GREAT NEWS: AN AMHERIC VERSION OF THE CHRONICLE OF JOHN OF NIKIU IS FOUND

The prominent Coptologist, Alin Suciu, from Göttingen Academy of Sciences and Humanities, has recently told me that an Amharic version of the Chronicle of John of Nikiu has been found and is due to be published soon! This is undoubtedly great news! I have no clue who is the discoverer of the Amharic manuscript and who is publishing and translating it, but whoever he or she is, they are embarking on a great service to academia, history and the Copts.

The Chronicle of Nikiu has so far been known in only one version, a Qe’ez translation from the lost Arabic version, itself translated from A Coptic version, which has also been lost. The Chronicle, by John of Nikiu, from the seventh century, a bishop of the Coptic Church who had witnessed the Arab invasion of Egypt, is of paramount importance. It starts from Creation and ends when the Arabs had occupied all Egypt. The part that covers the Arab invasion is particularly important. Unfortunately, the Ge’ez manuscript has many lacunae and some chapters have been misplaced. This affects the narrative which John of Nikiu gives.

Now, with the discovery of the Amharic version, one hopes that the full story will be told.

 

News that should be celebrated by many, but above all, all Copts.