Confirmaciones “in extenso”

radama). At line

15,

the hymn begins to address the "self-produced one," also called Mirotheos, who is the lowest person of the Sethian

"trinity" and who acts as a bridge between "the perceptible world" and the higher realms. Notice may be taken of the frequent use of the term

"power," which is held by the self-produced one, then given to "em­

power" the worshipers (and also notice the shift from "I" to the more communal "we"). The hymn uses other images of reciprocity ("crown giver, crown receiver") and assimilation ("we became perfected with you"). In the second and third steles (not included here), the hymns are addressed to the higher and highest members of the trinity, the male virginal mother Barbelo, and then to the unborn father. The hymns thus envision a divine hierarchy of beings, who pass

power

down through the ranks, enabling the worshiper, at the lowest

level, to

ascend step by step to the highest state of deity.

TEXT

The First 25 Stele of Seth

I praise 1 you, father Giradama, 1 I, your son, 1 Emmacha Seth, whom you produced 1 without birthing in praise 30 of our god, for I 1 am your son, and (page 119) you are my mind, my father. 1

Although I sowed and produced, 1 yet you saw the great-nesses 1 and took a stand, being indestructible.

I 5 bless you, father; bless me, 1 father.

I exist because of you. 1

You exist because of god. 1

Because of you, I exist with 1 that one.

You are light 10 looking at light.

You have appeared 1 as light.

You are 1 Mirotheas; you are my Mirotheos. 1

I bless you as 1 a god.

I bless your 15 godliness.

Great is the 1 good self-produced one, who 1 took a stand, god who already 1 had taken a stand.

You came in goodness, 1 you appeared, and you appeared ²⁰ as goodness.

I shall speak 1 your name, for you are a primary 1 name.

You are unborn.

RITUAL POWER IN COPTIC GNOSTIC TEXTS 71

You 1 appeared in order that you might 1 appear as the eternal ones. 25

You are existence, therefore 1 you have appeared as actual1 existences.

You are the one who is spoken 1 of by voice, 1 but by mind you are 30 glorified, you who have 1 power

everywhere. 1

Therefore the perceptible world 1 is also aware of you because 1 of you and your seed.

You are merciful. (page

120)

And you are from another race, 1 and it is superior to yet another race. 1

And now you are from another 1 race, and it is superior to yet another 5 race.

You are from another 1 race, for you are incomparable.

You 1 are merciful, for you are eternal. 1

You are superior to a race, 1 for you have caused all of these to increase.

But because of 10 my seed, you are aware 1 that it is determined by reproducing.

Yet others 1 are from other races, for 1 they are incomparable, being superior to 1 yet other races, for they are

determined through 15 life.

You are Mirotheos. 1

I praise his power, which was given 1 to me and which caused the 1 actually existing masculinities to produce 1 masculinity three times, 20 and which was divided into the pentad, 1 which was given to us 1 thrice-powerfully.

This one who was produced 1 without birthing!

This one who 1 came forth from the superior!

Because of 25 that which is humble, he journeyed 1 forth.

You are a father 1 from a father, a 1 word from a command. 1 We praise you, 0 thrice-masculine one, 30 for you

reconciled the all1 through the every.

For you 1 empowered us.

You came into being from 1 one, from one you have 1 journeyed, and you have arrived at one.

You saved 35 and you saved and you saved us.

01 crown receiver, crown giver! (page

121)

72 RITUAL POWER IN EGYPT

We praise you eternally. ¹

We praise you since we have 1 been perfect ones, perfect because became perfect with you, ¹ who completes 1 the perfect ones 1 and who is resembled 0 thrice- 1 masculine one, you have

already ¹⁰ taken a stand, you Description: The text entitled Zostrianos fills fourth-century papyrus book, Codex VIII, Bibliography: John H. Sieber, Nag Hammadi Translator: Richard Smith

Zostrianos is the narrative o

f

a main character, Zostrianos, invokes divine cend to higher and higher regions. The ^text tary, yet it clearly bridges ritual invocation, cults, and heavenly speculation. The with page ^4, line ^{20, as} Zostrianos angel.

