Institutio Michaelis
Standard abbreviation: Invest. Mich.
Other titles: none
Clavis numbers: ECCA 406
Category: Pseudo-Apostolic Memoirs
Related literature: Investiture of Abbaton the Angel of Death, Investiture of the Archangel Gabriel, Attiri Book of Michael, Encomium on the Four Bodiless Creatures, Papyrus Bala’izah 27
Compiled by Hugo Lundhaug, University of Oslo.
Citing this resource (using Chicago Manual of Style): Lundhaug, Hugo. “Investiture of the Archangel Michael.” e-Clavis: Christian Apocrypha. Accessed DAY MONTH YEAR. https://www.nasscal.com/e-clavis-christian-apocrypha/investiture-of-the-archangel-michael/.
Created May 2019. Current as of March 2024.
1. SUMMARY
The Investiture of the Archangel Michael (Invest. Mich.) is a Coptic apocryphon directly attributed to John, the apostle and evangelist. It recounts a dialogue between Christ and his apostles at the Mount of Olives, where Christ answers a series of questions concerning a variety of topics including the creation and role of the angels, the creation and fall of Adam and Eve, the creation and fall of the devil, the promotion of the archangel Michael, the power and authority of Michael, and the celebration of Michael’s feast. Christ is said to answer all these questions without hiding anything from the apostles. The dialogue is set around the time of John the Baptist’s death, which is said to have occurred after they had been on the mountain for about a week. While much of the dialogue takes place on the Mount of Olives, Christ also takes the apostles with him on a flying olive tree to show them the punishment of sinners and the rewards for the righteous.
A major focus of the text is on the creation, fall, and machinations of the devil, who is described as “the first-formed from the hands of God.” The devil is expelled from heaven when he arrogantly refuses God’s command to worship Adam, the image of God, since he was created later than him. After his expulsion from heaven together with the angels who followed his lead—who subsequently become “demons flying in the air”—we are told how the devil causes the disobedience of Adam and Eve and the death of John the Baptist, and how he hates humanity in general.
After the devil has been thrown out of heaven, the Archangel Michael is promoted to the devil’s former position. Invest. Mich. not only describes the investiture itself, but dwells at length on Michael’s role as commander-in-chief of the heavenly host, and as the primary intercessor praying on behalf of humanity.
In addition to the dialogue between Christ and the apostles, Invest. Mich. also describes an episode that happened when Christ and the apostles had flown away from the Mount of Olives, leaving the disciples of the apostles (the so-called “little disciples”) behind. The devil appears to the little disciples in the guise of an apostle and tries to spread envy among them, but disappears when they recognize him and throw stones at him.
Towards the end of the text, Christ lets the apostles witness the judgment of a number of righteous souls before the Father. The souls are fetched by the archangel Michael, who describes their deeds during their earthly life before sentence is passed. These souls are all commended and rewarded for various pious deeds performed while they were alive, including giving alms to the poor, observing the vigils, going to church, caring for the Eucharist, singing hymns, donating books to the church, and performing feats of asceticism.
There is a marked emphasis throughout the text on the date of Michael’s investiture, on the 12th of Hathor, and the importance of observing his festival. The liturgical use of the text as it appears in the three Coptic manuscripts in which it has been preserved is highly likely.
Named Historical Figures and Characters: Adam (patriarch), Alexander (Andrew’s nephew), Ananias (youth in the oven), Andrew (apostle), Azarias (youth in the oven), Bartholomew (apostle), Berberos/Bibros (disciple of John), devil, Enoch (patriarch), Eve (matriarch), Gabriel (angel), Herod Antipas, Herodias, “Holy Members” (the Apostles), Holy Spirit, James (son of Zebedee), Jeremiah (prophet), Jesus Christ, John (son of Zebedee), John (the Baptist), Judas Iscariot, Lekontas, Mark (evangelist), Mary (Virgin), Mastema, Michael (angel), Misael (youth in the oven), Nebuchadnezzar, Nicanor (disciple of Andrew), Paul (apostle), Peter (apostle), Philemon (Bartholomew’s disciple), Philip (apostle), Polycarp (disciple of Peter), Raphael (angel), Rufus (Andrew’s disciple), Saklam, Saklataboth, Salome/Herodias (daughter of Herodias), Thomas (apostle), Uriel (angel).
