Dormition of the Virgin by the Apostle John

Liber de dormitione, auctore Pseudo-Iohanne apostolo

Standard abbreviation: Dorm. Vir. John

Other titles: none

Clavis numbers: ECCA 458; CANT 101 (see also 110, 141, 142, 151, and 170)

VIAF: 206897924

Category: Dormition Accounts

Related literature: Dormition of the Virgin Transitus Greek R, Epistle of Christ from Heaven

Compiled by: Tim Elcombe (York University) under the supervision of Tony Burke, York University

Citing this resource (using Chicago Manual of Style): Elcombe, Tim. “Dormition of the Virgin by the Apostle John.” e-Clavis: Christian Apocrypha. Accessed DAY MONTH YEAR. https://www.nasscal.com/e-clavis-christian-apocrypha/dormition-of-the-virgin-by-the-apostle-john.

Created January 2018. Current as of January 2024.

1. SUMMARY

Mary is praying at the tomb of Jesus and asks that she be reunited with her son. The Jews hear of this and ban all prayer at the tomb, but Mary continues her prayer and the Holy Spirit makes her invisible to the guards stationed there. The angel Gabriel then tells Mary that she will be taken into heaven to be with her son, and Mary asks that the apostles be brought to her in Bethlehem. The Holy Spirit brings all of the apostles to Mary from all over the world via a cloud, even bringing some back to life temporarily. Upon their arrival each apostle reports where they were and how they were brought to Bethlehem. Angels and saints then surround the house, producing bright light, and the people of Bethlehem are cured of diseases and disabilities upon touching the wall that Mary lies against. The governor and the Jews hear of this and a group of them go to Bethlehem against Mary, but they are stopped by a frightful vision. The governor then sends a captain and a thousand men to Bethlehem against Mary. The apostles are warned by the Holy Spirit and take Mary on her bed to Jerusalem.

The captain and his men enter Bethlehem and find no apostles. After asking around town he finds out that the apostles have taken Mary to Jerusalem, where the miracle cures have resumed in their new house. Several Jews storm the apostles’ house in Jerusalem, but they are immolated by holy fire. The governor sees this and he and several Jews convert to worship Jesus. Jesus then comes with a multitude of angels to take Mary up to heaven. Mary asks that Jesus not forsake any who call on her name and Jesus agrees. A strong Jew named Jephonias enters the house and attacks Mary’s bed, but his arms are cut off by an angel with a flaming sword. Jephonias asks Mary for forgiveness; in response, his arms are restored and he converts to worship Jesus. Mary’s body is then laid in a tomb in Gethsemane. For three days, the apostles hear angels within the tomb glorifying Mary. When the singing stops, the apostles believe Mary has been taken into heaven. A confirmation, they receive a vision of Mary in Paradise, attended by John the Baptist, her mother Anna, and the patriarchs.

Named Historical Figures and Characters: Abraham (patriarch), Andrew (apostle), Anna (mother of Mary), Bartholemew (apostle), David (king), Elizabeth, Gabriel (angel), Holy Spirit, Isaac (patriarch), Jacob (patriarch), James (son of Zebedee), Jephonias, Jesus Christ, John (son of Zebedee), John the Baptist, Luke (evangelist), Mark (evangelist), Mary (Virgin), Matthew (apostle), Paul (apostle), Peter (apostle), Philip (apostle), Simon (the Canaanite/Zealot), Thaddaeus (apostle), Thomas (apostle).

Geographical Locations: Bethlehem, Ephesus, Gethsemane, India, Jerusalem, Rome, Thebes, Tiberias.

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.

Mosaic of the Dormition in the Chora Church, Istanbul (14th cent.)

3. BIBLIOGRAPHY

3.1 Manuscripts and Editions

3.1.1 Arabic (CANT 141; CANT 142)

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, arabe 150, fols. 157r–170v (1606)

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. arab. 698, fols. 51v–84v (undated)

Leroy, Louis. “La Dormition de Marie.” ROC 15 (1910): 162–72 (translation of Paris arab. 150).

See also van Lantschoot below, pp. 512–16.

