Anthony Alcock has translated a long Coptic martyrdom or “passion” for us. This is the Passion of S. Lacaron, which Orlandi dates to the 8th century. The text and translation is here:
The Coptic Encyclopedia (vol. 5, 1991) has a useful article on Lacaron here, which reads as follows:
(CE: 1423b-1424a)
LACARON, SAINT, martyr in fourth-century Egypt (feast day: 14 Babah). His Passion has come down in a complete codex in Bohairic in the Vatican Library (Coptic 68, fols. 1-15) (Balestri and Hyvemat, 1908, Vol. 1, pp. 1-23). The text is that of one of the late Coptic Passions from the period of the CYCLES and can be dated to the eighth century. It deals with the period of persecutions under DIOCLETIAN. The Roman prefect ARIANUS comes to Asyut and orders sacrifice to the gods. Lacaron, a soldier, refuses and, after the usual arguments, is put in jail. The text then describes the usual episodes of torture, miraculous healings, sudden conversions—of a magistrate and the torturers themselves—and other visions and heavenly interventions. It includes an account of the archangel Michael’s gathering up the various pieces of Lacaron and restoring them to life. In the end Lacaron is killed, after converting and baptizing the soldiers around him.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Balestri, I., and H. Hyvernat. Acta Martyrum. CSCO 43, 44. Paris, 1908.
Baumeister, T. Martyr Invictus. Der Martyrer als Sinnbild der Erlösung in der Legende und im Kult der frühen koptischen Kirche. Munster, 1972.
TITO ORLANDI
It is very useful to have the Coptic Encyclopedia accessible! And very many thanks indeed to Dr Alcock for making this text accessible!