Rick Brannan on the Sub tuum praesidium

The following comes from

Rick Brannan, Fragments of Christianity: Fragmentary Witnesses to Early Christian Liturgies, Hymns, Homilies, and Prayers (Appian Way Press, 2021), 169-70 (emphasis in bold added)

 

P.Ryl. Gr. 3.470

 

Description

 

P.Ryl. Gr. 3.470 (tm 64320) was dated to the fourth century by its original editor, but has over the years been dated at various points from the third century through eighth century.

 

Contents

 

This papyrus is distinctive due to its address to the “Mother of God” (θεοτόκος, theotokos). The entire prayer is not extant, but the available portions indicate it is an early version of the troparion Sub tuum praesidium, the oldest preserved hymn addressed to Mary as “Theotokos,” or “God-bearer.”

 

Transcription

(1)	[ὑ]πὸ [τὴν σὴν
	εὐσπλα[γχνίαν
	καταφε[ύγομεν
	θεοτόκε: τά[ς ἡμῶν
(5)	ἱκεσίας μὴ πα[ρ-
	είδῃς ἐμ περιστάσει:
	αλλʼ ἐκ κινδύνου
	ῥῦσαι ἡμᾶς //
	μόνη [ἁγνὴ μόν-
(10)	η εὐλογ[ημένη

Notes

 

(1) ὑπὸ τὴν σὴν Stegmüller ] ὑπὸ τὴν σκέπην τῆς Mercenier; Roberts does not reconstruct the line (2) εὐσπλαγχνίαν Stegmüller ] εὐσπλαγχνίας σου Mercenier; ευσπλαγχνε παρθενε Roberts (3) καταφεύγομεν Stegmüller ] καταφεύγομεν, ῶ Mercenier; κατ αφεσιν αμαρτιων Roberts (4) θεοτόκε: τάς ἡμῶν Stegmüller; Mercenier ] θεοτοκε: τας εμας Roberts (5–6) For παρ-ειδης read παρ-ιδης (6) For εμ read εν (8) ῥῦσαι ἡμᾶς Stegmüller; Roberts ] ῥῦσαι ἡμᾶς σὺ ἡ Mercenier (9) μόνη ἁγνὴ μόν- Stegmüller ] μόνη ἁγνὴ καὶ Mercenier; μονη δε Roberts (10) η εὐλογημένη Stegmüller; Mercenier ] ηρυλον Roberts

 

Translation

 

(1) Under your (2) compassion (3) we flee, (4–6) Theotokos. Do not overlook our prayers in difficult circumstances, (7–8) but rescue us from danger. (9–10) You alone are pure and the only blessed one.

 

Discussion

 

This papyrus is notable for its address to the Theotokos (θεοτόκος, “God-bearer”) identified as Mary, the mother of Jesus. It is, depending on how one dates the papyrus, the earliest extant prayer on papyrus directed to Mary.

 

The prayer it records is known as the Sub tuum praesidium, which is Latin for “Beneath your protection,” a reference to the first line of the prayer. Calabuig notes:

 

The Sub tuum praesidium, because of its great antiquity, its dense content, and its grief-stricken supplication, has become a part of nearly all liturgies and is considered to be “the oldest prayer to the Virgin.”

 

The contents of the prayer offer insight. First, the Theotokos is seen as one who provides mercy and protection (lines 1–3). Appeal is made to hear the prayers and provide relief (lines 4–8). The last two lines attest to the pure and blessed nature of the Theotokos. Here “pure” is likely a reference to her virginity.