Epistle of Christ from Heaven

Epistula e caelo missa de seruanda dominica

Standard abbreviation: Ep. Chr. Heav.

Other titles: Letter(s) from Heaven, Leaflets from Heaven, Letter on the Observance of the Lord’s Day, Sunday Letter(s), Scrolls from Heaven, Himmelsbrief

Clavis numbers: ECCA 880; CANT 311

VIAF: 212164336

Category: Epistles

Related Literature: Dormition of the Virgin by the Apostle John, Apocalypse of Anastasia

Compiled by: Calogero A. Miceli, Concordia University ([email protected])

Citing this resource (using Chicago Manual of Style): Miceli, Calogero A. “Epistle of Christ from Heaven.” e-Clavis: Christian Apocrypha. Accessed DAY MONTH YEAR. https://www.nasscal.com/e-clavis-christian-apocrypha/epistle-of-christ-from-heaven/.

Posted April 2017. Current as of December 2022.

1. SUMMARY

This apocryphal work claims to have been written by Jesus Christ and to have come down to earth from heaven. The letter is unique in that it instructs readers to observe the holy Day of the Lord (Sunday) and warns that those who do not own a copy of the letter will face terrible punishments. The instructions to make copies of the letter mean that this work is likely the oldest known form of a chain letter (a message that attempts to convince recipients to make copies of the letter and pass them on to others). As a result, this letter has been copied and recopied throughout the centuries. Today, it can be found in a plethora of ancient and modern languages including Ancient (Koine) Greek, Armenian, Syriac, Arabic, Coptic, Ethiopic, Latin, Russian, Modern Greek, French, English, German, Italian, Polish, Spanish, etc. The great number of copies of this letter and its wide transmission mean that a critical edition of the work is out of reach. One of the oldest versions is a Koine Greek text—likely the original language of the epistle—found in Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 929.

The content of the letter features a framing narrative that describes its delivery from heaven. The archbishop of Rome is visited by the apostle Peter in a dream and then witnesses the epistle suspended in the air in the middle of the sanctuary. The letter comes down into the hands of the bishop who proceeds to read the contents of the letter to his congregation. The letter, purportedly written in the first person by Jesus/God, begins by admonishing those who have failed to honor or celebrate the holy Day of the Lord and to curse those who do not continue to observe it. Included among the narrator’s many menaces is the threat that he “will send venomous wild beasts, so that they devour women’s breasts (who then will be unable to breastfeed babies that do not have their mothers’ milk), and savage wolves to snatch away your children” (1:18). A number of heinous extortions are offered for those who fail to follow the instructions and observe the holy day. The epistle concludes by returning to the framing narrative where the archbishop is addressing the congregation. He implores those listening to honor the holy Sunday that they may avoid harsh punishments and instead be rewarded at the time of judgment.

Named historical figures and characters: Abraham (patriarch), Adam (patriarch), Eve (matriarch), Gabriel (angel), Jesus Christ, John (the Baptist), Mary (Virgin), Moses, Peter (apostle), Satan.

Geographical locations: Gomorrah, Mount Sinai, Rome, Sodom.

2. RESOURCES

2.1 Online Resources

Miceli, Calogero A. “A Story about Jesus Outside the New Testament.” Inquisitive Minds Podcast (Posted 27 February 2016).

VanArsdale, Daniel W. Chain Letter Evolution (currently available as a PDF). No pages. (Includes an archive of Ep. Chr. Heav. texts).

Solly, Meilan. “Before Chain Letters Swept the Internet, They Raised Funds for Orphans and Sent Messages From God.” Smithsonian Magazine. 2 July 2020. Online: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/chain-letters-swept-internet-they-raised-funds-orphans-and-conveyed-messages-god-180975005/.

2.2 Licinianus, Ep. 3, ad. Vincentium Episcopum

Van Impe, Steven. “Licinian of Cartagene, Letters (2004).” Tertullian.org. Administered by Roger Pearse. English translation of Licinian’s letter about Ep. Chr. Heav.).

Migne, Jacques-Paul. Patrologiae Latinae. 217 vols. Paris: Lutetiae Parisiorum, 1844–1864 (text of Licinian’s letter vol. 72, pp. 699–700).

3. BIBLIOGRAPHY

3.1 Manuscripts and Editions

3.1.1 Arabic

3.1.1.1 Arabic Script

α Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. ar. 536, fols. 84^v–89^v (15th cent.)

β Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Ancien fonds 77, fols. 2–15 (16th cent.)