TEXT

When he said these things [to much 1 eager feeling. ascended with him

that you might 1 appear as the

is spoken 1 of by voice, 1 but by mind you who have 1 power

race, 1 and it is superior to yet

another 1 race, and it is superior to

1 race, for you are incomparable.

you are eternal. 1

race, 1 for you have caused all of these

races, for 1 they are incomparable,

1 yet other races, for they are 15 life.

was given 1 to me and which existing masculinities to

three times, 20 and which the pentad, 1 which was given

one, 30 for you

1 through the every.

We praise you eternally. 1

We praise you since we have 1 been saved as completely 1 perfect ones, perfect because of 5 you: those who became perfect with you, 1 who is complete, who completes 1 the perfect ones through all of these, 1 and who is resembled everywhere.

0 thrice- 1 masculine one, you have stood, you have already 10 taken a stand, you were divided everywhere

1 and remained one.

And 1 whomever you wanted to, you saved. 1 But you want that all who are worthy 1 be saved.

You 15 are perfect!

You are perfect! 1 You are perfect!

The First 1 Stele of Seth

42

Prayers, hymns, and invocations for transcendent initiation

Text: Nag Hammadi Codex VIII, page 1, line 1 to page 132, line 9 Description: The text entitled Zostrianos fills almost the entirety of a founh-century papyrus book, Codex VIII, from Nag Hammadi.

Bibliography: John H. Sieber, Nag Hammadi Codex VIII Translator: Richard Smith

Zostrianos is the narrative of a heavenly journey in which the main character, Zostrianos, invokes divine powers who assist him to as­

cend to higher and higher regions. The text is very long and fragmen­

tary, yet it clearly bridges ritual invocation, the language of the mystery cults, and heavenly speculation. The selections translated here begin with page 4, line 20, as Zostrianos responds to the revelation of an angel.

TEXT

When he said these things [to me), 1 I, quickly and with much 1 eager feeling, ascended with him up 1 to a large light-cloud.

RITUAL POWER IN COPTIC GNOSTIC TEXfS 73

I abandoned 1 my body on the ground, guarded 25 by

(Zostrianos ascends through several levels of an elaborately structured heavenly realm. He receives a sequence of baptisms "in living water," whereupon he blesses the divine powers. This pat­

tern is repeated four times. Zostrianos then proceeds with his in­

quiry, asking about different kinds of souls and people. "The great exalted administrator Authrounios " appears and recites a lengthy mythological account of the creation of the perceptible world by copies and reflections of higher eternal glories. The main characters in the story are Sophia and the world ruler. Zos­

trianos, still longing for more knowledge, invokes "the child of the child, Ephesech." Ephesech delivers a lengthy discourse [ 38 pages of the codex] about the higher realms. These "have ap­

peared from a single origin, the Barbelo aeon . . . from existence, blessedness, and life." But all flow ultimately from the great invis­

ible spirit. Many other beings, such as the four lights Armozel, Oroiael, Daveithe, and Eleleth, are also discussed. Occasionally Zostrianos interrupts to praise the names of those about whom he has learned and to prod Ephesech with further inquiry. At the conclusion, Zostrianos sings a hymn [page

51,

line 24):)

You are one, you 25 [are one], you are one!

He produces [ ... the] 1 administrator of the [glory].

[ ... J 1 desire the one who [ ... J . 1

You are [silence] 1 from silence.

7 4 RITUAL POWER IN EGYPT me." She brings Zostrianos into the a final time [page

62,

line ll J:)

She who belongs to all the have received all the baptisms 1 in merged, ¹⁵ and you have become delivers a long revelation [pages

64-fragmentary, but the subjects of the Barbelo, the hidden one, and the tion are several hymns to these beings.

and vowel-chanting. Zostrianos's realms is then confirmed [page ^129,

Apophantes, along with before me 1 and brought me into first

on the ground, guarded ²⁵ by

from the entire world 1 with the thirteen it [by) their angelhood. 1 They did not

ob-30 archon was confused at [our) 1

through several levels of an elaborately He receives a sequence of baptisms "in he blesses the divine powers. This pat­

