Liber de transitu, auctore Pseudo-Melitone
Standard abbreviation: Assum. Vir. Mel.
Other titles: Transitus B
Clavis numbers: ECCA 657; CANT 111
VIAF: 300137048
Category: Dormition Accounts
Related literature: Dormition of John by Pseudo-Melito, Dormition of the Virgin Transitus Latin W, Transitus E
Compiled by Adiaha Hunte (York University) under the supervision of Tony Burke, York University
Citing this resource (using Chicago Manual of Style): Hunte, Adiaha. “Assumption of the Virgin by Pseudo-Melito.” e-Clavis: Christian Apocrypha. Accessed DAY MONTH YEAR. https://www.nasscal.com/e-clavis-christian-apocrypha/assumption-of-the-virgin-by-pseudo-melito/.
Created May 2018. Current as of January 2024.
1. SUMMARY
The Assumption of the Virgin attributed to Melito, bishop of Sardis (died ca. 180), is the earliest Dormition tradition in Latin. The story begins with a brief prologue in which Melito explains he composed this narrative in response to an earlier narrative written by a certain Leucius (similar prologues are found in the Passio Iohannis also attributed to Melito, though here called the bishop of Laodicea, and in the prologues to the Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew and the Nativity of Mary). Melito voices his concerns about the “alien doctrines” in Leucius’s account and presents his own account of the passing of the Virgin Mary based on what he heard from the apostle John.
The story begins with Mary at the house of John’s parents beside Mount Olivet. One day an angel appears to inform her that she will depart the world in three days and he gives her a palm from Paradise as a token. The scene shifts to John in Ephesus, where an earthquake interrupts his preaching and he is carried on a cloud to Mary’s house. Mary shows him her burial clothes and the palm of light given to her by the angel. At God’s command all the apostles arrive on clouds to join John and Mary in the house. They spend three days comforting her and praising God, after which everyone falls asleep except Mary, the apostles, and the three virgins. Suddenly Jesus appears with a multiple of angels and fill the house with a great light. Mary lies down on her bed and dies. The apostles see her pure, white soul as it rises.
Jesus tells Peter to take Mary’s body east of the city and wait for his arrival. He then deliver’s Mary’s soul to Michael. The three virgins prepare Mary’s body, which gives off bright light and a sweet fragrance, for burial. The apostles place the body on a bier and they proceed to the tomb with John leading the way holding the palm. A cloud covers the burial and everyone including Jesus’ disciples sing praises about Mary’s departure. A Jewish priest tries to overthrow Mary’s body but his hands dry up and stick to the bier. The priest begs to be free, but Peter says the only way to be free is if he believes in Christ. As soon as the priest accepts Christ, his hands come free. Then at Peter’s instruction, he kisses the bier and his arms are healed. Peter tells him to take the palm and use it to restore sight to the blind. Those who proclaimed faith in Christ were healed, but those who could continued in hardness of heart died.
The apostles carry Mary to the valley of Josephat, lay her in a new tomb, and shut the sepulchre. Jesus appears once again and asks the apostles what he should do with Mary. They entreat him to take her body with him to heaven. Michael brings Mary’s soul and moves the stone from the sepulchre. Mary rises from the grave. Then Jesus kisses her and the angels deliver her into paradise. The apostles receive praises from Jesus and he returns to heaven. The apostles are again taken up on clouds and continue their preaching missions.
Named Historical Figures and Characters: Barnabas, Gabriel (angel), Holy Spirit, John (apostle), Jesus Christ, Leucius, Mary (Virgin), Michael (angel), Paul (apostle), Peter (apostle), Satan.
Geographical Locations: Egypt, Ephesus, Israel, Laodicea, Sardis, Mount of Olives, Sodom, Valley of Josephat.
2. RESOURCES
2.1 Web Sites and Other Online Sources
“Apocryphal Works on the Assumption of Mary.” New Advent (English translations from Walker, Apocryphal Gospels, Acts and Revelations.)
