A Coptic letter to Dioscorus of Aphrodite from the collection of the Ghent University Library

Edition of Coptic letter from the collection of the Ghent University Library (P. Gand. Inv. 47). The letter is addressed to a certain Dioscorus, most probably Dioscorus of Aphrodite. The fragmentary status of the letter does not allow a full understanding of the text, but the formulary clearly shows a monastic context, in all likelihood the monastery of Apa Apollos founded by Dioscorus’ father in 537 CE. Since the senders address Dioscorus as their ‘brother’, it is likely that the letter belongs to the little-known last period of Dioscorus’ life, when he retired to his father’s monastery around 573 CE.