ἀνάλημψις: Canones Hippolyti 33

Can. Hipp. 33 states that should there be an انالمسيس (a transliteration of analēmpsis) for the departed, then the participants should receive the mysteries before they sit down. The term employed is interesting. Coquin believes this refers to the death of those who are remembered, pointing to the use at Luke 9:51, though comments (Les Canons d’Hippolyte (PO31.2; Paris : Firmin-Didot, 1966), 405, n7)) that the context would indicate a liturgical event. Rather than referring to the death commemorated (which would be otiose, given that the funeral context is then made clear) is it possible that this is the term employed in the community for such an occasion? There is a possible parallel for this use of the word in a third-century inscription from Thrace (SIG 888.39-44), in which villagers are complaining to Gordian about the depredations of troops, and state that “they come to our village and force us to provide them lodgings and everything else for their provision (καὶ ἕτ̣ερα πλεῖστα εἰς ἀ̣νάλη̣μψιν αὐτῶν) without payment of any monies.” If this is the case, then this is a significant piece of evidence for the commemoration of the departed in Christian Egypt Cappodocia. (Edit on 6th April 2020; I have changed my mind on the question of the provenance of Canones Hippolyti, and now think they are Cappadocian. This was actually suggested by Kretschmar, but he never published the promised work. Mine is with a press reader, so hopefully will see the light of day eventually. The consensus of over a century is for Egypt, however.)

Advertisement