Acts of Simon and Theonoe

Acta Simonis et Theonoae

Standard abbreviation: Act. Sim. Theon.

Other titles: none

Clavis numbers: ECCA 223; CANT 283

Category: Apocryphal Acts

Compiled by: Tony Burke, York University ([email protected])

Citing this resource (using Chicago Manual of Style): Burke, Tony. “Acts of Simon and Theonoe.” e-Clavis: Christian Apocrypha. Accessed DAY MONTH YEAR. https://www.nasscal.com/e-clavis-christian-apocrypha/acts-of-simon-and-theonoe/.

Created April 2023.

1. SUMMARY

Act. Sim. Theo. is preserved in two Coptic manuscripts, both of which are incomplete and have a small amount of overlapping content. Only about a third of the text is extant (26 of approx. 88 pages). After the incipit, 30 pages of the text are missing; when the text resumes Simon, after serving 60 years as bishop of Jerusalem (thus Simon is identified as the Simeon who succeeded James and was executed by Trajan; see Eusebius, Historia ecclesiastica 3.11, 32; 4.5), has come into conflict with the emperor Trajan. The root of the issue may be that he is preaching that men and women should keep separate from one another (according to the brief entry in the Copto-Arabic Synaxarion). Simon has befriended a young woman named Theonoe and is interpreting her dream. He reveals that the emperor will execute him and then will try to seduce Theonoe, but she will be a new Judith (Judith 13:4–20) and behead the emperor.

After another four missing pages, the text resumes with Simon being interrogated by Trajan. Simon tells the emperor that he will be killed by a woman; this angers Trajan, so he orders Simon to be thrown from the top of the city walls. But the apostle is saved by Michael and Gabriel and flown to the Mount of Olives. At this point, the first manuscript cuts off and the story begins in the second manuscript with Simon reunited with Theonoe. She had been imprisoned in Trajan’s palace and then rescued, at Simon’s request, by the Virgin Mary, who brought her to a monastery on the Mount of Olives. Trajan discovers Theonoe missing and takes counsel with his court magicians on how to rid himself of Simon.

The next twenty pages are missing. When the text resumes, Simon has been executed and someone has handed Theonoe the head of Trajan. She throws both the head and body from the top of the (palace?) walls. He is buried like a pauper. The historical Trajan, however, died of illness (perhaps dropsy) and his ashes were buried with honor at the base of Trajan’s Column in Rome. Theonoe withdraws to the monastery for the rest of her life. Trajan’s wife wishes to burn Simon’s body, but due to Paul’s intervention, it is taken by Simon’s disciples Clement and Philemon to Sinbeldje, near Akhmim, where it is placed in a mountain sanctuary. The townspeople come to the sanctuary for blessings and healing miracles. Two feast days are instituted to honor the apostle: 9 Abīb (July 3) and 19 Tût (September 16). The text concludes with accounts of two miracles at the sanctuary and promises of blessings to those who visit the location, make offerings in his name, and commemorate his feast day.

Named historical figures and characters: Clement (disciple of Simon), devil, Frumentius, Gabriel (angel), Holofernes, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, John (son of Zebedee), James (son of Zebedee), Mark (evangelist), Mary (Virgin), Michael (angel), Paraclete, Paul (apostle), Peter (apostle), Philemon, Simon (the Canaanite/Zealot), Sosipatros, Theonoe, Timothy, Trajan (emperor), Wife of Trajan.

Geographical locations: Akhmim, Ampos, Egypt, Jerusalem, Metia, Mount of Olives, Pharos Port, Sineldje, Tarsus.

2. RESOURCES

2.1 Web Sites and Other Online Resources

“Simeon of Jerusalem.” Wikipedia.

“Simon the Zealot.” Wikipedia.

3. BIBLIOGRAPHY

3.1 Manuscripts and Editions

3.1.1 Coptic (BHO 1112; see links for editions)

Z Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Copte 129¹⁸, fol. 93 (pp. 1–2 of the manuscript) + Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Borg. copt. 109, cass. xxvi, fasc. 137, pp. 33–36, 41–44 (9th–11th cent.)

R MONB.RY (ca. 10th/11th cent.)

Guidi, Ignazio. “Frammenti copti. Nota III.” Atti della Reale Accademia dei Lincei ser. 4, 3.2 (1887): 65–86, at 76–80 (edition of Borg. copt. 109).

Lemm, Oscar von. “Kleine koptische Studien I–IX” Bulletin de l’Académie Impériale des Sciences de St.-Pétersbourg Series 5, vol. 10 (1899): 403–34. Reprinted in idem, Kleine koptische Studien I–LVIII. Subsidia Byzantina 10. Leipzig: Zentralantiquariat, 1972 (corrections to Guidi’s edition of Vat. Borg. copt. 137, pp. 408–11).

Morard, Françoise. “La légende copte de Simon et Théonoé.” Langues orientales anciennes. Philologie et linguistique 4 (1993): 147–83 (Coptic edition of both manuscripts, pp. 147–71; French translation, pp. 173–83).

3.1.2.4 Copto-Arabic Synaxarion (9 Abib=July 3).

Basset, René. “Le Synaxaire arabe jacobite (rédaction copte) V: les mois de Baounah, Abib, Mésoré et jours complémentaires.” Patrologia orientalis 17 (1923): 525–782 (brief mention of Theonoe in entry for Simon; Arabic text and French translation, p. 641).

3.1.3 Ethiopic Synaxarion (9 Hamle=July 3)

Budge, E. A. Wallis. The Book of the Saints of the Ethiopian Church. 2 vols. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1928 (brief mention of Theonoe in entry for Simon; English translation, vol. 4, p. 1099).

3.2 Modern Translations

3.2.1 French

Morard, Françoise. “Légende copte de Simon et Théonoé.” Pages 1529–51 in volume 1 of Écrits apocryphes chrétiens. Edited by François Bovon and Pierre Geoltrain. Paris: Gallimard, 1997.

3.2.2 Italian

Guidi, Ignazio. “Gli Atti Apocrifi Degli Apostoli Nei testi Copi, Arabi ed Etiopici.” Giornale della Società Asiatica Italiana 2 (1888): 1–66, at 41–44.

3.3 General Works

Otero, Aurelio de Santos. “Later Acts of the Apostles.” Pages 426–82 in New Testament Apocrypha. Vol. 2: Writings Related to the Apostles, Apocalypses and Related Subjects. Edited by Wilhelm Schneemelcher. Translated by R. McLachlan Wilson. 6th ed. 2 vols. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 1992 (see p. 480).