Deir Mar Jirys - CHOZIBA

Church/Monastery name: 
Deir Mar Jirys - CHOZIBA
Inscription number: 
1
Selected bibliography: 
191-192, pl. 44.15 (ph.) (ed. pr.)
Abbreviation for Journals and Series
Epigraphical corpora: 

CIIP IV.1 (2018): 2853 (ph.)

Inscription type: 
dipinto
quotation
Location: 

Painted on the wall of the chapel in the hermitage attributed to St. Iohannes Chozibites, the founder of the monastery, also known as the Hermitage of Gabriel, a monk who occupied it in the 20th cent. The inscription starts at the southwestern corner of the western wall of the chapel, going along the northern wall.

Physical description : 

The quotation was used as a long dividing line between the paintings (CIIP IV.1 nos. 2849-2852) on the upper parts of the walls and the geometric decorations on the lower parts of the walls.

Text: 

(8) [Οὐκ ἔστ]ιν ὅμοιός σο˹ι˺ ἐν θεοῖς, κ(ύρι)ε, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν κατὰ [τὰ ἔργα σου. (9) πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, ὅσα ἐποίησας, ἥξουσιν καὶ προσκυνήσουσιν ἐνώπιόν σου, κ(ύρι)ε, καὶ δοξάσουσιν τὸ ὄνομά σου,] (10) ὅτ˹ι˺ μέγας εἶ σ˹ὺ˺ καὶ ποιῶν θα˹υ˺μάσια, σ˹ὺ˺ εἶ <ὁ> θ(εὸ)ς μόνος. (11) ὁδηγήσας με, κ(ύρι)ε, τῇ ὁδῷ σου, καὶ πορε˹ύ˺σομε <ἐν> τῇ ἀληθίᾳ σου· [εὐφρανθήτω ἡ καρδία μου τοῦ φοβεῖσθαι τὸ ὄνομά σου. (12) ἐξομολογήσομαί σοι, κύριε ὁ θεός μου, ἐν ὅλῃ καρδίᾳ μου καὶ δοξάσω τὸ ὄνομά σου εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, (13) ὅτι τὸ ἔλεός σου μέγα ἐπ᾽ ἐμὲ καὶ ἐρρύσω τὴν ψυχήν μου ἐξ ᾅδου κατωτάτου.]

Translation: 

(8) Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works. (9) All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name. (10) For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone. (11) You have taught me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. (12) I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore. (13) For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell. (CIIP, adapted from KJV)

Summary: 

Painted quotation of Ps. 85:8-13 on the walls of the chapel in the hermitage attributed to St. John Chozibites.

Citations from LXX / NT: 
Ps. 85 (86):8-13
Epigraphical Abbreviations: 
horizontal strokes over nomina sacra, ligature ΟΥ for iota/upsilon