Cover Page The handle http://hdl.handle.net/1887/58727 holds various files of this Leiden University dissertation Author: Dekker, Renate Title: Episcopal networks and authority in Late Antique Egypt : bishops of the Theban region at work Date: 2017-11-07 EPISCOPAL NETWORKS AND AUTHORITY IN LATE ANTIQUE EGYPT Bishops of the Theban region at work Renate Dekker Leiden University Leiden Institute of Area Studies Middle Eastern Studies EPISCOPAL NETWORKS AND AUTHORITY IN LATE ANTIQUE EGYPT Bishops of the Theban Region at Work Proefschrift ter verkrijging van de graad van Doctor aan de Universiteit Leiden, op gezag van Rector Magnificus prof. mr. C.J.J.M. Stolker, volgens besluit van het College van Promoties te verdedigen op dinsdag 7 november 2017 klokke 15.00 door Renate Esther Louise Dekker geboren te Heerhugowaard in 1983 Promotores: Prof. dr. O.E. Kaper Prof. dr. J. van der Vliet Promotiecommissie: Prof. dr. A. Boud’hors Prof. dr. C. Waerzeggers Prof. dr. E. Wipszycka This PhD-dissertation took form thanks to the generous financial support from NWO (Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research). Photograph frontispiece: wall painting of Bishop Pesynthius of Koptos in the Church of the Holy Virgin Mary at Dayr al-Suryan, Wadi al-Natrun (Courtesy of K.C. Innemée). TABLE OF CONTENTS GENERAL INTRODUCTION A widow’s petition to Bishop Pesynthius 1 The rise of a new, Theodosian hierarchy 3 A Theodosian network in the Theban region 9 The aims of this book 11 The sources 12 A mixed approach for analyzing episcopal networks and authority 14 A book with a CD 19 CHAPTER 1: THE ANALYSIS OF EPISCOPAL NETWORKS AND AUTHORITY Introduction 21 §1.1 The preparation of Datasets 1-4 22 §1.1.1 Selecting relevant documents 22 §1.1.2 Proposing dates for the documents 24 A. A relative chronology of the Topos of Epiphanius 24 B. Absolute dates 25 C. Dates based on the period of office of lashanes 27 §1.1.3 Organizing the data 27 A. Summaries of the episcopal documents 28 B. Schematic representations 28 C. List of documents, social actors and localities 29 D. Overviews with technical data on the selected documents 29 E. Edgelists 30 F. Matrices 30 §1.2 The analysis of the networks 31 §1.2.1 The choice for Ucinet 6 and Netdraw 31 §1.2.2 Importing the data in Ucinet 6 32 §1.2.3 The procedure developed for network analysis 33 A. Network population 33 B. Cohesion 34 C. Components 36 D. Core/periphery 36 E. Centrality 36 F. Tie strength 38 G. Direction of the ties 38 §1.3 The analysis of episcopal authority 40 §1.3.1 Spiritual authority 41 §1.3.2 Ascetic authority 43 §1.3.3 Professional authority 45 A. Organization of worship 45 B. Mission 45 C. Church administration 46 D. Care for the underprivileged 46 E. Education and discipline 48 F. Giving directions for daily life 50 G. Intercession with civil authorities 50 §1.3.4 Pragmatic authority 51 §1.3.5 Legal authority 53 Conclusion 54 CHAPTER 2: THE THEBAN REGION Introduction 56 §2.1 The districts 57 §2.1.1 The district of Hermonthis 58 §2.1.2 The district of Koptos 63 §2.1.3 The district of Qena 66 §2.1.4 The district of Huw 66 §2.2 The Theodosian dioceses 67 §2.2.1 The diocese of Hermonthis 67 §2.2.2 The diocese of Ape 70 §2.2.3 The diocese of Koptos and “the eparchy of Qus” 72 §2.2.4 The diocese of Qus 73 §2.3 The