Geographical Locations: Acherusian Lake, Amente, Eden, Jerusalem, Mount of Olives, Paradise, Thrace, Valley of Jehoshaphat/Josaphat.
2. RESOURCES
3. BIBLIOGRAPHY
3.1 Manuscripts and Editions
3.1.1 Coptic (CPC 0488; PAThs entry)
New York, Pierpont Morgan Library, M593, fols. 1r–30v (892/893) ~ complete text in Sahidic
New York, Pierpont Morgan Library, M614, fols. 1r–16v (9th cent.) ~ incomplete in Fayumic
Cairo, IFAO, Copte inv. no. 145–148 (PAThs entry)
Müller, C. Detlef G. Die Bücher der Einsetzung der Erzengel Michael und Gabriel. 2 vols. CSCO 225–26, Copt. 31–32. Leuven: Secrétariat du CorpusSCO, 1962 (Coptic text and German translation of M593 and M614).
Tibet, David. “The Investiture of the Archangel Michael: A Diplomatic Edition of the Coptic Text of P. IFAO ff. 145–148.” MA thesis. Macquarie University, 2009 (Coptic text and English translation of P. IFAO Copte ff. 145–148).
Hyvernat, Henri. Bibliothecae Pierpont Morgan codices coptici photographice expressi. 56 Vols. Rome: 1922 (includes facsimile editions of M593 and M614).
3.1.2 Greek
Khartoum, National Museum of Sudan, 2S–95 (SNM 23045)
Browne, Gerald M. “A Revision of the Old Nubian Version of the Institutio Michaelis.” Beiträge zur Sudanforschung 3 (1988): 17–24. (Greek text, pp. 18, 20).
3.1.3 Old Nubian
London, British Museum, EA 71305 (9th/10th cent.)
Browne, Gerald M. “An Old Nubian Version of the Liber Institutionis Michaelis.” Pages 76–79 in Coptic Studies: Acts of the Third International Congress of Coptic Studies, Warsaw, 20–25 August 1984. Edited by Włodzimierz Godlewski; Warsaw: PWN-Editions scientifiques de Pologne, 1990 (Old Nubian fragment with English translation and extensive commentary.)
———. “A Revision of the Old Nubian Version of the Institutio Michaelis.” Beiträge zur Sudanforschung 3 (1988): 17–24 (Old Nubian fragments with English translation.)
3.2 Modern Translations
3.2.1 English
Alcock, Anthony. “The Coptic Versions of the Investiture of the Archangel Michael: English Translation.” Online: https://suciualin.files.wordpress.com/2016/11/the-investiture-of-michael-the-archangel.pdf.
Lundhaug, Hugo. “The Investiture of the Archangel Michael.” Pages 499–552 in vol. 2 of New Testament Apocrypha: More Noncanonical Scriptures. Edited by Tony Burke. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2020.
Tibet, David. “The Investiture of the Archangel Michael: A Diplomatic Edition of the Coptic Text of P. IFAO ff. 145–148.” MA thesis. Macquarie University, 2009 (Coptic text and English translation of P. IFAO Copte ff. 145–148).
3.2.2 German
Müller, C. Detlef G. Die Bücher der Einsetzung der Erzengel Michael und Gabriel. 2 vols. CSCO 225–26, Copt. 31–32. Leuven: Secrétariat du CorpusSCO, 1962. (Coptic text and German translation of M593 and M614.)
3.2.3 Norwegian
Lundhaug, Hugo. “Boken om Erkeengelen Mikaels innsettelse.” Pages 1–44 in Koptiske skrifter. Edited by Hugo Lundhaug. Verdens Hellige Skrifter. Oslo: De norske bokklubbene, 2012 (Norwegian translation of M593).
3.3 General Works
Dochhorn, Jan. “Mythen von der Einsetzung des Erzengels Michaels in koptischen Literatur.” Pages 23–42 in Christliches Ägypten in der spätantiken Zeit: Akten der 2. Tübinger Tagung zum Christlichen Orient (7.–8. Dezember 2007). Edited by Dmitij Bumazhnov. Studien und Texte zu Antike und Christentum 79. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2013.
