Coptic Martyrdoms etc. in the Dialect of Upper Egypt

[HERE BEGINNETH] THE MARTYRDOM OF SAINT BIKTOR (VICTOR), THE GENERAL AND MARTYR, THE MAN GLORIOUS IN CHRIST, THE WEARER OF THE CROWN IN VERY TRUTH, WHO COMPLETED HIS GLORIOUS STRIFE ON THE SEVEN AND TWENTIETH DAY OF THE MONTH PHARMOUTE.

IN THE PEACE OF GOD. MAY HIS HOLY BLESSING COME UPON US, AND MAY WE ALL BE SAVED TOGETHER. AMEN,

Anp it came to pass in the kingdom (i.e. reign) of the Emperor Diocletian, in the third year of his reign, in the first month, that the Devil led his heart astray from God, and made him to do the things that were not seemly. And Diocletian worshipped idols, and thrust the God of heaven behind his back, for the sake of [creatures made of] wood and stones, and for the sake of the vain things that were fashioned by the hands of men. Hearken [ye] now to [the account of] the valour of the young man [called] Victor.

And the Emperor Diocletian took counsel and decided to do the things that were unseemly before God, Jesus the Christ; and this is what he did. He made seventy images of gold, and gave unto them the name of ‘gods’, which they certainly were not. ‘To thirty-five of these he gave names of gods, and to thirty-five the names of goddesses; now the number of his other gods and goddesses amounted to one hundred and forty.