395-397, fig. 1, pl. 51B (ph., dr.) (ed. pr.) | |
85-86 | |
338, no. 21/13/01 |
SEG 8 (1937): 119
Cuverd on a limestone door-lintel above the entrance gate to the shrine. The first four words are written in dactyls, while the rest is in prose.
☩ Χρ(ιστ)έ, ἄναξ κόσμοιο μεγασθενέ[ς], βοήθη Σ[τ]εφάν[ῳ ☩],
ὃς τοῦ προδρόμου σου θρόνον ἰθύνιν λαχὼν ὑπό σο[υ]
☩ ἀγλαὸν δόμον Ἠλίᾳ προφήτῃ τῷ σῷ ἔτευξε τόνδ[ε ☩].
O Christ, most powerful ruler of the universe, help Stephen, who having received from you the right of governing the see of your Precursor, has built for Elijah your prophet this illustrious building. (Bagatti)
We learn from this inscription that the bishop of Sebaste erected a shrine in honour of Elijah the prophet. The ruined building now to be seen is but a reconstruction of the ancient one built by Stephen, the original arches of which still stand. The "illustrious building" implies the existence of settlers or a village. While the expression "throne of the Percursor" shows us that the memory of the Baptist was alive, the term itself is uncommon in Byzantine epigraphy in this sense: "throne" usually refers to the see of apostles or holy bishops. (Bagatti)
Three-line inscription for the building of the shrine of Elijah a prophet by Stephen, bishop of Sebaste, curved on the door-lintel above the entrance.