The Mystery of the Letters: A 6th Century Christian Treatise on the Greek and Hebrew Alphabets
About the Mystery of the Letters (Περὶ τοῦ μυστηρίου τῶν γραμμάτων, Peri tou mystēriou tōn grammatōn) stands as an enigmatic Christian treatise, exploring the mystical notions surrounding the appellations and configurations of Greek and Hebrew letters. Likely composed during the 6th century within Byzantine Palaestina Prima, this document remains shrouded in mystery.
Textual Tradition
This intriguing text exists in three Greek manuscript copies, dating from the 14th to the 16th centuries, and a bilingual Coptic–Arabic translation from the late 14th century. The first modern edition of the Coptic text saw publication in 1900/1901. Meanwhile, the Greek text was initially described in 1931, but it wasn’t until 2007 that it was finally published.
Origin and Authorship
Originally penned in Greek within Palaestina Prima, the Coptic manuscripts attribute its authorship to Apa Seba (Arabic: Saba), referring to Saint Sabas of Palestine (439–532). However, internal evidence suggests a slightly later date, placing its writing in the latter half of the 6th century. A hypothesis posits that a disciple of Sabas, perhaps a monk from the Mar Saba monastery founded by Sabas, authored it. The text’s anti-philosophical stance aligns it with the Origenist controversies of the mid-6th century, a period in which Mar Saba played a pivotal role.
Contents
The treatise’s anonymous author claims inspiration from the Apocalypse’s words, “I am the Alpha and Omega,” and recounts receiving a vision on Mount Sinai. The author proposes a restructured Greek alphabet, trimmed to 22 letters, mirroring the Hebrew alphabet’s 22 characters (excluding Xi Ξ and Psi Ψ), and adopting Hebrew letter names. He interprets these letters as symbolic representations of 22 divine acts of creation in the biblical Genesis and 22 corresponding acts of salvation by Christ. This theory is elaborated through descriptions and interpretations of the letters’ shapes. Following this, the author presents a history of the alphabet, intertwining Greek mythology, the Hebrew Bible, and various Jewish and pagan texts. According to this narrative, divine inspiration bestowed the Hebrew alphabet upon humanity during Enoch’s generation, but it was lost during the Confusion of Tongues. Subsequently, God revealed the Greek alphabet on a stone tablet, which Cadmos later brought to Phoenicia and Greece after the Deluge.
A significant portion of the text focuses on the letter Waw and its Greek counterpart, Digamma (referred to as Episemon in the treatise), the numeral sign for “6”. This sign is interpreted as a special symbol of Christ. Later, the text connects this idea to the interpretation of all three extra-alphabetic numeral signs of Greek (Episemon for 6, Koppa for 90, and Sampi for 900) as symbols of the Holy Trinity: Christ, the Holy Ghost, and God the Father. The final chapters delve into broader topics, such as the history of humanity, linking key events symbolically to the sequence of vowels and consonants in the alphabet. There are also discussions on Christology related to the Council of Chalcedon and reflections on the name of Adam.
Contemporary Numerology
The Text exhibits fascinating similarities with contemporary numerology, particularly in its examination of the mystical significance of letters and their symbolic worth, which is pivotal to both traditions. In this ancient Christian manuscript, Greek and Hebrew letters are perceived as possessing divine and cosmic significance, akin to how modern numerology assigns numerical values to letters in systems like Pythagorean numerology or Chaldean numerology.
- Letter-Number Symbolism
In numerology, each alphabet letter corresponds to a specific number, unveiling deeper insights about names and words. Similarly, in “The Mystery of the Letters,” Greek and Hebrew letters are interpreted as symbols of divine acts of creation and salvation, bestowing them with profound spiritual importance.
- Sacred Numbers
Both “The Mystery of the Letters” and numerology stress the significance of numbers such as 6. In the treatise, the Greek letter Digamma, representing the numeral 6, is associated with Christ. In numerology, the number 6 is linked to harmony, responsibility, and care—often tied to nurturing and humanitarian energies, resonating with the Christ figure in Christianity.
- Alphabet Mysticism
The manuscript reimagines the Greek alphabet with 22 letters to reflect the Hebrew alphabet’s 22 characters, associating each letter with acts of creation and salvation. Modern numerology similarly delves into hidden meanings in the structure of letters and numbers, providing insights into a person’s destiny, traits, and spiritual purpose through names and birthdates.
- The Sacred Origins of Language
The manuscript narrates the divine origin of the alphabet, much like how numerology regards numbers and letters as reflections of universal truths and cosmic energies. Both traditions view the alphabet not merely as a communication tool, but as a key to unlocking deeper spiritual realities.
In essence, “The Mystery of the Letters” and modern numerology share the conviction that numbers and letters transcend mere symbols – they are potent conduits for comprehending the universe, spiritual truths, and human destiny.