“Assumption of Mary.” Wikipedia.
“Dormition of the Mother of God.” Wikipedia.
2.2 Art and Iconography
“Iconography of the Virgin Mary. Part 4: The Dormition.” Christian Iconography.
“The Dormition of the Virgin and Saints.” A tenth-century ivory carving from Constantinople at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
3. BIBLIOGRAPHY
3.1 Manuscripts and Editions
3.1.1 Latin (BHL 5351–5352a)
A total of 46 manuscripts from the 8th to 15th cent., listed in Mimouni, Dormition et Assumption de Marie, 264–66, and in Haibach-Reinisch, Ein neuer ‘Transitus Mariae’, 31–32.
Recension B1
Berlin, Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin–Preußischer Kulturbesitz, theol. lat. qu. 372, fols. 104r–107r (14th cent.)
Einsiedeln, Stiftsbibliothek, 250 (382), pp. 362–75 (ca. 1150)
Fritzlar, Dombibliothek, 83, fols. 136r–138r (14th/15th cent.)
Leipzig, Universitätsbibliothek Leipzig, 443, fols. 193r–193v (13th cent.)
Munich, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Clm 10157, fols. 9v–14v (13th and 17th cent.)
Stuttgart, Württembergische Landesbibliothek, Cod. theol. et. phil. 8º 57, fols. 32r–45v (1125–1135)
Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Pal. lat. 430, fols. 109r–110v (ca. 840)
Vienna, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Cod. 4753, fols. 116r–117r (1315–1329)
La Bigne, Marguerin de. Maxima bibliotheca veterum patrum et antiqorum scriptorum ecclesiasticorum. Vol. 2.2. Lugduni: apud Anissonios, 1677 (editio princeps based on Vienna 4753, pp. 212–16).
Migne, Jacques Paul. Patrologiae cursus completus: Series graeca. Vol. 5. Paris: Cerf, 1857 (edition of Vienna 4753 reproduced from La Bigne, cols. 1231–50).
Tischendorf, Constantin. Apocalypses Apocryphae. Leipzig, 1866; Repr., Hildesheim: Georg Olms, 1966 (edition of Vienna 4753, pp. xxxiv–xlvi, 124–36).
Recension B2
Haibach-Reinisch, Monika. Ein neuer ‘Transitus Mariae’ des Pseudo-Melito. Bibliotheca assumptionis B. Virginis Mariae 5. Rome: Pontificia Acad. Mariana Internat., 1962 (edition based on 18 MSS, pp. 63–87).
Clayton, Mary. Apocryphal Gospels of Mary in Anglo-Saxon England. Cambridge Studies in Anglo-Saxon England 26. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998 (reprint of Haibach-Reinisch’s text without apparatus, pp. 334–43).
Uncertain category (BHL 5351)
Montpellier, Bibliothèque de la Faculté de médicine, 55, fols. 97v–101r (ca. 800)
Rheims, Bibliothèque municipale, 582, fols. 88v–90r (13th cent.)
Rheims, Bibliothèque municipale, 1395, fols. 18r–25v; another copy at fols. 64r–67v (ca. 850, Rheims)
3.1.2 Old English
3.1.2.1 Corpus 41
Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, 41, pp. 280–287 (11th cent.)
Tristram, Hildegard L. C., ed. “Vier altenglische Predigten aus der heterodoxen Tradition.” PhD diss., University of Freiburg, 1970.
Grant, Raymond S., ed. Three Homilies from Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, 41. Ottawa: Tecumseh Press, 1982.
Clayton, Mary. Apocryphal Gospels of Mary in Anglo-Saxon England. Cambridge Studies in Anglo-Saxon England 26. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998 (text and translation with commentary, pp. 216–36).
3.1.2.2 Corpus 198 (a combination of Dormition of the Virgin Transitus Latin W and chs. 15–17 of Assumption of the Virgin by Pseudo-Melito)
Cambridge, Corpus Christi College 198, pp. 350–59 (9th–11th cent.)
