Church/Monastery name:
Nessana - SS. Sergius and Bacchus (North church)
Inscription number:
9
Selected bibliography:
145, no. 27 (dr.) (ed. pr.) |
Inscription type:
acclamation
invocation/prayer
Location:
On a limestone lintel reused as the sill of the east doorway of Room 9 in the ancient entrance hall of the church.
Physical description :
Limestone lintel cut down to a width of 170 cm and hight of 25 cm, and reused as the sill of the east doorway of Room 9. Oval script, letters 2-2.5 cm high, crudely cut and drawn in red. In the centre a cross within concentric circles.
Text:
Εἷς Θεὸς ὁ ☩ Ἅγιε Στέφανε βοίθι-
β̣[οηθῶν]. σον.
Translation:
There is one God (who) helps.
Holy Stephen, help.
Summary:
Limestone lintel with acclamatory formula and invocation of Saint Stephen, reused a sill in the ancient entrance hall (Room 9).
Other invocations of saints found in the entrance room include chalk voussoir and blocks with invocation of the holy martyrs to protect "the house of Stephen" (Kirk–Welles, no. 30 g), invocation of Saints Sergius and Stephen (no. 30 j and l), and invocations of the "God of Saints Stephen and Sergius" (nos. 32-33), as well as another chalk fragment, probably from this church, with a prayer invoking the "God of Saints Sergius and Stephen" and the "God of Saints Bacchus and [Procopius?] (no. 89).