Nessana - SS. Sergius and Bacchus (North church)

Church/Monastery name: 
Nessana - SS. Sergius and Bacchus (North church)
Inscription number: 
7
Selected bibliography: 
143, nos. 21-22 (drs.) (ed. pr.)
Abbreviation for Journals and Series
Inscription type: 
dedicatory
invocation/prayer
Location: 

On two chalk architectural elements, found in the south court of the church.

Physical description : 

Two fragmentary inscriptions. One on a chalk voussoir (44 x 24 cm), rectangular and oval script, letters 4 cm high (A); the other on a chalk block (30 cm high), square alphabet in l.1, oval below, letters 1 cm high (B).

Text: 

(A)        [Ἅγ(ιε) Σ]έργιε̣ [ἐλέησον?]

             [τ]ὸ̣ν δοῦλο(ν) σου Προκ-

             [ό]π̣ιος Στεφάνου

             [-]ΣΜΗΚΗΓΑΓΟΡΑΣ.




(B)        [Ἅγι]ε Σέργι(ε) καὶ ἅγιε Γεώργι(ε) σώσατε [ - - - ]

             [ - - ]ου καὶ τὰ τέκν̣
α α[ὐτ]οῦ κ[αὶ - - κ]αὶ Παῦλ[ον - - ]

             [δ]ούλ(ην) σ[ου] κα[ὶ] ΑΝΗ αὐτῆς υἱὸ[ν? - - - ]

             [κ(αὶ)] ὅλον τὸν κόσμον. ☩

Translation: 

(A)  Holy Sergius, [pity?] thy servant Procopius (son) of Stephen . . .

(B)  Holy Sergius and Holy George, save . . . and his children . . . and Paul . . . thy servant and her son . . . and the whole world.    (Kirk–Welles)

Apparatus: 

(A) l.4: perhaps κ(αὶ) Ἠσαγόρας  "and Isagoras"  Kirk–Welles.

Commentary: 

Three other dedications were found in the south court, on a limestone slab in the floor (Kirk–Welles, no. 19), on a short marble column (no. 20), and on a chalk fragment (no. 23), with the names of Sergius, Epimachus son of Ieeas, and Malchus.

Summary: 

Two dedicatory (?) invocations of St. Sergius and George on chalk architectural elements, found in the south court of the church.

Contents
Titles/epithets of patrons/dedicators: 
servant of God
Personal names: 
Isagoras (?), Paulus, Procopius, Stephanus
Kinship terms: 
children
son
Saints names: 
Georgius, Sergius
Epithets of saints: 
hagios/hagia
Epigraphical formulae: 
Saint X, protect...