Laudatio Philippi auctore Niceta Paphlagone
Standard abbreviation: Encom. Phil.
Other titles: none
Clavis numbers: ECCA 135
Category: Apocryphal Acts
Related literature: Acts of Philip; Hypomnema on Philip, by Symeon Metaphrastes
Compiled by Tony Burke, York University
Citing this resource (using Chicago Manual of Style): Burke, Tony. “Encomium on Philip by Nicetas of Paphlagonia.” e-Clavis: Christian Apocrypha. Accessed DAY MONTH YEAR. https://www.nasscal.com/e-clavis-christian-apocrypha/encomium-on-philip-by-nicetas-of-paphlagonia/.
Created December 2022. Current as of January 2024.
1. SUMMARY
Nicetas begins his praise of Philip with a quotation of Isaiah 12:3, stating that the apostles drew water of salvation from the Savior, and Christians in turn draw from them like stags who are drawn to fountains of water. Each of the apostles are worthy of praise, but today, Nicetas writes, it is the occasion to celebrate Philip. He begins with a discussion of Philip’s calling from John 1:43–44. He states that Philip was born in Bethsaida and praises him for leaving everything behind to follow Jesus at the simple command of “Follow me.” Then he moves on to Philip sharing his new awareness about Jesus with Nathanael (John 1:45–46). Later, Philip preached in Asia, and performed cures and exorcisms. He also established churches, building altars and instituting rites and laws.
Nicetas then turns to how Philip departed this world. He was sent by the Holy Spirit to the great metropolis of Hierapolis in Phrygia. There the people worshipped idols and demons, particularly the Viper. Through prayers to God and invoking the name of Jesus, Philip destroyed the Viper. Then he used the occasion to preach about God as the creator of the universe, about how the first humans sinned against him, and how Jesus, born without sin, will redeem them. But the leading men of the city were incensed and put him in prison where they hung him with ropes by his heels. But Philip did not suffer alone, for Bartholomew was there with him, first as a companion in preaching and then in his passion. Mariamne, his virginal sister, also accompanied Philip and is worthy of praise.
Suddenly, the prison was shaken by an earthquake. All of the people who had assembled in the theatre to watch the apostles’ deaths tumbled into the ground. They cried out to Philip for help and promised to not sin again. The apostles prayed for their rescue and Jesus appeared to bring them out of the abyss. By this miracle the entire city came to believe.
Philip delivered a final command to the people to persevere in their faith and follow the commandments, and then surrendered his soul. Bartholomew and Mary were taken down from the gallows. They buried Philip and then departed to other cities. Nicetas finishes his encomium with calls to the audience to rejoice in their faith, to restore peace to the church, and to provide relief to the poor.
Named Historical Figures and Characters: Andrew (apostle), Bartholomew (apostle), David (king), devil, Elisha (prophet), Elijah (prophet), Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, Mariamne (sister of Philip), Moses (patriarch), Nathanael, Paraclete, Peter (apostle), Philip (apostle), Viper.
Geographical Locations: Asia, Bethsaida, Galilee, Hierapolis, Jerusalem, Phrygia.
2. RESOURCES
2.1 Commemorative Sites
First-century tomb in modern Pamukkale (ancient Hierapolis) identified as an ancient pilgrimage site dedicated to Philip.
3. BIBLIOGRAPHY
3.1 Manuscripts and Editions
3.1.1 Greek (BHG 1530)
Athos, Monē Dionusiou, 168 (1603) ~ Pinakes; LOC
Athos, Monē Grēgoriou, 10 (16th/17th cent.) ~ Pinakes
Athos, Monē Kouloumousiou, 624, pp. 815–830 (16th cent.) ~ Pinakes
Athos, Monē Megistēs Lauras, Β 112, fols. 237–240 (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes
Athos, Monē Megistēs Lauras, Δ 78, fols. 285–290 (13th/14th cent.) ~ Pinakes; LOC
Athos, Monē Megistēs Lauras, Ε 160, fols. 319–324 (1705) ~ Pinakes
Athos, Monē Megistēs Lauras, Η 206, fols. 167–170 (16th cent.) ~ Pinakes
Athos, Monē Simōnopetras, 44, pp. 852–686 (17th cent.) ~ Pinakes; destroyed
Athos, Monē Xenophōntos, 32, item 3 (14th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Athos
Athos, Monē Xēropotamou, 32 (date not provided) ~ Pinakes
Athos, Monē Xēropotamou, 149 (17th cent.) ~ Pinakes
Istanbul, Patriarchikē Bibliothēkē, Panaghia 1, fols. 140v–144v (1360) ~ Pinakes
Istanbul, Patriarchikē Bibliothēkē, Theologikē scholē 33, item 32 (16th cent.) ~ Pinakes
Moscow, State Historical Museum, Sinod. gr. 176, fols. 309v–315v (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes
Moscow, Russian State Library, Φ. 270 (P. I. Sevast’janov) 66 (gr. 128), fols. 230–235 (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes; RGB
Mutiline, Monē tou Leimōnos, 123, fols. 207–218v (1604) ~ Pinakes
Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Coisl. 146, fols. 110–121v (14th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Gallica
Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 755, fols. 160–168v (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Gallica
Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 1180, fols. 41–45v (10th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Gallica
Venice, Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, gr. Z349 (coll. 693), fols. 232v–238v (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes
Combefis, François. Bibliothecae graecorum patrum auctarium novissimum. 2 vols. Paris: Aegidii Hotot, 1672 (Greek text from Paris gr. 1180 with Latin translation, vol. 1, pp. 379–86).
Latyšev, Vasilij V. “Ad Nicetae David Paphlagonis laudationes ss. apostolorum.” Bulletin de l’Académie impériale des sciences de St. Pétersbourg Ser. 6 vol. 10 (1916): 1505–1522 (variant readings from Moscow, Sinod. gr. 176, pp. 1517–19).
Migne, Jacques-Paul. Patrologiae cursus completus: Series graeca. Vol. 105. Paris: Cerf, 1862 (reproduction of Greek text and Latin translation by Combefis, cols. 163–84).
3.2 Modern Translations
3.3 General Works
Bovon, François. “Les Actes de Philippe.” ANRW II.25.6 (1988): 4431–527 (brief description p. 4456).
Lipsius, Richard A. Die apokryphen Apostelgeschichten und Apostellegenden. 2 vols. in 3. Braunschweig, 1883–1890 (see vol. 2.2, pp. 39–46).