The Coptic Versions of the Martyrdom of Saint George

A Study of the Coptic Transmission of the George Legend, with an Edition of Eight Fragmentary Manuscripts in Sahidic, Bohairic, and Fayyumic

By (author) I. Miroshnikov By (author) A. Marjanen By (author) F. Iacono

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Extent: 250 pages

Publisher: Peeters Publishers

Subjects: Religious Studies

Series: Corpus Scriptorum Christianorum Orientalium

Series volume number: 710, 57

Language: English

Paperback (Published)

(August 2024)

ISBN: 9789042952829

Price: $115.00

In stock

eBook (Published)

(August 2024)

ISBN: 9789042952836

Price: $144.00

The Martyrdom of George is one of the most prominent early Christian hagiographies, the popularity of which endured far into the Middle Ages. Originally composed in Greek, it was translated into a multitude of ancient languages, including the three major literary dialects of Coptic. Exactly one century ago, Giuseppe Balestri and Henri Hyvernat produced for this series an exemplary edition of two Bohairic manuscripts of the martyrdom. The present volume supplements the classic work of these two Coptologists by offering the reader an edition and translation of the other eight Coptic witnesses.


The Martyrdom of George is one of the most prominent early Christian hagiographies, the popularity of which endured far into the Middle Ages. Originally composed in Greek, it was translated into a multitude of ancient languages, including the three major literary dialects of Coptic – viz., Sahidic, Fayyumic, and Bohairic. Exactly one century ago, Giuseppe Balestri and Henri Hyvernat produced for this series an exemplary edition of two Bohairic manuscripts of the martyrdom. The present volume supplements the classic work of these two Coptologists by offering the reader an edition and translation of the other eight Coptic witnesses. The edition is preceded by a study which argues that, although scholars often speak of the Coptic version of the Martyrdom of George, there are, in fact, two distinct Coptic versions – viz., one attested by the extant Sahidic manuscripts and one attested in Bohairic and Fayyumic.

  • By (author) I. Miroshnikov
  • By (author) A. Marjanen
  • By (author) F. Iacono