γ Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Suppl. 92 Nr. 10, fols. 107–114 (1594)

δ Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. arab. 171, fol. 88 (17th cent.)

ε Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. arab. 136, fols. 147^r–151^v (17th cent.)

ζ Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. ar. 536, fols. 68–72 (15th cent.)

Bucharest, Academia Romana, Orientale 365

Munich, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Arab. 1067

Bittner, Maximilian. “Der vom Himmel gefallene Brief in seinen morgenländischen Versionen und Rezensionen.” Denkschriften der kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften: Philosophisch-historische Klasse 51.1 (1906): 1–240 (edition of unnamed manuscript, pp. 186–95; synoptic editions of α–ζ, pp. 196–215).

Frantsouzoff, Serge A. Five Lives of Saints. Essays on Study of Arabic Orthodox Hagiography. Researches and Publications [Пять житий. Очерки изучения арабо-православной агиографии. Исследование и публикация]. Sаint Petersburg: Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia, 2021 (edition of Bucharest Or. 365 with Russian translation, and discussion, pp. 246–65).

Graf, Georg. “Der vom Himmel gefallene Brief Christi (nach Cod. Monac. Arab. 1067).” ZS 6 (1928): 10–23 (Arabic ed. with German trans.)

3.1.1.2 Garšūnī Script

α Cambridge (Mass.), Harvard Houghton Library, Syr. 82, fol. 27^r

β London, British Museum, Or. 7209, fols. 28^r–37^v

γ Berlin, Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, Sachau 10 (17th cent.) ~ IMAGES

δ Oxford, Bodleian Library, 159, fols. 120^v–127r

ε Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. sir. 199, fols. 299–305 (1545)

Aleppo, Syriac-Orthodox Archdiocese, 52 K, in two forms: fols. 274^r–279^r, fols. 279^r–286^r (17th cent.)

Cambridge, University Library, Syriac Add. 2881, fol. 200^v(1484)

Homs, Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese, 2, fols. 43^r–48^r (1824/1825)

Mardin, Church of the Forty Martyrs, 304, pp. 137–167 (16th cent.)

Mdina (Malta), Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Paul, Misc. 502 (ACM 00015), pp. 119–139 (17th/18th cent.)

Bittner, Maximilian. “Der vom Himmel gefallene Brief in seinen morgenländischen Versionen und Rezensionen.” Denkschriften der kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften: Philosophisch-historische Klasse 51.1 (1906): 1–240 (unidentified Arabic text, p. 140; synoptic editions of α and β, pp. 130–85)

3.1.2 Armenian

A Vienna, Mechitarist Library, 63, fols. 32^r–36^v (15th/16th cent.)

B Vienna, Mechitarist Library, 137, fols. 429^v–432^v (1665)

C Vienna, Mechitarist Library, 144, fols. 193^r–201^v (17th/18th cent.)

D Vienna, Mechitarist Library, 191, fols. 88^v–102^v (1688)

E Vienna, Mechitarist Library, 395, fols. 59^r–72^v (1564)

F Vienna, Mechitarist Library, 524, fols. 48^r–62^v (15th/16th cent.)

G Vienna, Mechitarist Library, 535, fols. 53^r–66^r (1571)

H Venice, Biblioteca dei Padri Mechitaristi San Lazzaro degli Armeni, 1335 (1371)

I Venice, Biblioteca dei Padri Mechitaristi San Lazzaro degli Armeni, 541 (1627)

K Venice, Biblioteca dei Padri Mechitaristi San Lazzaro degli Armeni, 161 (undated)

L Venice, Biblioteca dei Padri Mechitaristi San Lazzaro degli Armeni, 972 (1594)

M Venice, Biblioteca dei Padri Mechitaristi San Lazzaro degli Armeni, 6 (undated)

N Venice, Biblioteca dei Padri Mechitaristi San Lazzaro degli Armeni, (1500)

3.1.3 Ethiopic

B Berlin, Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, 28, fol. 356

T Tübingen aeth. 18 (1688)

L2 London, British Musuem, Add. 16219

L1 London, British Museum, Or. 784, fols. 205^r–208^r (1695)

P1 Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, 111 (16th cent.)

P2 Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, 112 (16th cent.)

A1 Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Ethiopen d’Abbadie 15

A2 Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Ethiopen d’Abbadie 93

A4 Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Ethiopen d’Abbadie 214

3.1.4 Greek

3.1.4.1 Recension Alpha (BHG 812ikmp)

Athos, Monē Koutloumousiou, 176 (Lambros 3249), fols. 25^r–25^v (15th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Jerusalem, Patriarchikē bibliothēkē, Hagiou Saba 57, fol. 173 ~ Pinakes; LOC

Meteōra, Monē Hagiou Stephanou, 119, fol. 35 (1771) ~ Pinakes

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 947, fols. 21^v–26^r (1574)

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 1313, fols. fols. 1^r–5^r (15th cent.)

