Scythopolis/Beth Shean - KYRA MARIA

Church/Monastery name: 
Scythopolis/Beth Shean - KYRA MARIA
Inscription number: 
5
Selected bibliography: 
14, no. 3, pl. XX (ph.) (ed. pr.)
408, no. 110, fig. 144 (ph.)
162, no. 237
Abbreviation for Journals and Series
Inscription type: 
invocation/prayer
Location: 

In the narthex (Room D), in front of the entrance to the chapel (Room C).

Physical description : 

The inscription is framed in a tabula ansata.

Text: 

      Χ(ριστ)ὲ ὁ Θ(εὸ)ς σωτὴρ τοῦ κόσμ(ου) ἐλέησον

      τὴν φιλ[όχ(ριστο)]ν κυρὰν Μαρίαν κ(αὶ) τὸν

      ταύτ[ης υἱ]ὸν Μάξημον κ(αὶ) ἀνά-

4    παυσον τοὺς αὐτῶν γωνεῖς

      εὐχαῖς πάντων τῶν ἁγίων. Ἀμίν.

Translation: 

O Christ the God, saviour of the world, have mercy upon the Christ-loving Lady Mary and her son Maximus, and grant rest to their forefathers, through the prayers of all the saints. Amen.

Apparatus: 

L.3  Μάξ⟨ι⟩μον: the final Ν lacks the middle bar;  l.4  γ⟨ο⟩νεῖς;  l.5  ἀμ⟨ή⟩ν.

Commentary: 

The status of Lady Mary as founder of the church is attested by the inscription in the southeastern corner of the chapel.

Date: 
before 567
Summary: 

Mosaic inscription set in tabula ansata in the narthex (Room D), in front of the entrance to the chapel.

Contents
Titles/epithets of patrons/dedicators: 
Christ loving
lady (kyria)
Personal names: 
Maria, Maximus
Kinship terms: 
forefathers
son
Epithets of saints: 
hagios/hagia
Epigraphical formulae: 
prayer (euchê)
Lord/Christ, grant repose...
Lord/Christ, have mercy...
amen
Epigraphical Abbreviations: 
twisted stroke, horizontal stroke over nomen sacrum, monogrammed ΟΥ above Μ in κόσμ(ου)