cent.
Summary: 

Invocation of St. Sergius on behalf of Demetrius the deacon, in the mosaic pavement at the end of the south aisle.

Contents
Ecclesiastical titles: 
deacon
Titles/epithets of patrons/dedicators: 
servant of God
Personal names: 
Demitrius, Georgius
Kinship terms: 
kin (oikos, diaferontes)
son
Saints names: 
Sergius
Epithets of saints: 
hagios/hagia
Epigraphical formulae: 
Lord/Christ of Saint X
Lord/Christ, have mercy...
Epigraphical Abbreviations: 
stigmas, horizontal strokes, ligature of ΟΥ