3.1.2 Ethiopic

Däbrä Tabor, Bethlehem Church, no shelf number, pp. 214–228 (1398–1408)

Bombeck, Stefan. Die Geschichte der heiligen Maria in einer alten äthiopischen Handschrift. 2 vols. Dortmund: Praxiswissen, 2004 and 2010 (edition of Däbrä Tabor manuscript, vol. 2, German translation, vol. 1).

3.1.3 Georgian (CANT 170)

Mount Athos, Iviron, 11 (A), fols. 156r–162r

Tbilisi, National Center of Manuscripts, A-144, fols 195v–201v (10th cent.)

Jerusalem, Patriarchikē bibliothēkē, 17, fols. 142v–148v

3.1.4 Greek (CANT 101; BHG 1055–1056)

Tischendorf’s edition is based on five MSS:

A  Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France,  gr. 1173, fols. 264–267 (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Gallica

B  Venice, Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, gr. II. 042 (coll. 1123), fols. 229v –237 (13th cent.) ~ Pinakes

C  München, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Cod. graec. 276, fols. 121v–132v (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes; IMAGES

D  Milan, Biblioteca Ambrosiana, A 60 sup. (Martini-Bassi 008), fols. 98–104v (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes

E  Milan, Biblioteca Ambrosiana, C 92 sup. (Martini-Bassi 192), fols. 270r–274v (14th cent.)

Additional MSS:

Andros, Monē Hagias (Zōodochou Pēgēs), 94 (16), fols. 176v (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Ann Arbor, University of Michigan Library, 59, fols. 224v –229v (14th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Athens, Ethnikē Bibliothēkē tēs Hellados, 331, fols. 142–157v (14th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Athens, Ethnikē Bibliothēkē tēs Hellados, 343, fols. 113v–121v (16th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Athens, Ethnikē Bibliothēkē tēs Hellados, 346, fols. 19–28 (15th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Athens, Ethnikē Bibliothēkē tēs Hellados, gr. 422, fols. 181r–188r (1546)

Athens, Ethnikê Bibliothêkê tês Hellados, gr. 1021, fols. 170r–180v (1518)

Athens, Ethnikē Bibliothēkē tēs Hellados, 1027, fols. 390v–397v (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Athens, Ethnikē Bibliothēkē tēs Hellados, 2257, fols. 127r–134r (1545)

Athens, Historikon Mouseion tou Neou Hellenismou, fols. 39 (16th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Escorial (El-), Real Biblioteca, Υ. II. 13 (Andrés 268), fols. 184–190 (13th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Escorial (El-), Real Biblioteca, Ψ. IV. 07 (Andrés 481), fols. 017–19v (15th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Florence, Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, Conv. Soppr. 58, fols. 45–47 (13th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Genova, Biblioteca Franzoniana, Urbani 35, fols. 105–113 (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Gjirokastër, Bibliothēke tēs Mētropoleōs, 6, fols. 332v–338v (17th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Athos, Monē Batopediou, 422, fols. 93v–100 (13th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Athos, Monē Batopediou, 681, fols. 166–176v (14th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Athos, Monē Dionusiou, 419 (Lambros 3953), fols. 317v–325v (16th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Athos, Monē Hagiou Panteleēmonos, 191 (Lambros 5698) (15th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Athos, Monē Koutloumousiou, 2 (Lambros 3071), item 8 (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Athos, Monē Konstamonitou, 14 (Lambros 450), pp. 49–69 (15th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Athos, Monē Megistēs Lauras, Η 206 (Eustratiades 861), fols. 293–300 (16th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Athos, Monē Megistēs Lauras, Λ 007 (Eustratiades 1497), fols. 19–34 (16th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Jerusalem, Patriarchikē bibliothēkē, Hagiou Saba 226, fols. 214r–219r (16th cent.)

Jerusalem, Patriarchikē bibliothēkē, Panagios Taphos gr. 66, fols. 6v–14r (15th/16th cent.)