Palermo, Biblioteca centrale della Regione siciliana “Alberto Bombace,” II. D. 26, fols. 36^v–39^r (15th/16th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 929, pp. 548–561 (15th cent.)

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Barb. gr. 284, fols. 55^r–65^v (15th cent.)

Venice, Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, gr. VII. 38 (coll. 1385), fols. 339–342 (16th cent.) ~ Pinakes

3.1.4.2 Recension Beta (BHG 812nrs)

Athens, Ethnikē Bibliothēkē tēs Hellados, 838, 198^r–201^v (16th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Carpentras, Bibliothèque municipale (Bibl. Inguimvertine), 103, fols. 1–20 (16th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Athos, Monē Philotheou, 98 (Lambros 1862) (15th cent.) ~ Pinakes

London, British Library, Add. 10073, fols. 307^r–317^r (16th cent.)

London, Highgate School, II.29, fols. 120^v–124^v(15th cent.)

London, Lambeth Palace Library, 1197, fols. 5^r–10^v (15th/16th cent.)

Milan, Biblioteca Ambrosiana, B 146 sup., fols. 5–6 (17th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Oxford, Bodleian Library, Auct. E. 5. 17 (olim Huntington 583)

Rome, Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale Vittorio Emanuele II, S. A. Valle 102, fols. 168–170 (17th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Rome, Biblioteca Casanatense, 481, fols. 27–37 (16th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Sinai, Mone tes Hagias Aikaterines, gr. 1670, fols. 130^v–136^r (16th cent.) ~ Pinakes; LOC

Tubingen, Universitatsbibliothek, Mb 33, fols. 131–137 (16th cent.) ~ Pinakes; catalog

Codex Taurensi 148, B. II. 1, fols. 103^r–106^r (15th cent.) ~ whereabouts unknown

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. gr. 2235, fols. 222–229 (14th cent.) ~ Pinakes; DigiVatLib

3.1.4.3 Recension Gamma

Chios. Monastery of Pyrghi ~ current location unknown

Bittner, Maximilian. “Der vom Himmel gefallene Brief in seinen morgenländischen Versionen und Rezensionen.” Denkschriften der kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften: Philosophisch-historische Klasse 51.1 (1906): 1–240 (editions of Alpha, pp. 11–25; Beta, pp. 25–33; Gamma, pp. 33–40).

Fabricius, Johann Albert. Codex Apocryphus Novi Testamenti. 2 vols. Hamburg: Schiller, 1703 (3 vols. 1719) (reprint of Latin text from Baluzius, vol. 1, pp. 308–13; Greek text from Bodleian, Huntington 583, vol. 3, pp. 510–13).

Vassiliev, Athanasius. Anecdota graeco-byzantina, pars prior. Moscow: Imperial University, 1893 (texts of Greek Alpha, pp. 23–28; Beta, pp. 28–32 discussion pp. xiii–xx).

3.1.5 Latin (most recent list in Heil, et al. Apocryphal Sunday, 39–44)

3.1.5.1 Latin Recension I

Bas1 Basel, Universitätsbibliothek, B VII 7, fol. 1^r (10th cent.)

Gra1 Graz, Universitätsbibliothek 248, fols. 133^r–133^v (15th cent.)

Lon1 London, British Library, Add. 19725, fols. 87^v–88^r (10th/11th cent.)

Par1 Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 12270, fols. 31^v–32^v (12th cent.) ~ GALLICA

Tarr. Tarragona, Cathedral Library (12th cent.) ~ lost, transcribed in Baluzius

Vie1 Vienna, Österreichische National bibliothek, 1355, fols. 89^r–90^v (14th/15th cent.)

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Reg. lat. 49, fol. 53^r (9th/10th cent.) ~ extract

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Reg. lat. 852, fol. 6^v (10th cent.) ~ incipit only

3.1.5.2 Latin Recension II

Ham2 Hamburg, Bibliothek der Hansestadtm St. Petri-Kirche 30b, fols. 35^r–36^v (15th cent.)

Mun2 Munich, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Clm 9550 (11th cent.)

Par2 Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 8508, fols. 57^v–63^r (10th cent.) ~ in margin

Tod2 Todi, Perugia (12th cent.? ~ transcript of a lost manuscript

Berlin, Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin – Preußischer Kulturbesitz, Magdeburg 21, fols. 162^v–162^v (15th cent.)

