I Just Received a Copy of My Forthcoming Monograph

I just received the final version of my article for the Journal of Coptic Studies back from the publisher where I attempt to prove that the Throne of St. Mark in the Basilica di San Marco is the original Episcopal chair of Alexandria (basically it is a second kick at the can after Secchi's original attempt over a hundred years ago). I have to proofread the text to make sure that there aren't any mistakes.

I can't tell you how happy I am that this is coming to fruition.

As I noted a number of times before - I don't know how you argue AGAINST its antiquity. Van Lohuizen-Mulder assigns it a date as early as the fourth century which I don't understand at all. If the throne is the same Episcopal chair identified in the Passio Petri Sancti (as Secchi argues) the text itself identifies the throne as being in continuous use for generations in Alexandria.

The crowds in that narrative shout out that ALL the previous Patriarchs sat in this chair (which Peter strangely refuses to sit in thus breaking established custom). What can this mean other than the fact that the elders in the crowd assumed that the chair had always been the Patriarchal throne? As the discussion is taking place in 311 CE and Peter reigned since 300 CE how can it be argued that the throne of St. Mark from the Passio Petri Sancti DID NOT come from the third century?

Of course I haven't told you why I think that the throne of St. Mark in Venice is one and the same with the chair in the Passio Petri Sancti. For that you will have to read my article.

Yet I have included two other full articles here at my site which might interest you. The first is a detailed discussion of the Hebrew inscription which adorns the front of the seat portion of the throne. It is available here.

The second is a portion of the Aramaic cipher I uncovered in the backrest which follows the Jewish practice of rendering numbered things as letters in their alphabet. I think it proves that the Alexandrians of the late second and early third century believed that this was the throne mentioned in their gospel. That article is available here.

I hope that keeps people entertained until my journal article is available for people to read.

I am leaning towards developing my next article on the subject of To Theodore and the monastic baptism ritual which I think is based on LGM 1 (if you have been following my blog you know most of what will go into that paper).

Got to get some sleep. Good night ...

BTW if Mab van Lohuizen-Mulder is reading my blog (which I assume she is if she Google's her name as much as I do - please contact me. I have some important news for you! My email information is available on this site.