likely division between Theodosians and Chalcedonians 73 §2.3.1 Possible predecessors of the Theodosian bishops 74 §2.3.2 Multiple churches, different religious factions 75 §2.3.3 The hermit Cyriacus of TT 65-66 76 Conclusion 77 CHAPTER 3: THE THEODOSIAN NETWORK IN THE THEBAN REGION Introduction 79 §3.1 The Theodosian bishops 80 §3.1.1 Abraham of Hermonthis 80 §3.1.2 Pesynthius of Koptos 85 §3.1.3 Constantine of Asyut 91 §3.1.4 Ezekiel (of Ape?) 92 §3.1.5 Serenianus (of Qus?) 92 §3.1.6 Two bishops called John 94 §3.1.7 Shenoute of Antinoe 94 §3.1.8 Pisrael of Qus 95 §3.1.9 Anthony of Ape 95 §3.1.10 Horame of Edfu 96 §3.1.11 Bishops excluded from the analysis 96 §3.2 Other members of the Theodosian network 99 §3.2.1 Isaac I, John, Enoch, Epiphanius and Psan of the Topos of Epiphanius 99 §3.2.2 Pesente, Zael, Moses and Psate of the hermitage at TT 29 103 §3.2.3 The priest Mark of the Topos of St Mark the Evangelist 104 §3.2.4 The priest Victor and David of the Monastery of St Phoibammon 106 §3.2.5 Ezekiel and Djor of the hermitage at TT 1152 108 §3.2.6 Terane of the “Place of Apa Terane” 109 §3.2.7 The archimandrite at Karnak 109 §3.2.8 The priest Cyriacus of the Monastery of Apa Macarius 110 §3.3 A common chronological framework 111 §3.3.1 Absolute dates 111 §3.3.2 Approximate dates 112 §3.3.3 The chronological framework 113 Conclusion 113 CHAPTER 4: THE SOCIAL NETWORK OF THE THEBAN REGION Introduction 115 §4.1 The documents selected for Dataset 1-2 116 §4.1.1 Dataset 1: The Theban network in 600-630 116 §4.1.2 Dataset 2: Localities associated with the Theodosian network 117 §4.2 The Theban network in ca. 600-630 120 §4.2.1 The network population 121 §4.2.2 The network level 121 §4.2.3 The component level 122 §4.2.4 The node level 123 §4.2.5 The tie level 125 §4.3 The development of the Theban network 127 §4.3.1 The network in 600-609 127 §4.3.2 The network in 610-619 128 §4.3.3 The network in 620-630 130 §4.4 The position of the bishops in the Theban network 132 §4.4.1 Abraham of Hermonthis 132 §4.4.2 Pesynthius of Koptos 133 §4.4.3 The other bishops 133 §4.5 The topographical extension of the Theodosian network 134 §4.5.1 The network in general 134 §4.5.2 Abraham of Hermonthis 135 §4.5.3 Pesynthius of Koptos 135 §4.5.4 The other bishops 136 §4.5.5 Other central actors in the Theodosian network 137 Conclusion 138 CHAPTER 5: THE SOCIAL NETWORK OF ABRAHAM OF HERMONTHIS Introduction 140 §5.1 Dataset 3: Documents featuring Abraham of Hermonthis 141 §5.1.1 The selected material 141 §5.1.2 The identification of the bishop 142 §5.1.3 The kind of documents 143 §5.3.4 The provenance of the documents 144 §5.1.5 The dating of the documents 144 §5.2 Abraham’s social network 145 §5.2.1 The network population 145 §5.2.2 The network level 146 §5.2.3 The component level 147 §5.2.4 The node level 148 §5.2.5 Tie strength 149 §5.3 The other central actors in Abraham’s network 150 §5.3.1 The priest Victor 150 §5.3.2 The monks of the Monastery of St Phoibammon 151 §5.3.3 The anonymous secretary “Hand E” 151 §5.3.4 The anonymous secretary “Hand F” 152 §5.3.5 The deacon Peter 152 §5.3.6 The priest Patermoute 152 §5.3.7 The priest Papnoute 154 §5.3.8 The archpriest John 154 §5.3.9 The archpriest Dioscorus 155 §5.4 The ecclesiastical apparatus 155 §5.4.1 Clergymen before 