Berlin, Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin – Preußischer Kulturbesitz, Magdeburg 196, fols. 381^r–381^v (15th cent.)

Bernkastel-Kues, Bibliothek des St. Nikolaus-Hospitals, 128, fol. 129^r (15th cent.) ~ fragment

Brussels, Bibliothèque Royale Albert Ier II, 1053, fol. 4^r (11th/12th cent.)

Budapest, University Library, lat. 39, fols. 86^v–88^r (14th/15th cent.)

Cambridge, Pembroke College, MS 103, fols. 73^v–75^r (12th cent.)

Einsiedeln, Stiftsbibliothek, 726, fol. 124^r (14th/15th cent.)

Fritzlar, Dombibliothek, 37, fols. 178^v–181^v (14th/15th cent.)

Göttweig, Benediktinerstift, Cod. 199, fols. 38^r–39^r (14th cent.)

Innsbruck, Stiftsbibliothek Wilten (s.n.), fols. 153^r–154^r (15th cent.)

Innsbruck, Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Tirol Cod. 409, fols. 100^r–102^r(13th/14th cent.)

Jena, Thüringer Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek, Ms. Klosterbibl. 5, fol. 246^v (15th cent.)

Kremsmünster, Stiftsbibliothek, 283, fols. 92^v–93^r (14th/15th cent.)

London, British Library, Add. 30853, fol. 231^r–232^v (11th/12th cent.) ~ BRITISH LIBRARY

London, British Library, Royal 11 B x, fol. 184^r (14th/15th cent.)

London, British Library, Royal 8 F.vi, fols. 24^r–24^v (15th cent.)

London, Lambeth Palace Library, 539, fols. 141^r–141^v (12th cent.)

Lucca, Biblioteca Statale di Lucca, 3540, fols. 134^r–134^v (15th cent.)

Mainz, Stadtbibliothek, I 227, 143^r–143^v (15th cent.)

Mattsee, Stiftsbibliothek, 49, fols. 182^r–184^r (15th cent.)

Munich, Universitätsbibliothek, 2° 120, fols. 33^r–34^r (15th cent.)

Munich, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Clm 3433, fols. 209^v–210^r (15th cent.)

Munich, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Clm 3766, fols. 177^v–178^r (15th cent.)

Munich, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Clm 12005, fol. 91^r (15th cent.) ~ extract found in Apocalypse of Paul

Munich, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Clm 14673, fols. 119^v–120^r (12th/13th cent.)

Munich, Baverische Staatsbibliothek, Clm 22377, fols. 82^v–83^r (15th cent.)

Oxford, Merton College, 13, fols. 64^v–65^v (14th/15th cent.)

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 3343, fols. 153^v–154^r (15th cent.)

Paris, Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève, Ms 1424, fols. 7l^v–72^r (15th cent.)

Prague, National Library, III. D. 13. (Y. 1. 4. n. 79), fols. 213^r–214^r (14th cent.)

Prague, National Library, XIII G 18, fols. 119^v–120^v (15th cent.)

Rostock, Universitätsbibliothek, theol. 37a, fols. 47^v–48^r (15th cent.)

Uppsala, Universitetsbibliotek, C47, fol. 277^r–277^v (15th cent.)

Uppsala, Universitetsbibliotek, C133, fol. 145^r (15th cent.)

Uppsala, Universitetsbibliotek, C 212, fols. 1^v–2^v (14th cent.)

Uppsala, Universitetsbibliotek, C226, fols. 52^v–53^r (15th cent.)

Uppsala, Universitetsbibliotek, C364, fols. 183^v, 195^r (15th cent.)

Vienna, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, 1355, fold. 9l^r–92^r (14th/15th cent.)

Vienna, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, lat. 1629, fols. 102^r–103^v (14th cent.)

Vienna, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, lat. 1878, fols. 35^v–36^v (12th cent.)

Vienna, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, lat. 3496, fols. 4^r–5^r (15th cent.)

Wilhering, Stiftsbibliothek, IX 162, fols. 105^r–106^v (15th cent.)

3.1.5.3 Latin Recension IIa

Kassel, Murhardsche Bibliothek der StadtKassel und Landesbibliothek, theol. 39, fol. 158^r (14th cent.)

Vienna, Dominikanerkloster, 133 (102), fols. 134^v–135^v (15th cent.)

3.1.5.4 Latin Recension III

Berlin, Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin-Preussischer Kulturbesitz, Ms. Theol. Lat. Fol. 589, fols. 156^r–157^v (11th/12th cent.)