Clayton, Mary. Apocryphal Gospels of Mary in Anglo-Saxon England. Cambridge Studies in Anglo-Saxon England 26. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998 (text and translation with commentary, pp. 246–72).
3.1.2.3 Blicking Homily 13 (a combination of Dormition of the Virgin Transitus Latin W and chs. 15–17 of Assumption of the Virgin by Pseudo-Melito)
Princeton, Princeton University Library, W.H. Scheide Collection 71 (the Blickling Book), fols. 84v–98v (10th cent.)
Clayton, Mary. The Apocryphal Gospels of Mary in Anglo-Saxon England. Cambridge Studies in Anglo-Saxon England 26. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998 (text and translation with commentary, pp. 246–72).
Kelly, Richard J., ed. and trans. The Blickling Homilies. 2 vols. London and New York: Continuum, 2003–2009.
Morris, Richard, ed. The Blickling Homilies. Early English Text Society, o.s. 58, 63, 73. London: Oxford University Press, 1874–1880; repr. in 1 vol. 1967 (edition and facing English translation, pp. 136–59).
3.1.3 Welsh
Aberystywth, National Library of Wales, Peniarth 5, fols. 38r–40r (ca. 1350)
Aberystwyth, National Library of Wales, Peniarth 15, pp. 1–7 (ca. 1375–1425)
Aberystwyth, National Library of Wales, Peniarth 27.iii, pp. 29–42 (ca. 1450–1500)
3.2 Modern Translations
3.2.1 English
Elliott, J. K. The Apocryphal New Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1993 (translation of B1 pp. 691–723, esp. 708–14).
James, Montague Rhodes. The Apocryphal New Testament: Being the Apocryphal Gospels, Acts, Epistles, and Apocalypses. Oxford: Clarendon, 1924; corrected edition, 1953 (translation of B1, pp. 209–16).
Walker, Alexander. Apocryphal Gospels, Acts and Revelations. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1873 (translation of B1, pp. 522–30). Repr. as vol. 16 of The Ante-Nicene Christian Library. Edited by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson. 24 vols. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1867–1883.
3.2.2 French
Amiot, F. La Bible Apocryphe: Évangiles apocryphe. Paris: Librarie Arthème Fayard, 1952 (pp. 112–34).
Migne, Jacques-Paul. Dictionnaire des Apocryphes. 2 vols. 1856. Repr., Turnhout: Brepols, 1989 (vol. 2, cols. 587–98.)
3.2.3 Italian
Erbetta, Mario. Gli apocrifi del Nuovo Testamento. 3 vols. Italy: Marietti, 1975–1981 (vol. 1.2, pp. 492–510).
Moraldi, Luigi. Apocrifi del Nuovo Testamento. 2 vols. Classici delle religioni, Sezione quarta, La religione cattolica 24. Turin: Unione Tipografico-Editrice Torinese, 1971 (vol. 1, pp. 863–878).
3.3 General Works
Bagatti, Bellarmino. “Le due redazioni del ‘Transitus Mariae.’” Marianum 32 (1970): 5–13.
Junod, Eric and Jean-Daniel Kaestli. “Le dossier des ‘Actes de Jean’: état de la question et perspectives nouvelles.” ANRW 25,6 (1988): 4293–4362 (at 4321–26).
Mimouni, Simon C. Dormition et Assumption de Marie. Histoire des traditions anciennes. Théologie Historique 98. Paris: Beauchesne, 1995 (see esp. 118–27).
Shoemaker, Stephen J. Ancient Traditions of the Virgin Mary’s Dormition and Assumption. Oxford Early Christian Studies. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002 (pp. 35-36).
Wenger, Antoine. L’Assomption de la T.S. Vierge dans la tradition byzantine du VIe au Xe siècle. Études et documents. Archives de l’Orient chrétien 5. Paris: Institut français d’études byzantines, 1955 (pp. 66 and 90–91).