Epistle of the Presbyters and Deacons of Achaea

Epistula presbyterorum et diaconorum Achaiae

Standard abbreviation: Ep. Achaea

Other titles: none

Clavis numbers: ECCA 888; CANT 226

Category: Apocryphal Acts

Related literature: Acts of Andrew, Acts of Andrew (Latin), Passion of Andrew, Miracles of Andrew by Gregory of Tours

Compiled by Tony Burke, York University

Citing this resource (using Chicago Manual of Style): Burke, Tony. “Epistle of the Presbyters and Deacons of Achaea.” e-Clavis: Christian Apocrypha. Accessed DAY MONTH YEAR. https://www.nasscal.com/e-clavis-christian-apocrypha/epistle-of-the-presbyters-and-deacons-of-achaea/

Created November 2021. Current as of January 2024.

1. SUMMARY

Ep. Achaea is extant in four forms: the original Latin (with a related Irish translation), a literal Greek translation (Recension 1), a second Greek translation with expansions in the crucifixion scene from another martyrdom account (Recension 2; follows the other two until Andrew’s crucifixion ), and a third that has not yet been published (Recension 3). The following summary relies on Bonnet’s edition of the Latin text.

The text is constructed as a letter from the presbyters and deacons of the churches of Achaea, who have seen the events with their own eyes, to all of the churches (note, the Irish text has no epistolary frame). The story begins with the proconsul Aegeates (whose name is given here as Aegeas) arriving at Patras where he seeks to compel believers in Christ to resume sacrifice to idols. Andrew comes to him and tells him he should worship a true God. In the dialogue that follows, Andrew states that Jesus taught that the idols were not true gods. Aegeates responds that Jesus was crucified and betrayed by a disciple. Andrew recounts portions of the final days of Jesus from the Gospels, including his prediction of betrayal at the Last Supper and the confession at Caesarea, and argues that Jesus allowed himself to be betrayed. Aegeates does not understand why Andrew remains loyal to Jesus and threatens to hang him on a cross also. In response, Andrew tells the procurator about the “mystery of the cross”—how it was through a tree that humans fell from paradise and it is through a tree that they will be saved. Aegeates tells Andrew that if he does not sacrifice to the gods he will crucify him. Andrew counters with the “mystery of sacrifice,” which is made daily through the Eucharist (body and blood of Jesus). Aegeates threatens to torture Andrew to learn about these mysteries and the apostle tells him that he will be able to learn if he first believes. Enraged, Aegeates sends Andrew to prison. A crowd comes to break down the doors but Andrew admonishes them, telling them to not hinder his martyrdom.

At dawn, Aegeates gives Andrew another chance to recant and make sacrifice so that his followers will do the same and the temples can be restored. Refusing, Andrew is tortured and then taken to the site of crucifixion. After a short address to the cross, expressing his willingness to go to his death, Andrew is bound to it, rather than nailed, so that he will suffer longer and be eaten alive by dogs. Andrew preaches from the cross to a crowd of 20,000 people for three days and nights. Stratocles, the brother of Aegeates, calls out to the crowd that Andrew is a holy man who is being punished unjustly. On the fourth day, the crowd go to Aegeates and accuse him of executing a godly man. Fearing violence, Aegeates agrees to free Andrew, but when he reaches the site, Andrew refuses to be released. The executioners try to remove him from the cross but they are unable to touch him and anyone else who comes near is struck by paralysis in their arms. Andrew utters a final prayer and is then is encircled up by a light from heaven; the light withdraws and Andrew gives up his spirit.

As for Ageates, he is seized by a demon on his way home and dies. Stratocles is saved from harm because he takes Andrew’s body. All other people in the group are seized by fear and become believers. Among the additions of the Greek Recension 2 are the introduction of Maximilla, Aegeates’ wife, who places Andrew’s body in her own tomb, and an epistolary closing placing the events on the day before the kalends of December (November 30).

Named historical figures and characters: Aegeates (proconsul), Andrew (apostle), devil, Jesus Christ, Maximilla (wife of Aegeates), Peter (apostle), Satan, Stratocles.

Geographical locations: Achaea, Patras.

2. RESOURCES

2.1 Web Sites and Other Online Resources

“Martyrdom of Andrew.” Literal Translation of the Bible. Transcription and literal translation of Tischendorf’s edition.

“Two Anonymous Latin Martyrdoms of Andrew.” The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity (summary of BHL 428 by David Lambert, with discussion and bibliography).

“Andrew the Apostle.” The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity.

2.2 Iconography

Andrew Triptych, Trier Cathedral Treasury: twelfth-century triptych with images of Andrew before Aegeates and the crucifixion of Andrew.