Jerusalem, Patriarchikē bibliothēkē, Timiou Staurou 35, fols. 172v –176* (15th/16th cent.) ~ Pinakes; IMAGES

Krakow, Uniwersytet Jagielloński, Biblioteka Jagiellońska, Berlin, graec. 4°.60 (362), fols. 21–34v (16th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Messina, Biblioteca Regionale Universitaria ‘Giacomo Longo’, S. Salv. 29, fols. 186v –190 (14th cent.) ~ Pinakes; IMAGES

Meteora, Monē Hagias Triados, 76, fols. 133–144 (16th/17th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Meteora, Monē Metamorphōseōs, 107, fols. 279–283 (15th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Milan, Biblioteca Ambrosiana, F 99 sup. (Martini-Bassi 353), fols. 130r–134r (11th cent.)

Modena, Biblioteca Estense universitaria, α. V. 8. 14 (Puntoni 190), A (9th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Moscow, Gosudarstvennyj Istoričeskij Musej, Sinod. gr. 112 (Vlad. 167), fols. 174–177v (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes

München, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Cod. graec. 66, fols. 182–187v (16th cent.) ~ Pinakes; IMAGES

München, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Cod. graec. 146, fols. 457–464v (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes; IMAGES

Mutilene, Monē tou Leimōnos, 123, fols. 46–60* (17th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Mutilene, Monē tou Leimōnos, 150, fols. 60v–69* (15th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 443, fols. 9, 15, 16, 67, 110, 114, 2 (9th/10th cent.)

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 770, fols. 257r–263v (1315)

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 1021, fol. 333r–347r (15th/16th cent.)

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 1215, fols. 114v–128v (1080)

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 1313, fols. 173–188 (15th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Gallica

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 1447, fols. 377–384v (10th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Gallica

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 1586, fols. 170–179v (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Gallica

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, suppl. gr. 241, fols. 103–109v (10th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Gallica

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, suppl. gr. 1278, 237v–249 (15th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Gallica

Saint-Petersburg, Rossijskaja Akademija Nauk, Biblioteka, Sreznevskij 72 (8th/9th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Sinai, Monē tēs Hagias Aikaterinēs, gr. 1897, fols. 158v–170 (14th cent.) ~ Pinakes; LOC

Sophia, Narodna Biblioteka sb. sb. Kiril i Metodij, gr. 101, fols. 118v–126v (17th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Sophia, Naučen Centăr za Slavjano-Vizantijski Proučvanija “Ivan Dujčev”, D. gr. 60, fols. 112v–116 (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Torino, Biblioteca Nazionale Universitaria, C. VII. 18 (Pasini 148) (15th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Barb. gr. 430, fols. 89–102 (13th cent.) ~ Pinakes; BAV

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Chig. R. V. 034 (gr. 28), fols. 151–156 (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Ott. gr. 1, fols. 291r–295v (11th cent.)

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Ott. gr. 402 (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Ott. gr. 411, fols. 443r–450r (15th cent.) ~ page missing at start

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Ott. gr. 422, fols. 74–80v (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. gr. 455, fols. 187v–192v (10th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. gr. 859 (13th cent.) ~ Pinakes; BAV

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. gr. 1190, fols. 549v–553r (1542)

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. gr. 1633, fols. 294–296v (10th/11th cent.) ~ Pinakes; BAV

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. gr. 1671, fols. 153–162v (10th cent.) ~ Pinakes; BAV

Vienna, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, theol. gr. 123, fols. 171–176v (13th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Zaborda, Monē tou hagiou Nikanoros, 148, fols. 179v–188* (13th/14th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Berger, Francis-Xavier. “Sancti Ioannis, theologi et evangelistae in dormitionem sanctissimae Deiparae.” in Pages 629–63 in Beyträge zur Geschichte und Literatur 5. Edited by J.-Ch. von. Aretin. Munich, 1805 (editio princeps based on München 66 and 146 with Latin translation).

Tischendorf, Constantin. Apocalypses Apocryphae. Leipzig, 1866; Repr., Hildesheim: Georg Olms, 1966 (edition based on MSS A–E with additional sources in notes, pp. xxxiv–xlvi, 95–112).

3.1.5 Latin (CANT 110; BHL 5355f.)

Wilmart, A. “L’ancien récit latin de l’Assomption.” Pages 357–62 in Analecta Reginensia. Extraits des manuscrits latins de la reine Christine conservés au Vatican. StT 59. Vatican City: Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, 1933.