Cambridge, Pembroke College, 67, fols. 88^r–88^v (12th cent.)

Dresden, Sächsische Landesbibliothek, App. 2300, fols. 292^r–294^v (15th cent.)

Erlangen, Universitätsbibliothek, 306 (444), fols. 1^r–4^r (14th cent.)

Jena, Thüringer Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek, Ms. El f. 22, fols. 137^r–138^r (14th/15th cent.)

Klosterneuburg, Bibliothek des Chorherrenstifts, 79, fol. 57^r (12th/14th cent.)

Klosterneuburg, Bibliothek des Chorherrenstifts, 918, fols. 1^r–3^r (13th cent.)

Leipzig, Universitätsbibliothek, 537, fol. 215^r (15th cent.)

Leipzig, Universitätsbibliothek, 594, fols. 345^r–345^v (15th cent.)

London, British Library, Add. 16587, fols. 184^r–186^r(14th cent.)

London, British Library, Add. 23930, fols. 93^v–94^v (14th cent.)

Mainz, Stadtbibliothek, I 469, fols. 195^r–197^r (15th cent.)

Michaelbeuern, Stiftsbibliothek, 82, fols. 264^v–266^v (15th cent.)

Michaelbeuern, Stiftsbibliothek, 97, fols. 172^v–174^v (15th cent.)

Munich, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Clm 14673, fols. 117^r–119^r (12th/13th cent.)

Munich, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Clm 2625, fols. 39^r–47^v (13th cent.)

Munich, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Clm 21518, fols. 1^r–1^v (12th cent.)

Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS. Canon. Liturg. 366, fols. 36^v–38^r (11th/12th cent.)

Padua, Biblioteca Civica, C.M. 226, fols. 3^r–3^v (15th cent.)

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 5302, fols. 52^v–53^r (12th cent.) ~ GALLICA

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 12315, fols. 37^v–40^r (12th cent.) ~ GALLICA

Prague, Archi Pražského Hradu, N 42, fols. 49^v–50^r (14th/15th cent.)

Toulouse, Bibliothèque d’Étude et du Patrimoine (olim Bibliothèque municipale) 208, fols. 101^r–104^v (11th cent.) ~ IMAGES

Vienna, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, lat. 510, fols. 134^r–141^v (12th cent.)

Venice, Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, lat. Z. 507, fols. 80^r–83^r (14th cent.)

Wroclaw, Ms IQ 143 (15th cent.)

Wolfenbüttel, Cod. Guelf. 11 Aug. 4° (Heinemann-Nr. 3006), fols. 210^r–212^v (15th cent.)

3.1.5.5 Latin Recension IIIa

Dublin, Trinity College Library, 516, fols. 37^r–38^v (15th cent.)

Graz, Universitätsbibliothek, 248, fols. 133^v–134^r (15th cent.)

London, British Library, Add. 6716, fols. 72^r–73^v (15th cent.) ~ also contains portions of Latin II

Oxford, Bodleian Library, Lat. th. f. 19 (s. xiv), 24^r–26^r (14th cent.) ~ also contains portions of Latin II

Oxford, Bodleian Library, Lyell 12, fols. 263^r–264^r (14th cent.) ~ also contains portions of Latin II

Oxford, Bodleian Library, Douce 54, fols. l^r–3^v (15th/16th cent.)

Roger of Hoveden, letter used by Eustace de Flay (13th cent.?)

Trier, Stadtbibliothek, 530, fol. 121^r (15th cent.)

Recension undetermined:

Trier, Stadtbibliotek, 550/1538, fols. 82^v–83^v (14th cent.)

Amaduzzi, Johannes Christoph. Anecdota litteraria ex mss codicibus eruta I. Rome: Anton Fulgonium, 1773 (edition of Tod2, pp. 69–73; repr. in Migne 2:367-69)

Baluzius, Étienne. Capitularia regum Francorum II. Paris: Franz Maguet, 1677 (edition of Tarr., pp. 1396–99).

Delehaye, Hippolyte. “Note sur la légende de la lettre du Christ tombée du ciel.” Pages 171–213 in Bulletin de l’Académie royale de Belgique: Classe de lettres. Brussels: Hayez, 1899. [Repr. as pages 150–78 in Hippolyte Delehaye. Mélanges d’hagiographie grecque et latine. Subsidia Hagiographica 42. Brussels: Société des Bollandistes, 1966.] (text from Munich Clm 9550, pp. 181–84 [155–56]; Par1, and Vat. Reg. lat. 852, pp. 181–84 [157–59]; Par2, pp. 179–81).

