The 24 elders are the biblical image that is found only in the Book of Revelation of John the Apostle. They surround the throne of God and are endowed with certain attributes of glory. In the Ancient Church this image was interpreted in different ways. This article presents the first Russian literary translation of Coptic text signed as Encomium in honor of the 24 elders. The translation was carried out from the edition, which was published with the Italian translation in 1977 by Antonella Maresca. The author of Encomium is declared Proclus of Cyzicus, who later became the Patriarch of Constantinople. However, this is a pseudo-attribution, namely, this hierarch did not write this Encomium, and its real author remains unknown. The Italian translator divides the text into 33 paragraphs, and in the preface to Coptic edition highlights the four parts of Encomium. Two of them, dedicated to John Chrysostom and the exegetical interpretation of the first chapter of Genesis, seem to be interpolations. But after analyzing the entire narrative it is possible to say that these parts are embedded in the narrative. Also the features of the Coptic veneration of the 24 elders, which are reflected in Encomium, are discussed in the introduction to Russian translation. In particular, the bodiless nature of the 24 elders. Their unknown origin is emphasized several times in Encomium, the priestly role of these elders in the Kingdom of Heaven is also noted. It can be stated that the author of Encomium in the first two parts acts as a storyteller-historian of the Church, conveying information about John Chrysostom, and in the last two as an exegete. The image of 24 elders in Eastern traditions is a little studied topic and acquaintance with the Coptic tradition thanks to the translation of this Encomium opens up opportunities for comparative studies.
The Archangel Michael is the angel in charge of all the heavenly powers. He is mentioned by name only in the Book of Daniel (Old Testament), the Epistle of Jude (New Testament) and the Revelation written by John the Apostle (New Testament). The Archistratigus is highly revered in various Christian traditions. This article presents the first literary translation into Russian of a Coptic text known as ‘Exegesis on the feast day of Archangel Michael ascribed to Macarius of Tkow’. The Coptic text, published by G. Lafontaine with a Latin translation in 1979, was used for translation. The analysis of the ‘Exegesis’ in question is relevant from the point of view of Coptic peculiarities both in the veneration of the Archangel and in the construction of the sermon. All the more so because there is no serious reason to doubt the authenticity of the authorship. The Coptic tradition, through the translation of the ‘Exegesis’, offers opportunities for comparative studies of the image of the Archangel Michael.
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