600 155 §5.4.2 Clergymen in ca. 600-609 156 §5.4.3 Clergymen in ca. 610-619 157 §5.4.4 Clergymen in ca. 620-621 159 §5.4.5 Clergymen who could not be linked to a period 159 §5.5 Civil and military officials associated with Abraham 161 §5.6 Abraham’s directed ego network 162 §5.6.1 Clergymen 162 §5.6.2 Monks 163 §5.6.3 Civil officials 164 §5.6.4 Military officials 165 §5.6.5 Women 165 §5.6.6 Other social actors 165 Conclusion 166 CHAPTER 6: THE NATURE OF ABRAHAM’S AUTHORITY Introduction 169 §6.1 The context in which Abraham worked 169 §6.2 Spiritual authority 172 §6.3 Ascetic authority 173 §6.4 Professional authority 173 A. Organization of worship 173 B. Mission 176 C. Church administration 177 D. Care for the underprivileged 178 E. Education and discipline 179 F. Giving directions for daily life 182 G. Intercession with civil authorities 183 §6.5 Pragmatic authority 183 §6.6 Legal authority 183 A. Biblical sources 184 B. Ecclesiastical canons 185 C. Imperial laws 185 D. Official deeds 185 E. Episcopal orders and warrants 186 F. Protocols and declarations 186 G. Oaths 187 H. Agreements 187 I. Guarantees 188 §6.7 The weight of the episcopal office 189 Conclusion 190 CHAPTER 7: THE SOCIAL NETWORK OF PESYNTHIUS OF KOPTOS Introduction 192 §7.1 Dataset 4: Documents featuring Pesynthius of Koptos 193 §7.1.1 The selected material 193 A. Papyri in the Musée du Louvre in Paris 193 B. Papyri from the former Phillipps collection in Cheltenham 194 C. Papyri and ostraca from the Topos of Epiphanius 195 D. Other relevant documents in separate publications 195 §7.1.2 The identification of the bishop 196 §7.1.3 The kind of documents 196 §7.3.4 The provenance of the documents 198 §7.1.5 The dating of the documents 199 §7.2 Pesynthius’ social network 199 §7.2.1 The network population 199 §7.2.2 The network level 202 §7.2.3 The component level 203 §7.2.4 The node level 204 §7.2.5 Tie strength 205 §7.3 The other central actors in Pesynthius’ network 206 §7.3.1 The deacon Phanes 206 §7.3.2 The priest Cyriacus of the Monastery of Apa Macarius 206 §7.3.3 The lashane Abraham and the villagers of Pshenhor 207 §7.3.4 The estate manager Patche 208 §7.3.5 Psan and Epiphanius 209 §7.3.6 The priest Mark 209 §7.3.7 Bishop Pisrael of Qus 210 §7.4 The ecclesiastical apparatus 211 §7.4.1 Clergymen in Pesynthius’ entourage 212 §7.4.2 Clergymen in the diocese of Koptos 214 §7.4.3 Clergymen in the diocese of Qus 216 §7.4.4 Clergymen in the diocese of Hermonthis 217 §7.4.5 Clergymen in the diocese of Ape 217 §7.5 Civil and military officials associated with Pesynthius 217 §7.5.1 Officials in the district of Koptos 217 §7.5.2 Officials in the district of Hermonthis 219 §7.6 Pesynthius’ directed ego network 220 §7.6.1 Clergymen 221 §7.6.2 Monks and nuns 221 §7.6.3 Civil officials 222 §7.6.4 Military officials 222 §7.6.5 Women 222 §7.6.6 Other social actors 223 Conclusion 224 CHAPTER 8: THE NATURE OF PESYNTHIUS’ AUTHORITY Introduction 227 §8.1 The context in which Pesynthius worked 228 §8.2 Spiritual authority 231 §8.2.1 Episcopal documents 231 §8.2.2 The Encomium on Pesynthius 232 §8.2.3 The Letter of Pseudo-Pesynthius 235 §8.3 Ascetic authority 236 §8.3.1 Episcopal documents 236 §8.3.2 The Homily on St Onnophrius 236 §8.3.3 The Encomium on Pesynthius 237 §8.4 Professional authority 238 A.