Delehaye, Hippolyte. “Un exemplaire de la lettre tombée du ciel.” RSR 18 (1928): 164–68 (text of Latin Recension II from BL Add. 30853).

Grégoire, Réginald. Les homéliaires du môyen age, inventaire et analyse des manuscripts. Rerum Ecclesiasticarum Documenta, Series Maior, Fontes 6. Rome: Herder, 1966 (edition of London BL Add. 30853, pp. 226f.)

Haines, Dorothy, ed. Sunday Observance and the Sunday Letter in Anglo-Saxon England. Anglo-Saxon Texts 8. Cambridge: D. S. Brewer, 2010 (includes list of Latin manuscripts and editions of Latin Recension I [Bas1, Lon1 and reprints of Par1 and Gra1, pp. 199–207] and IIa [both MSS, pp. 207–11], as well as six Anglo-Saxon versions).

Heil, Uta, et al. The Apocryphal Sunday: History and Texts from Late Antiquity. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2023 (editions and translations of Latin II, pp. 221–37; Latin I, pp. 245–89; Greek Alpha, pp. 291–327; and Greek Beta, pp. 329–86).

Priebsch, Robert. Diu vrône botschaft ze der Christenheit. Untersuchungen und Text. Grazer Studies zur deutschen Philologie 2. Graz: Styria, 1895 (ed. Munich 21518, pp. 40-71).

Priebsch, Robert. “John Auderlay’s ‘Poem on the Observance of Sunday.’” Pages 397–407 in An English Miscellany Presented to Dr. Furnivall in Honout of His Seventy-Fifth Birthday. Oxford: Clarendon, 1901 (edition of London, BL Royal 8 F.vi, pp. 400–406).

Rivière, Ernest M. “La Lettre du Christ tombée du ciel: le manuscrit 208 de Toulouse.” Revue des questions historiques, N.S. 35 (1906): 600–605 (Latin III text from Toulouse 208).

Staphorst, Hamburgische Kirchengeschichte 1.3:345-47 (Latin II text from Bibliothek der Hansestadt, St. Petri-Kirche 30b)

Stubbs, William, ed. Chronica Magistri Rogeri de Houden. Chronicles and Memorials of Great Britain and Ireland during the Middle Ages 4. London: Longman & Trübner, 1871 (edition pp. 167–69).

3.1.5.6 Inscription (related to Latin II)

Dated to the 7th/8th or 9th cent. and measures 120 × 42.5 × 13 cm. Originally embedded in a wall to the left of the altar in the Church of S. Maria Assunta, currently in the Museo diocesano of Brugnato (Italy). Image at left from Remondini; at right from Benente.

Benente, Fabrizio, ed. Santa Maria di Piazza: Culto, territorio e popolamento al crocevia di una chiesa millenaria. Bordighera: Quadernnia della Tigullia, 2002 (reprinting Rugo and Tosi, pp. 10–24 and 25–32).

Fiore, Paolo. “Le epigrafi della chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta a Piazza di Deiva Marina–Note per una prima schedatura.” Ligures 2 (2004): 13–34 (recovery of additional sections).

Heil, Uta, et al. The Apocryphal Sunday: History and Texts from Late Antiquity. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2023 (text and translation by Michel-Yves Perrin, pp. 239–43; discussion by Uta Heil, pp. 99–94).

Patetta, Frederico. “La pretesa lettera di Gesù Cristo in un’ iscrizione ligure dell’ alto medio evo.” Pages 282–308 in Storia di Genova dalle origini al tempo nostro 2: Genova nel basso impero e nell’ alto medioevo. Edited by Ubaldo Dormenti. MIlan: Garzanti, 1941 (pp. 208–40, 392).

Perrin, Michel-Yves with W. Pezé. “Entre apocryphicité, épigraphie et philologie: les plus anciens témoins de lat Lettre tombée du ciel sur le dimanche (CANT 311).” Apocrypha (forthcoming).

Remondini, Marcello. Iscrizioni medioevali della Liguria. Atti della Società Ligure di Stodia Patris 12. Genova: Tipografia del R. I. de Sorde-Muti, 1874 (editio princeps, pp. 2–4 and pl. 2).

Rugo, Pietro. Le iscrizioni die sec. VI–VII–VIII esistenti in Italia 5: La Neustria. Padua: Bertoncello, 1980 (text of inscription, pp. 137f.)