Zostrianos then proceeds with his in­

kinds of souls and people. "The Authrounios " appears and recites a account of the creation of the perceptible reflections of higher eternal glories. The story are Sophia and the world ruler. Zos-for more knowledge, invokes "the child of

Ephesech delivers a lengthy discourse [ 38 about the higher realms. These "have ap­

the Barbelo aeon . . . from existence, But all flow ultimately from the great invis­

beings, such as the four lights Armozel, Eleleth, are also discussed. Occasionally to praise the names of those about whom prod Ephesech with further inquiry. At the

sings a hymn [page ^51, line 24):)

25 [are one), you are one!

of (the child ... )1 IATO ( ... )1 exist

J'

(are one ... )! 1

I TELMACHAE [ ...

)

1

. . ) to

male [ ...

)

I

.. the) 1 administrator of the [glory).

one who [ ... ) . 1

115

all.

1 0 triple-male AA[ ...

)

1

( ... )1

You are 1 thought from 1 thought.

Son of [god], 1

god, seven, the [ ... ], ²⁵ let us speak. ...

(At the end of his hymn, Zostrianos says, (page ^53, line 15]:)

[I was] baptized the fifth 1 tim�in the name of the 1 self­

begotten, at the hands 1 of each of these powers. I 1 became as a god.

(After his fifth baptism, Zostrianos sings further praises, the aeons of the self-begotten are revealed, and he says [page 57, line 13], "Yoel, she of the glories, the male and virginal, came before me." She brings Zostrianos into the great aeon and baptizes him a final time [page ^62, line 11]:)

She who belongs to all the glories, 1 Yoel, said to me, 1 "You have received all the baptisms 1 in which it is necessary to be sub­

merged, ¹⁵ and you have become initiated 1 ^••••1 So now invoke 1 Salamex and [ ..

. )

1 and the all-perfect Ar[ ... ), ²⁰ the lights of the aeon 1 of Barbelo and the immeasurable knowledge, 1 and those 1 will reveal (page

63)

[ ... ] virgin Barbelo 1 [and] the invis­

ible 1 [three]-powered spirit." This 1 is what she said to me, she who belongs to ¹⁰ all [the glories], Youel. And she left 1 [me] and went to stand 1 before the first appearance. 1

Then I was 1 standing over my spirit, ¹⁵ mentally praying in­

tensely 1 to the great lights. 1 I was invoking 1 Salamex and 1 Se[ ... ]en, and the all-perfect ²⁰ [ ... ]e. And I saw 1 glories greater than powers, 1 and they anointed me, and I was empow­

ered ....

(In response to Zostrianos's invocation, Salamex arrives and delivers a long revelation [pages ^64-128 of the codex). The text is fragmentary, but the subjects of the revelation are the aeons of Barbelo, the hidden one, and the spirit. Interspersed in the revela­

tion are several hymns to these beings, filled with names of power and vowel-chanting. Zostrianos's membership in the divine realms is then confirmed [page ^129, line 2):)

Apophantes, along with Aphropaic the light-virgin, 1 arrived before me 1 and brought me into first appearance, ⁵ the great male

RITUAL POWER IN COJ7TIC GNOsriC TEXTS 75

perfect ¹ mind. And ^I saw all of these 1 there, as they exist ¹ in unity.

And ^{I 1} joined with all of them and blessed ¹⁰ the hidden aeon and the virgin Barbelo ¹ and the invisible ¹ spirit. And ^I became a complete initiate 1 and was empowered, written ¹ in glory and sealed. ^{15 I} received an initiate crown 1 there, and ^I advanced ¹ to each of the initiates. 1 And they were all examining me, 1 listening to the ²⁰ greatness of my knowledge, 1 rejoicing and being ¹ em­

powered. And ^I descended again ....

(Zostrianos descends back down through the aeons to the perceptible world, where he writes his knowledge on three wooden tablets and begins proselytizing the ignorant masses.)

76 RITIJAL POWER IN EGYPT

PART2

®

CoPTIC

In document La documentación de Santo Domingo El Real de Madrid (1284-1416) (página 101-121)