Standard abbreviation: Hom. Res. Pass.
Other titles: Discourse on the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ, Homily II on the Passion, On the Passion I
Clavis numbers: ECCA 802; CPC 0114
Category: Passion Narratives
Related literature: Homily on the Life and the Passion of Christ, by Cyril of Jerusalem
Compiled by Tony Burke, York University
Citing this resource (using Chicago Manual of Style): Burke, Tony. “Homily on the Resurrection and the Passion of Christ by Pseudo-Cyril of Jerusalem.” e-Clavis: Christian Apocrypha. Accessed DAY MONTH YEAR. https://www.nasscal.com/e-clavis-christian-apocrypha/https://www.nasscal.com/e-clavis-christian-apocrypha/homily-on-the-resurrection-and-the-passion-by-pseudo-cyril-of-jerusalem/.
Created February 2020. Current as of January 2024.
1. SUMMARY
The Homily on the Resurrection and the Passion has not yet been published in full. The only portion to yet see print is found in two folia from MML (Amh. Copt. Pap. 4.3–4) published by Walter Crum in 1913. Until further work is completed on the text, all that can be offered here is a summary based on Roelof van den Broek’s overview of the contents of MML M595. The homily is attributed to Cyril of Jerusalem, who is credited with a number of pseudepigraphical Coptic homilies. In several of these, Cyril claims to have found an apostolic memoir in Jerusalem; no such claim is made in Hom. Res. Pass., but the text is of interest for the apocryphal traditions that it contains.
Cyril delivers the homily on Easter Sunday, the Feast of the Resurrection. It includes mention of Jesus opening the gates of Hades, thus allowing the saints of old to come forward and ascend to heaven. Then follows the story of Christ’s passion and resurrection, mainly according to John. The Last Supper and the prediction of Judas’ betrayal (John 13) are recounted, leading into an extended discussion of Judas’ fate based on Ps. 109:7–17. Later in the text Judas is urged by the devil to hang himself; the demon says, “if you are in the underworld before him, he will have pity on you and bring you up with him.” Select episodes from Holy Week are presented: the pact between the Jewish leaders, the agony in the garden, and the arrest; as in Homily on the Life and the Passion of Christ, also attributed to Cyril, Judas needs to identify Jesus with a kiss because Jesus’ appearance changes. The disciples are arrested but then released at the request of Jesus. Then Jesus appears before Pilate, and here Ps.-Cyril emphasizes the governor’s innocence in Jesus’ death, saying “he believed in Jesus too.” This is followed by a section focusing on the Virgin Mary. She appears first at the foot of the cross, but departs before Jesus’ death. Later, she comes to the tomb and encounters the risen Jesus. This episode is expanded with a lengthy lament by Mary and a long speech by Jesus. The text concludes with the bribing of the guards from Matt 28:11–15.
Named Historical Figures and Characters (preliminary): Aaron, Abel, Abraham (patriarch), Adam (patriarch), Arpachshad, Cyril of Jerusalem, David (king), Daniel (prophet), devil, Elijah (prophet), Enoch (patriarch), Ezekiel (prophet), Holy Spirit, Isaac (patriarch), Jacob (patriarch), Jared, Jeremiah (prophet), Jesaja, Jesus Christ, John (son of Zebedee), Joseph (patriarch), Joseph of Arimathea, Judas Iscariot, Lazarus (of Bethany), Levi (patriarch), Malchus, Mary (Virgin), Methusalah, Moses (patriarch), Nicodemus, Noah (patriarch), Peter (apostle), Pontius Pilate, Reuben (patriarch), Samuel (prophet), Simeon (patriarch).
Geographical Locations (preliminary): Gethsemane, Jerusalem.
2. RESOURCES
3. BIBLIOGRAPHY
3.1 Manuscripts and Editions
3.1.1 Coptic (Sahidic; PAThs entry)
Manuscript A:
New York, Morgan Library and Museum, M594 + New York, Columbia University Library, Plimpton 1 (9th cent.) (=MICH.BQ)
Manuscript B:
New York, Morgan Library and Museum, M595, fols. 1r–27v (855) (=MICH.BR)
Manuscript C:
New York, Morgan Library and Museum, Amh. Copt. Pap. 4.3–4 (7th cent.)