Tosi, Michele. “I monaci colombaniani del sev. VII portano un rinnovamento agricolo-religiose nella fascia littorale LIgure.” Archivum Bobiense 14/15 (1991/1993): 36–42 (discussion).

3.1.6 Middle Irish

3.1.6.1 Prose Version

Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, 23 P 16 (the Leabhar Breac), pp. 202b–204b (1408–1411)

Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, 23 O 48 a-b (476) (the Liber Flavus Fergusiorum), II, fol. 34[45]^v(1435–1440)

Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, 23.N.10, p. 103

Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, 24.P.25, fol. 57r(107)b

London, British Library, Add. 4783, fol. 5b

London, British Library, Harley 5280, fol. 36 (16th cent.)

Maynooth, R 73, pp. 259-268

O’Keeffe, J. G. ‘“Cain Domnaig.” Eriu 2 (1905): 189–212 (text and English translation).

Meyer, Kuno. “Mitteilungen aus Irischen Handschriften.” Zeitschrift für celtische Philologie 3 (1901): 226–63 (text of Harley 5280, p. 228).

3.1.6.2 Metrical Version

London, British Library, Add. 4783, fol. 7

Killiney, Co. Dublin, Franciscan Library, MS. A 9, p. 39

O’Keeffe, J. G. “Poem on the Observance of Sunday.” Eriu 3 (1907): 143–147 (edition of Kiliney MS. A 9).

McNamara, Martin. The Apocrypha in the Irish Church. Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1975 (pp. 60–63).

3.1.7 Syriac

α London, British Museum, Add. 17272, fols. 68–74 (13th cent.)

β1 and β2 and e Berlin, Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, 179 (Sachau 221), pp. 24–45 (1710)

γ London, British Library, Or. 4526, fols. 196^v–204^r (date not provided)

δ Berlin, Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, 73 (Sachau 131), fol. 146^v (1862)

Cambridge (Mass.), Harvard Houghton Library, Syr. 166, fols. 15–27 (1885)

New York, Union Theological Seminary, Clemons 310 (18th cent.)

Hall, Isaac H. “The Extremity of the Romans and Praise Before the Holy Mysteries.” JAOS 13 (1855): 34–48 (edition of a manuscript at Union Theological Seminary, pp. 38–44; English translation, pp. 45–48).

Hall, Isaac H. “The Letter of Holy Sunday: Syriac Text and Translation.” JAOS 15 (1893): 121–37 (based on a manuscript from Urmia with English translation).

3.1.8 Welsh

Aberystwyth, National Library of Wales, Peniarth 15, pp. 11–12 (ca. 1375–1425)

3.2 Modern Translations

3.2.1 English

Miceli, Calogero A. “The Epistle of Christ from Heaven: A New Translation and Introduction.” Pages 455–63 in volume 1 of New Testament Apocrypha: More Noncanonical Scriptures. Edited by Tony Burke and Brent Landau. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2016 (translation of Greek Alpha I).

Spittler, Janet E. “Apocryphal Epistles: The Curious Case of the Letter of Jesus Christ That Fell from Heaven.” Pages 302–47 in Paul, Christian Textuality, and the Hermeneutics of Late Antiquity. Edited by Robert Matthew Calhoun et al. NovT Sup 190. Leiden: Brill, 2023 (translation of β1 from Bittner, pp. 340–44).

3.2.2 French

Backus, Irena. “Lettre de Jésus-Christ sur le dimanche.” Pages 1101–19 in vol. 2 of Écrits apocryphes chrétiens. Edited by P. Geoltrain and J.-D. Kaestli. Bibliothèque de la Pléiade 516. Paris: Gallimard, 2005 (translation of Latin II from Munich Cod. 9550 and Greek Alpha 1).

Migne, Jacques-Paul. Dictionnaire des Apocryphes. 2 vols. 1856. Repr., Turnhout: Brepols, 1989 (vol. 2, cols. 366–69).

3.2.3 German

Graf, Georg. “Der vom Himmel gefallene Brief Christi (nach Cod. Monac. Arab. 1067).” ZS 6 (1928): 10–23 (Arabic ed. with German trans.)

3.2.4 Italian

Erbetta, Mario. Gli Apocrifi del Nuovo Testamento. 3 vols. in 4. Turin: Marietti, 1966–1981 (translation of Greek Alpha 1 in vol. 3, pp. 113–18).

3.2.5 Spanish

Santos Otero, Aurelio de. Los Evangelios Apócrifos. 2nd ed. Madrid: Biblioteca de Autores Cristianos, 1963 (the epistle is translated on pp. 670–82).

