Protagonist: Most letters are addressed to the anchorite or apotaktikos Apa Iohannes, who is asked to intercede with both divine and human powers in matters of everyday concern. He was apparently a local saint and leader of a monastic community. One letter (P. Amh. 2 145) is apparently written by Apa Iohannes. Zuckermann identifies the anchorite with the famous Iohannes of Lykopolis. (Go to TM People)

Description: letters from a variety of correspondents: monks, ecclesiastics, officials, soldiers and ordinary family people

Publication: Greek texts: Rees, P. Herm. 7-10, 17; Coptic texts: P. Ryl. Copt. 268-274, 276; perhaps also 275, 292, 301, 310-314, 396

Studies: van Minnen, AfP 40 (1994), p. 80-85; C. Zuckermann, BASP 32 (1995), p. 183-194; Choat, Pap. Congr. XXIV (Helsinki 2004), 2007, p. 175-183; Gonis, BASP 45 (2008), p. 69-85; Wispzycka, Moines et communautés monastiques, JJP Suppl. 11 (2009), p. 83-85; A. Papaconstantinou, The multilingual experience in Egypt, 2010, p. 92-95

Lists: Montevecchi, La papirologia, 1988, p. 259 no. 71; Seidl, Rechtsgeschichte Ägyptens als römischer Provinz, 1973, p. 69 no. 2.8

Works: M. Choat in : Writing and communication in early Egyptian monasticism (2017), p. 37-40