Standard abbreviation: Hom. Dorm. Vir. Copt.
Other titles: none
Clavis numbers: ECCA 128
Category: Dormition Accounts
Related literature
Compiled by Tony Burke, York University
Citing this resource (using Chicago Manual of Style): Burke, Tony. “Homily on the Dormition of the Virgin (Coptic Fragments).” e-Clavis: Christian Apocrypha. Accessed DAY MONTH YEAR. https://www.nasscal.com/e-clavis-christian-apocrypha/homily-on-the-dormition-of-the-virgin-coptic-fragments/.
Created November 2024.
1. SUMMARY
This unidentified homily is extant in three folios of a damaged codex. Only one folio has been published to date. It begins with a chronology of Mary’s life: she gave birth to Jesus when she was 13, when he was crucified she was 48, and died at the age of 60. After the ascension, she preached with the apostles. On the evening of 20 Tobe, the apostles gather in Jerusalem for her death. Mary asks Peter to stand with her while the other apostles pray. At midnight, Mary prays to the Lord and he appears with a host of angels. He announces to Mary and the apostles that no power of darkness will come to her. Then the text breaks off. After a gap of two pages, the narrative resumes with the second extant folio. At this point in the narrative, Mary is in paradise.
Named Historical Figures and Characters: Abraham (patriarch), Adam (patriarch), Mary (Virgin), Peter (apostle).
Geographical Locations: Jerusalem, paradise.
2. RESOURCES
3. BIBLIOGRAPHY
3.1 Manuscripts and Editions
3.1.1 Coptic (Sahidic)
MONB.OO (PAThs)
pp. 9[9]–100: Vienna, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, K7589 ~ ONB
pp. 103–104: Berlin, Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, Ms. Or. fol. 1350, fol. 3
pp. ?–?: Vienna, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, K9220 ~ ONB
Förster, Hans. Transitus Mariae. Beiträge zur koptischen Überlieferung. Mit einen Edition von P. Vindob. K 7589, Cambridge Add 1876 8 und Paris BN Copte 12917 ff. 28 und 29. GCS, 14. Neutestamentliche Apockryphen 2. Berlin – New York: Walter de Gruyter, 2006 (edition of Vienna K7589, pp. 13–15; German translation, pp. 15–16).
Hoehne, Gerhard. “Drei koptisch-sahidische Texte aus der Königlichen Bibliothek zu Berlin.” Zeitschrift für ägyptische Sprache 52 (1915): 119–18 (edition of the Berlin fragment, pp. 126–28).
*Wessely, Carl. Griechische und koptische Texte theologischen Inhalts. 5 vols. Studien zur Paläographie und Papyruskunde 9, 11–12, 15, 18. Leipzig: Avenarius, 1909–1917 (edition of Vienna K9400, vol. 4, pp. 123–40).
3.2 Modern Translations
3.2.1 German
Förster, Hans. Transitus Mariae. Beiträge zur koptischen Überlieferung. Mit einen Edition von P. Vindob. K 7589, Cambridge Add 1876 8 und Paris BN Copte 12917 ff. 28 und 29. GCS, 14. Neutestamentliche Apockryphen 2. Berlin – New York: Walter de Gruyter, 2006 (edition of Vienna K7589, pp. 13–15; German translation, pp. 15–16).
3.3 General Works
3.3.1 Dormition Narratives
Esbroeck, Michel van. “Les textes litteraires sur l’Assomption avant le Xe siècle.” Pages 265–85 in Les actes apocryphes des apôtres. Edited by François Bovon. Publications de la faculte de theologie de l’Universite de Geneve 4. Geneva: Labor et Fides, 1981.
McNamara, Martin. “Transitus Mariae: General Introduction.” Pages 225–44 in Apocrypha Hiberniae II. Apocalyptica 2. Edited by Martin McNamara et al. CCSA 21. Turnhout: Brepols, 2019.
Mimouni, Simon. Dormition et assumption de Marie: Histoire des traditions anciennnes. Paris: Beauchesne, 1995.
__________. Les traditions anciennes sur la Dormition et l’Assomption de Marie: Études littéraires, historiques et doctrinales. Supplements to Vigiliae Christianae 104. Leiden: Brill, 2011.
Shoemaker, Stephen J. Ancient Traditions of the Virgin Mary’s Dormition and Assumption. Oxford Early Christian Studies. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002.
__________. Mary in Early Christian Faith and Devotion. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2016.
Wenger, Antoine. L’Assomption de la T.S. Vierge dans la tradition byzantine du VIe au Xe siècle. Études et documents. Archives de l’Orient chrétien 5. Paris: Institut français d’études byzantines, 1955.
3.3.2 Coptic Fragments
Förster, Hans. Transitus Mariae. Beiträge zur koptischen Überlieferung. Mit einen Edition von P. Vindob. K 7589, Cambridge Add 1876 8 und Paris BN Copte 12917 ff. 28 und 29. GCS, 14. Neutestamentliche Apockryphen 2. Berlin – New York: Walter de Gruyter, 2006 (palaeographical analysis and commentary of Vienna K7589, pp. 3–41).
Norelli, Enrico. “Maria nella letteratura apocrifa cristiana antica.” Pages 143–254 in Storia della Mariologia. Vol. 1: Dal modello biblico al modello letterario. Edited by E. Dal Covolo and A. Serra. Rome: Città Nuova, 2009 (pp. 249ff.).
Suciu, Alin. “Notes Concerning Some Coptic Fragments Relating to Mary the Mother of Jesus.” Teologinen Aikakauskirja 117 (2012): 198–201.