3. BIBLIOGRAPHY

3.1 Manuscripts and Editions

3.1.1 Church Slavic (translation of combination of Ep. Achaea and Acts of Andrew Martyrium Rec. 4)

St. Petersburg, Library of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 31.6.26 (Tolstoj Nr. 40), fols. 133-135 (16th cent.)

Wroclaw, Biblioteka Nac. Instituta im. Ossolinskich, 38, fols. 423–424 (16th cent.)

Franko, Ivan. Apokrifi î legendy z ukraïnsǐkich rukopisiv. 5 vols. Lviv: Nakladom Naukovoho Tovaristva îmeni Ševčenka, 1896–1910 (text from Wroclaw 38, vol. 3, pp. 368–369).

Otero, Aurelio de Santos. Die handschriftliche Überlieferung der altslavischen Apokryphen. 2 vols. PTS 20 and 23. Berlin: De Gruyter, 1978–1981 (manuscripts listed, vol. 1 p. 73 and 80).

Thomson, Francis J. Review of Aurelio de Santos Otero, Die handscriftliche Überlieferung der altslavischen Apokryphen, vol. 1. Slavonic and East European Review 58 [1980]: 256–68 at 258–59 (with corrections to de Santos Otero).

3.1.2 Greek (BHG 93–94, 94c)

Recension 1 (BHG 93) ~ sigla based on Bonnet

M Messina, Biblioteca Universitaria, San Salvatoris 4, fols. 98^v–103^r (12th/13th cent.)

O Oxford, Bodleian Library, Auct. E 5 12 (Misc. 77) (olim Huntington 457), fols. 270^v–276^r (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes; catalog

S Rome, Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale Vittorio Emanuele II, Gr. 20, fols. 3^r–11^v(15th cent.)

Y Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Reg. gr. Pio II 22, fols. 1^r–6^v (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Chig. R.VI.39, fols. 200^v–207^r (12th cent.)

Woog, Carl Christian. Presbytorum et diaconorum Achaiae de martyrio sancti Andreae apostoli epistola encyclica graece nun primum. Leipzig: Sumptibus Heredum Lanckisianorum, 1749 (editio princeps based on O, pp. 233–352 with Latin translation and a partial reproduction of the text by Surius, pp. 352–58).

Gallandius, Andreas (André Galland). Bibliotheca veterum patrum antiquorumque scriptorum ecclesiasticorum. 14 vols. Venice: Joannis Baptiste Albritii Hieron. Fil., 1765–1781 (synoptic text, vol. 1, pp. 152–65 with Woog’s text and translation and a new translation; introduction, pp. xxxix–xlvi).

Morcelli, Stafano Antonio. Kalendarium ecclesiae Constantinopolitanae. 2 vols. Rome: ex Officina Giunchiana maiore, 1788 (reproduction of Woog’s text and translation, vol. 1, pp. 245–58).

Recension 2 (BHG 94) ~ sigla based on Bonnet

A Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 881, fols. 282^v–291^r (10th cent.)

B Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Coisl. 121, fols. 37–41 (1342) ~ Pinakes; Gallica

E Escorial, Real Biblioteca, Y II 9 (Andrés 264), fols. 113^r–119^v (11th cent.)

R Rome, Biblioteca Angelica, gr. 108 (B 2.2), fols. 85^r–90^v (11th/12th cent.)

U Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. gr. 866, 144^r–147^v (11th/12th cent.)

V Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. gr. 655, fols. 98^v–106^r (16th cent.) ~ Pinakes

X Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Ott. gr. 422, fols. 316^r–323^v (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Z Izmir, Euaggelikē Scholē, A-04 (17th cent.) ~ Pinakes; destroyed in the fire of 1922

Athens, Ethnikê Bibliothêkê tês Hellados, gr. 1007, fol. 220^r–232^v (17th cent.)

Milan, Biblioteca Ambrosiana, F 144 sup., fols. 75^r–79^r (10th/11th cent.)

Migne, Jacques Paul. Patrologiae cursus completus: Series graeca. Vol. 2. Paris: Cerf, 1886 (reproduction of the introduction from Galland, cols. 1199–1216, and the edition by Tischendorf, cols. 1217–48).

Tischendorf, Constantin. Acta apostolorum apocrypha. Leipzig: Mendelssohn, 1851 (edition based on A, B, O, and the Latin text by Surius, pp. 105–30; introduction, pp. xl–xlvii).

Recension 3 (BHG 94c)

Messina, Biblioteca Universitaria, San Salvatoris 30, fols. 148^v–152^r (1307/1308) ~ similar to recension 1 but lacking epistolary introduction

Messina, Biblioteca Universitaria, San Salvatoris 89, fols. 19^r–26^r (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Manus

Bonnet, Maximilien. Acta apostolorum apocrypha. 2 vols. in 3 parts. Edited by Richard A. Lipsius and Maximilien Bonnet. Leipzig: Mendelssohn, 1889–1903; reprinted Hildesheim: Georg Olms, 1959 (parallel edition of Greek and Latin texts, vol. 2.1, pp. 1–37).