__________. “Der Sturz des Teufels in der Urzeit: Eine traditionsgeschichtliche Skizze zu einem Motiv frühjüdischer und frühchristlicher Theologie mit besonderer Berücksichtigung des Luzifermythos.” ZTK 109 (2012): 3–47.
__________. “The Motif of the Angels’ Fall in Early Judaism.” Pages 477–95 in Angels: The Concept of Celestial Beings – Origins, Development and Reception. Edited by V. Reiterer, Tobias Nicklas, and Karin Schöpflin. Deuterocanonical and Cognate Literature Yearbook 2007. Berlin: de Gruyter, 2007.
Emmel, Stephen. “The Library of the Monastery of the Archangel Michael at Phantoou (al-Hamuli).” Pages 63–70 in Christianity and Monasticism in the Fayoum Oasis: Essays from the 2004 International Symposium of the Saint Mark Foundation and the Saint Shenouda the Archimandrite Coptic Society in Honor of Martin Krause. Edited by Gawdat Gabra. Cairo: The American University in Cairo Press, 2005.
Esbroeck, Michel van. “Michael the Archangel, Saint.” Pages 1616–20 in vol. 5 of The Coptic Encyclopedia. 8 vols. Edited by Aziz S. Atiya. New York: Macmillan, 1991.
Hagen, Joost L. “The Diaries of the Apostles: ‘Manuscript Find’ and ‘Manuscript Fiction’ in Coptic Homilies and Other Literary Texts.” Pages 349–67 in vol. 1 of Coptic Studies on the Threshold of a New Millennium: Proceedings of the Seventh International Congress of Coptic Studies, Leiden, 27 August–2 September 2000. 2 vols. Edited by Mat Immerzeel and Jacques van der Vliet. OLA 133. Leuven: Peeters, 2004.
__________. “Ein anderer Kontext für die Berliner und Straßburger ‘Evangelienfragmente’: Das ‘Evangelium des Erlösers’ und andere ‘Apostelevangelien’ in der koptischen Literatur.” Pages 339–71 in Jesus in apokryphen Evangelienüberlieferungen: Beiträge zu außerkanonischen Jesusüberlieferungen aus verschiedenen Sprach- und Kulturtraditionen. Edited by Jörg Frey and Jens Schröter. WUNT 254. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2010.
Hall, Robert G. “The Installation of the Archangel Michael.” Coptic Church Review 5 (1984): 108–11.
Lafontaine, Guy. “Un éloge copte de Saint Michel, attribué à Macaire de Tkow.” Le Muséon 92:3/4 (1979): 301–20.
Lundhaug, Hugo. “Textual Fluidity and Monastic Fanfiction: The Case of the Investiture of the Archangel Michael in Coptic Egypt.” Pages 59–73 in The Archangel Michael in Africa: History, Cult and Persona. Edited by Ingvild Sælid Gilhus, Alexandros Tsakos, and Marta Camilla Wright. London: Bloomsbury, 2019.
Müller, C. Detlef G. Die Engellehre der koptischen Kirche: Untersuchungen zur Geschichte der christlichen Frömmigkeit in Ägypten. Wiesbaden: Otto Harrassowitz, 1959.
__________. “Die alte koptische Predigt (Versuch eines Überblicks).” PhD Diss. Ruprecht-Karl-Universität, Heidelberg, 1954.
Salsano, Anna. “The Archangel Michael in Coptic Homilies.” Pages 383–401 in Inventer les anges de l’Antiquité à Byzance: conception, représentation, perception. Edited by Delphine Lauritzen. Travaux et Mémoires 25/2. Paris: Association des Amis du Centre d’Histoire et Civilisation de Byzance, 2021.
Suciu, Alin. The Berlin-Strasbourg Apocryphon: A Coptic Apostolic Memoir. WUNT 370. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2017 (esp. pp. 97–98).
Tsakos, Alexandros. “The Liber Institutionis Michaelis in Medieval Nubia.” Dotawo 1 (2014): 51–62.
Youssef, Youhanna Nessim. “The Archangel Michael and the Patriarchs in Exile in the Coptic Tradition.” Pages 645–56 in Actes du huitième Congrès International d’Études Coptes (Paris, 28 juin-–3 juillet 2004). Edited by Nathalie Bosson and Anne Boud’hors. Leuven: Peeters, 2007.