• The present paper analyses the rubrication patterns in two Old Nubian manu- scripts (known under the sigla St and SC) both originally intended for deposition at the Jesus Church in Serra East. Through a comparison with rubrication patterns in other Old Nubian manuscripts, the authors argue that the rubricated phrases in St and SC show an internal coherence that could be interpreted as a ‘second voice’ in a ‘polyphonic’ text.