Prieur, J.-M. Acta Andreae. 2 vols. CCSA 5–6. Turnhout: Brepols, 1989 (discussion of text, pp. 427–28; utilized in notes to edition of Martyrdom of Andrew, pp. 442–549).

3.1.3 Middle Irish (incorporated into the Leabhar Breac)

Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, 23 P 16 (the Leabhar Breac), pp. 178b–179b (1408–1411)

Atkinson, Robert, ed. and trans. The Passions and the Homilies from Leabhar Breac. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy, 1887 (text, pp. 106–10; English translation, pp. 351–56).

3.1.4 Latin (BHL 428)

Extant in 180 manuscripts; in 43 it is copied after the Miracles of Andrew by Gregory of Tours. On these manuscripts and editions, see Acts of Andrew (Latin).

Bonnet’s manuscripts:

C Rome, Biblioteca Casanatense, 718 (B.I.3), fols. 1–3 (12th cent.)

D Dijon, Bibliothèque Municipale, Ancien Fonds 40 (22) (10th/11th cent.)

E Dijon, Bibliothèque Municipale, Ancien Fonds 642 (383), fols. 24–25 (13th cent.)

M Montpellier, Bibliothèque de la Faculté de médicine, 55, 8^v–11^v (ca. 800)

P Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 5327 (9th cent.) ~ Gallica

Q Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 11748 (10th cent.) ~ Gallica

R Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 11750 (11th cent.) ~ Gallica

S Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 14364 (12th cent.) ~ Gallica

T Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 9737, fols. 10^r–14^v (12th cent.) ~ Gallica

U Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 12601 (12th cent.) ~ Gallica

V Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 13773 (12th cent.) ~ Gallica

X Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 5273, fols. 21^v–25^r (13th cent.) ~ Gallica

Additional select manuscripts:

Graz, Universitätsbibliothek, 412 (9th cent.) ~ IMAGES

Munich, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Clm 13074, fols. 52^r–54^v (1175)

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 11750, fols. 99^v–103^r (11th cent.)

Paris, Bibliothèque Saint-Geneviève, 547 (12th cent.)

Paris, Bibliothèque Saint-Geneviève, 557 (11th/12th cent.)

Paris, Bibliothèque Saint-Geneviève, 558 (13th cent.)

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 5274, fols. 15^r–18^v (12th cent.) ~ Gallica

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 12602, fols. 26^r–29^r (12th cent.) ~ Gallica

St. Gallen, Stiftsbibliothek, 561 (9th cent.) ~ e-codices

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. lat. 5771, fols. 8^v–12^r (9th/10th cent.) ~ BAV

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. lat. 9499, fols. 166^r–168^v (14th/15th cent.) ~ BAV

Andruzzi, Luigi. Statera veritatis Emin. ac Rev. Principi S. R. E. Cardinali Francisco Barberino. Rome: Ex typographia Antonii de Rubeis è Foro Rotundae, 1731 (Latin text, pp. 171–89).

Du Saussay, André. Andreas frater Simonis Petri seu de gloria sanctae Andreae apostoli libri XII. Paris: Frater Simonis Petri seu de gloria sanctae, 1656 (Latin text, appendix 3–10).

Fàbrega Grau, Àngel. Pasionario hispánico. 2 vols. Madrid: Instituto P. Enrique Florez, 1953–1955 (Latin text based on British Library, Add. 25600, vol. 2, pp. 59–64).

Lippomano, Luigi (Aloisius Lipomanus). Sanctorum priscorum patrum vitae numero centum sexagintatres, per gravissimos et probatissimos auctores conscripta. 8 vols. Rome: ex Officina Salviana and Venice: ad Signum Spei, 1551–1560 (Latin text, vol. 1, pp. 23^v–25^v; 2nd ed. pp. 373–76).

Mombritius, Boninus. Sanctuarium seu Vitae Sanctorum. 2 vols. Milan: Tip. epónima, 1477–1478; repr. Paris: Fonetmoing et Socii, 1910 (editio princeps of the Latin text, vol. 1, pp. 55–57; 2nd ed. pp. 104–107).

Surius, Laurentius. De probatis sanctorum historiis. 6 vols. Cologne Agrippinae: Calenius and Quentel, 1572–1581 (reprint of Latin text by Lipomanus, vol. 6, pp. 619–22 (1581 ed. pp. 696–700; 1618 ed. vol. 11, pp. 653–55).