3.2.6 Russian

Frantsouzoff, Serge A. Five Lives of Saints. Essays on Study of Arabic Orthodox Hagiography. Researches and Publications [Пять житий. Очерки изучения арабо-православной агиографии. Исследование и публикация]. Sаint Petersburg: Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia, 2021 (edition, Russian translation, and discussion, pp. 246–65).

3.3 General Works

Bartsch, Karl. Sagen, Märchen und Gebräuche aus Mecklenburg. 2 vols. Vienna: Braumüller, 1879–1880 (German versions vol. 2, pp. 341–47).

Beskow, Per. Strange Tales about Jesus: A Survey of Unfamiliar Gospels. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1983 (pp. 25–30).

Borsje, Jacqueline. “The Bruch in the Irish Version of the Sunday Letter.” Ériu 45 (1994): 83–98.

Deletant, Dennis. “The Sunday Legend.” Revue des études sud-est européennes 15 (1977): 431–51.

Dieterich, Albrecht. “Himmelsbriefe.” Pages 234–42 in Kleine Schriften. Leipzig: Teubner, 1911.

Esbroeck, Michel van. “La lettre sur le Dimanche, descendue du ciel.” AnBoll 107 (1989): 267–84.

Fogel, Edwin M. “The Himmelsbrief.” German American Annals 10 (1908): 286–311.

Goodspeed, Edgar J. Strange New Gospels. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 1931 (pp. 96–107).

Haines, Dorothy, ed. Sunday Observance and the Sunday Letter in Anglo-Saxon England. Anglo-Saxon Texts 8. Cambridge: D. S. Brewer, 2010.

Hand, Wayland D. “A North Carolina Himmelsbrief.” Pages 201–207 in Middle Ages – Reformation – Volkskunde: Festschrift for John G. Kunstmann. Edited by Frederic E. Coenen. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 1959.

Jones, W. R. “The Heavenly Letter in Medieval England.” Pages 163–78 in Medieval Hagiography and Romance. Edited by Paul Maurice Clogan. Medievalia et Humanistica 6. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1975.

Laansma, Jon C. “Sunday Letter.” Pages 416–24 in Early New Testament Apocrypha. Edited by J. Christopher Edwards. Ancient Literature for New Testament Studies 9. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2022.

Lees, Clare. “The ‘Sunday Letter’ and the ‘Sunday Lists.’” Anglo-Saxon England 14 (1985): 129–51.

Nicklas, Tobias, and Janet E. Spittler. Reading Christian Apocrypha: Tradition, Interpretation, Practice. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2025 (pp. 245–70).

Palmer, Nigel F. “Himmelsbrief.” TRE 15:344–46.

Priebsch, Robert. Letter from Heaven on the Observance of the Lord’s Day. Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1936 (text, pp. 35–37).

Renoir, E. “Christ (lettre du) tombée du ciel.” DACL 3/1 (1948): 1534–46.

Röhricht, Reinhold. “Ein ‘Brief Christ.’” ZKG 11 (1890): 436–41 (includes transcription of Greek Beta 1 manuscript BM 103; Omont 36; also presents a Latin version from the Chronicle of Roger de Hoveden, and a reprint of the text from Staphorst).

Santos Otero, Aurelio de. “Der apokryphe sogenannte Sonntagsbrief.” StPatr 3 (1961): 290–96.

Los Evangelios Apócrifos. 2nd ed. Madrid: Biblioteca de Autores Cristianos, 1963 (the epistle is translated on pp. 670–82).

Schnell, Bernhard. “Himmelsbrief.” Pages 28–33 in vol. 4 of Die deutsche Literatur des Mittelalters. Verfasserlexikon, 2 Auflage. Berlin: de Gruyter, 1983.

Speyer, Wolfgang. Bücherfunde in der Glaubenswerbung der Antike. Hypomnemata 24. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1970 (pp. 27–28).

Stern, Jean. “La Salette et la légende des lettres tombées du ciel.” Pages 375–92 in vol. 1 of La Salette: Documents authentiques: Dossier chronologique intégral. Collection Sanctuaires, Pèlerinages, Apparitions. 3 vols. Paris: Desclée de Brouwer, 1980–1991.

Stübe, Rudolf. Der Himmelsbrief: Ein Beitrag zur allgemeinen Religionsgeschichte. Tübingen: J. C. B. Mohr, 1918.

Yoder, Don. “Heaven Sent: When Homeowners’ Insurance Came Straight from the Top.” Fine Books Magazine (posted June 2009). No pages. Online: https://www.finebooksmagazine.com/issue/200906/himmelsbrief-1.phtml.