Crum, Walter E. Theological Texts from Coptic Papyri. Anecdota Oxoniensia, Semitic Series, 12. Oxford; Clarendon Press, 1913 (text and trans. of C, pp. 11–14).
Manuscript D (MONB.GD; fols. 97–160; PAThs entry):
pp. 15–16: Vienna, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, K 9475
pp. 17–18: Oxford, Bodleian Library, Copt. E 177
pp. 19–20: Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Copt 1315, fol. 117
pp. 35–38: Naples, Biblioteca Nazionale Vittorio Emanuele III, IB, 12.14–15
pp. 39–42: Naples, Biblioteca Nazionale Vittorio Emanuele III, IB, 13.41–42
pp. 43–46: Naples, Biblioteca Nazionale Vittorio Emanuele III, IB, 12.16–17
pp. 47–48: Naples, Biblioteca Nazionale Vittorio Emanuele III, IB, 13.43
pp. 81–82: Paris, Musée du Louvre, E 10084
pp. 97–98: Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Copt 1317, fol. 18
pp. 101–106: Naples, Biblioteca Nazionale Vittorio Emanuele III, IB, 13.44–46
pp. 121–122: Cairo, Coptic Museum, 9227
pp. 129–130: Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Copt 1317, fol. 64
pp. 131–132: Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Copt 12917, fol. 68
pp. 133–134: Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Copt 1317, fol. 60
pp. 137–138: Naples, Biblioteca Nazionale Vittorio Emanuele III, IB, 14.36
Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Copt 1317, fol. 60
pp. 139–140: Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Copt 1316, fol. 54
pp. 159–160: Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Copt 12917, fol. 64
p. 161: Vienna, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, K2644
p. 163: London, British Library, Or. 3571A, fol. 147
Sotheby’s 03
Suciu, Alin. “The Borgian Coptic Manuscripts in Naples: Supplementary Identifications and Notes to a Recently Published Catalogue.” OCP 77 (2011): 299–325 (details on MONB.GD, pp. 314–15).
Additional manuscripts and fragments:
MONB.OI, pp. 1–56 (10th cent.)
MONB.MI (PAThs entry)
MONB.MJ (PAThs entry)
MONB.ML (PAThs entry)
Ann Arbor, University of Michigan Library, 592 (PAThs entry)
Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Copte 12913, fol. 67 (PAThs entry)
Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Copte 1314, fol. 166 (PAThs entry)
Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Copte 1315, fol. 139 (PAThs entry)
3.1.2 Ethiopic
Addis Ababa, National Archives and Library of Ethiopia, NL MS 28, fols. 1r–8v (13th/14th cent.) ~ HMML
Tānāsee, Kebran Gabriel Monastery, 35, fols. 102v–105r (18th cent.)
3.2 Modern Translations
3.3 General Works
Broek, Roelof van den. Pseudo-Cyril of Jerusalem, On the Life and the Passion of Christ. A Coptic Apocryphon. Supplements to Vigiliae Christianae 118. Leiden: Brill, 2013 (summary based on A, pp. 81–87).
Buzi, Paola. Catalogo dei manoscritti copti Borgiani conservati presso la Biblioteca Nazionale “Vittorio Emanuele III” di Napoli. Academia dei Licei – Memorie, Serie IX, 25/1 Rome: Scienze e Lettere, 2009 (pp. 286–87 and 292–93).
Campagnano, Antonella. Ps. Cirillo di Gerusalemme: Omelie copte sulla Passione, sulla Croce e sulla Vergine. Testi e documenti per lo studio dell’ Antichità 65. Milan: Cisalpino-Goliardica, 1980.
Erho, Ted M. “New Evidence for the Apocalypse of Peter in Ethiopia?” Pages 318–76 in The Apocalypse of Peter in Context. Edited by Daniel C. Maier, Jörg Frey, and Thomas J. Kraus. SECA 21. Leuven: Peeters, 2024 (see p. 321).
Lucchesi, Enzo. “D’une Vie de Marie à une Homélie sur la Passion.” AnBoll 114 (1996): 269–72.
Orlandi, Tito. “Cirillo di Gerusalemme nella letteratura copta.” Vetera Christinanorum 9 (1972): 93–100.