Surius, Laurentius. Historiae seu vitae sanctorum, juxta optimam coloniensem editionem. 1570–1575. 13 vols. Turin: Marietti, 1875–1880 (reprint of Latin text by Lipomanus, vol. 11, pp. 744–50).

3.1.5 Old English (incorporated into Ælfric of Eynsham’s First Series of Catholic Homilies I.38)

London, British Museum, Royal 7 C. xii

Cambridge, University Library, Gg. 3. 28

Clemoes, Peter, ed. Ælfric’s Catholic Homilies, The First Series: Text. EETS s.s., 17. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997 (pp. 507–19).

Thorpe, Benjamin. The Homilies of the Anglo-Saxon Church. The First Part, Containing the Sermones Catholici, or Homilies of Aelfric. 2 vols. London: Ælfric Society, 1844–1846 (vol. 1, pp. 576–99).

3.1.6 Middle English (poetic version incorporated into the South English Legendary; influenced also by the Golden Legend)

Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, 145 (ca. 1300–1325) ~ IMAGES

London, British Library, Harley 2277, fols. 174^v–176^v(ca. 1300) ~ CATALOG

Oxford, Bodleian Library, Ashmole 43, fols. 199^r–200^v(14th cent.) ~ CATALOG

Oxford, Bodleian Library, Laud Misc. 463, fols. 124^v–126^r(14th cent.) ~ CATALOG

Furnivall, Frederick J. Early English Poems and Lives of Saints. Berlin: A. Asher & Co., 1862 (text based on BL Harley 2277, pp. 98–101).

D’Evelyn, Charlotte, and Anna J. Mill, eds. The South English Legendary. 3 vols. London: Oxford University Press, 1956–1959 (text based on CCC 145 in vol. 2, pp. 543–46).

Whatley, E. Gordon, Anne B. Thompson, and Robert K. Upchurch, eds. Saints’ Lives in Middle English Collections. Middle English Texts Series. Kalamazoo: Medieval Institute Publications, 2004 (text based on Ashmole 43, pp. — ).

3.2 Modern Translations

For translations as part of the Apostolic Histories collection, see the translations listed for the Acts of Andrew (Latin).

3.2.1 English

Atkinson, Robert, ed. and trans. The Passions and the Homilies from Leabhar Breac. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy, 1887 (Irish text, pp. 106–10; English translation, pp. 351–56).

Walker, Alexander. Apocryphal Gospels, Acts and Revelations. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1873. 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 (translation of text by Tischendorf, pp. 335–47).

3.2.2 Italian

Erbetta, Mario. Gli apocrifi del Nuovo Testamento. 3 vols. Italy: Marietti, 1975–1981 (translation of Greek 2 in vol. 2, pp. 429–37).

Moraldi, Luigi, ed. and trans. Apocrifi del Nuovo Testamento. 2 vols. Classici delle religioni, Sezione quarta, La religione cattolica 24. Turin: Unione Tipografico-Editrice Torinese, 1971 (translation of the Latin text from Bonnet with the interpolations from Greek 2 in the notes, vol. 2, pp. 1396–1405).

3.3 General Works

Bonnet, Maximilen. “La Passion de l’apôtre André en quelle langue a-t-elle été écrite?” ByzZ 3 (1894): 458–69.

DeGregorio, Scott. “‘Þegenlic’ or ‘Floesclic’:Old English Prose Legends of St. Andrew.” Journal of English and Germanic Philology 102.4 (2003): 449–64.

Fabricius, Johann Albert. Codex Apocryphus Novi Testamenti. 2 vols. 2nd ed. Hamburg: Schiller, 1719 (brief discussion, pp. 745–47).

Flamion, Joseph. Les Actes apocryphes de l’apôtre André: Les Actes d’André et de Matthias, de Pierre et d’André et les textes apparentés. Leuven: Bureau du recueil, 1911 (pp. 3–43).

Lanzillota, Fernando Lautero Roig. “The Apocryphal Acts of Andrew: A New Approach to the Character, Thought, and Meaning of the Primitive Text.” PhD. diss, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, 2004 (see pp. 74–75, 80–81, 110–120).

Lipsius, Richard A. Die apokryphen Apostelgeschichten und Apostellegenden. 2 vols. in 3 parts. Braunschweig, 1883–1890 (see vol. 1, pp. 563–67).

Prieur, Jean-Marc. Acta Andreae. 2 vols. CCSA 5–6. Turnhout: Brepols, 1989 (see vol. 1, pp. 13–14).

__________. “Les Actes apocryphes de l‘apôtre André: Présentation des diverses traditions apocryphes et état de la question.”ANRW II 25,6 (1988): 4384–4414 (pp. 4397–98).