3.2 Modern Translations

3.2.1 English

Elliott, J. K. The Apocryphal New Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1993 (pp. 701–708).

James, M. R. The Apocryphal New Testament. 1924. Repr., Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1953 (pp. 201–209).

Walker, Alexander. Apocryphal Gospels, Acts and Revelations. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1873 (pp. 504–14). 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

Mimouni, Simon C. “Dormition de Marie du Pseudo-Jean.” Pages 163–88 in vol. 1 of Écrits apocryphes chrétiens. Edited by François Bovon and Pierre Geoltrain. Paris: Gallimard, 1997.

3.2.3 Italian

Bonaccorsi, P. G. Vangeli apocrifi. Florence: Libreria Editrice Fiorentina, 1948 (pp. 260–90).

Craveri, Marcello. I Vangeli Apocrifi. Torino: Giulio Einardi, 1969 (pp. 449–63).

Erbetta, Mario. Gli apocrifi del Nuovo Testamento. 3 vols. Italy: Marietti, 1975–1981 (vol. 1.2, pp. 407–632).

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. 885–95).

3.2.4 Polish

Starowieysky, Marka. Apokryfy Nowego Testamentu, Vol. 1, Ewangelie apokryficzne. 2 vols. Lublin: Towarzystwo Naukowe Katolickiego Uniwersytetu Lubelskiego, 1980 (vol. 1 pp. 564–72).

3.2.5 Spanish

González-Blanco, Edmundo, ed. Los Evangelio Apócrifos. 3 vols. Madrid: Bergua, 1934 (vol. 3, pp. 5-61).

Otero, Aurelio de Santos. Los Evangelios Apócrifos. Madrid: Biblioteca de Autores Christianos, 19561, 19632, 19793 (2nd ed. pp. 574–659).

3.3 General Works

Balić, Carolus. Testamonia de Assumptione Beatae Virginis Mariae ex omnibus saeculis. Rome: Academia Mariana, 1948.

Bonnet, Maximilien. “Bemerkungen über die ältesten Schriften von der Himmelfahrt Mariae.” ZWT 23 (1880): 222–24.

Cothenet, Édouard. “Marie dans les récits apocryphes de l’Assomption.” Pages 71–156 in vol. 6 of Maria: Études sur la Sainte Vierge. Edited by S. J. Herbert du Manoir. 7 vols. Paris: Beauchesne et ses Fils, 1961 (see esp. pp. 129–30).

Esbroeck, M. van. “Les textes littéraires sur l’assomption avant le Xe siècle.” Pages 265–85 in Les Actes apocryphes de Apótres. Edited by François Bovon. Geneva: Labor et Fides, 1981.

Jugie, Martin. La Mort et l’Assumption de la Sainte Vierge: Étude historico-doctrinale. Studi e Testi 114. Vatican City: Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, 1944 (see pp. 117–20).

Lantschoot, A. van. “L’Assumption de la Sainte Vierge chez les Coptes.” Gregorianum 27 (1946): 493–526.

Klauck, Hans-Josef. Apocryphal Gospels: An Introduction. London: T.&T. Clark, 2004  English trans. of Apokryphe Evangelien. Eine Einführung .Stuttgart: Katholisches Bibelwerk, 2002 (with summary of text, pp. 191–204)

Mimouni, S. C. Dormition et Assumption de Marie. Histoire des traditions anciennes. Théologie Historique 98. Paris: Beauchesne, 1995 (see esp. 118–27).

__________. “La Lecture liturgique et les Apocryphes du Nouveau Testament. Le cas de la Dormition grecque du Pseudo-Jean.” OCP 59 (1993): 403–25.

Panagopoulos, Spyros P. “The Byzantine Traditions of the Virgin Marys Dormition and Assumption.” Studia Patristica 54 (2012): 1–8.

Shoemaker, Stephen J. Ancient Traditions of the Virgin Mary’s Dormition and Assumption. Oxford Early Christian Studies. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002.

Testa, Emmanuele. “L’Origine e lo sviluppo della Dormitio Mariae.” Augustinianum 23 (1983): 249–62.