Fragments of a Prayer and an Exorcism · §1 · Epiphanius of Salamis

Invocation and Exorcism of an Unclean Spirit

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The exorcist opens the fragment by calling upon God the Almighty, the Lord Jesus Christ, the heavenly king, and upon the maker of heaven and earth, then commands an unclean spirit by the word of God.

We call upon you, God Almighty, Lord Jesus Christ, heavenly king. We call upon you, the maker of heaven and earth.

I command you, unclean spirit, by the word of God who made heaven and earth: fear the one who is clothed with light as with a garment (Psalm 104:2), the one alone having immortality and unapproachable light (1 Timothy 6:16).

To him be glory and dominion forever. Amen.

Greek

Ἐπικαλούμεθά σε, Θεὲ παντοκράτορ Κύριε Ἰησοῦ Χριστὲ οὐράνιε βασιλεῦ· ἐπικαλούμεθά σε τὸν ποιήσαντα τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ τὴν γῆν. Ἐξορκίζω σε, πνεῦμα ἀκάθαρτον, κατὰ τοῦ λόγου Θεοῦ τοῦ ποιήσαντος τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ τὴν γῆν. φοβήθητι τὸν ἀναβαλλόμενον φῶς ὡς ἱμάτιον· τὸν μόνον ἔχοντα ἀθανασίαν καὶ φῶς ἀπρόσιτον· ᾧ ἡ δόξα καὶ τὸ κράτος εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. Ἀμήν.

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About this text

A short prayer under the name of Epiphanius, calling on God and ordering an unclean spirit to fear him, and ending in praise.

Epiphanius of Salamis (c. 310/320–403) is the name on this prayer and exorcism. The text is a short formula preserved under his name.

The speaker calls on God Almighty, the Lord Jesus Christ, the heavenly king, and the maker of heaven and earth. The voice then commands the unclean spirit.

The command tells the spirit to fear the one clothed with light as with a garment, the only one who has immortality and unapproachable light. The fragment ends with glory and dominion to God forever. The citations use the old names of the biblical books.

Printed text used

Translated from PG 41 – 43 (Greek)

This work has passed our source check. We made this study translation with AI help. No scholar has yet certified it as faithful and complete. Open Greek on any section to see the source text. It is not a critical edition.

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