Homilia de Trinitate et Creatione Archangeli Michaelis, auctore Pseudo-Palladiano Ephesio
Standard abbreviation: Hom. Trin. Mich.
Other titles: none
Clavis numbers: ECCA 118
Category: Pseudo-Apostolic Memoirs
Related literature: Attiri Book of Michael; Investiture of the Archangel Michael; Encomium on the Archangel Michael, by Pseudo-Timothy of Alexandria; Investiture of Abbaton, the Angel of Death, by Pseudo-Timothy of Alexandria; Homily on the Archangel Michael and the Miracle of Dorotheus and Theopiste, by Pseudo-Theodosius of Alexandria
Compiled by Lasse Løvlund Toft (Universitetet i Oslo)
Citing this resource (using Chicago Manual of Style): Toft, Lasse Løvlund. “Homily on the Trinity and the Creation of the Archangel Michael by Pseudo-Palladian of Ephesus.” e-Clavis: Christian Apocrypha. Accessed DAY MONTH YEAR. https://www.nasscal.com/e-clavis-christian-apocrypha/homily-on-the-trinity-and-the-creation-of-the-archangel-michael-by-pseudo-palladian-of-ephesus/.
Posted March 2026.
1. SUMMARY
The Homily on the Trinity and the Creation of the Archangel Michael is attributed to the otherwise unknown Palladian (Ballādiyānūs), bishop of Ephesus. While all Arabic witnesses transmit this name or various corruptions of it, they almost certainly all converge on an earlier lost exemplar with an Arabic scribal corruption of the name Flavian (Phlabianos), bishop of Ephesus, a fictitious patristic author known from a Sahidic Encomium on the early Alexandrian bishops Demetrius and Peter (cc0155) extant in a single manuscript from Upper Egypt (published in Ernest A. W. Budge. Coptic Martyrdoms in the Dialect of Upper Egypt. London: British Museum, 1914, summary: liii–lvi; Coptic text: 137–156; English translation: 390–408).
The following summary gives a general description of Recension A. Recension B is quite similar though a little shorter and has many textual transpositions which arguably are all secondary.
After a preface that succinctly describes the theme of the homily and the reason for celebration—namely the Trinity and the celebration of the Archangel Michael’s creation on 12 Kiyahk/Choiak—the homily begins with a highly formulaic homiletic proemium. The homilist utters a dense, almost credal description of Trinitarian theology of how the three hypostases in the Godhead relate to each other. Then follow appeals to God to grant him favors and to Michael for intercession. The homilist, who identifies himself as Palladian the bishop of Ephesus, describes to his congregation how he—while searching for other writings in the library—found a book, which turns out to be written by the apostles. The contents of this book are as follows:
One day, when the apostles are gathered, Christ appears and greets his apostles. Peter begins to interrogate Christ about the occasions for specific feasts of Michael and why he had not told them about the day of the creation of Michael, just as he had told them about the day of his investiture of Michael with authority over the heavenly armies on 12 Hatūr/Hathor, and about the day, when Christ granted Michael the role of savior of the human souls from the diabolical forces and of intercessor for God’s creation in general on 12 Baʾūnah/Paone. Peter pleads Christ to reveal this occasion to them that they may preach it throughout the world.
Christ answers and says that he will reveal everything about the creation of Michael. The Father and the Holy Spirit were very glad on the day of Michael’s creation, since they had found an intercessor for humanity, both the living and the dead. God commanded Michael to open his mouth, after which all three divine hypostases blew the breath of life into him, filling him up with the Holy Spirit, compassion, and tenderness towards God’s creation. Thereupon Satan, the enemy of all good, became anxious and fell into heartache. The angelic hosts, on the other hand, rejoiced, worshipped God and began singing a trisagionic hymn about the glory of Michael’s creation and investiture. The day of his creation is explicated as 12 Kiyahk/Choiak. After further angelic praises, God the Father informed Michael of his soteriological purpose, and said that he will bless, show mercy and grant grace to everyone who performs the commemoration of Michael on earth, gives offerings and blessings in his name, helps needy and unfortunate social groups, writes a book of his praise, or builds a church in his name. At death, Michael is to shield the pious soul with his luminous garments, deliver it into God’s hand and ascend to the heavenly veil and intercede for the soul. Christ then describes the salvific delights of the souls who keep the commemorations of the Virgin, the angels, and the saints.
Upon receiving this protological revelation, the apostles are amazed at God’s tenderness and gifts of mercy to humanity. They glorify the Trinity, and then Christ disappears and the apostles disperse to preach throughout the whole world. Having read the apostolic book, Palladian reiterates the circumstances for his discovery of the book and continues his preaching to the congregation on the occasion of the day of Michael’s creation.
Named Historical Figures and Characters: Flavian/Palladian (bishop), Job, Mary (Virgin), Michael (archangel), Peter (apostle), Satan.
Geographical Locations: Ephesus.
2. RESOURCES
3. BIBLIOGRAPHY
3.1 Manuscripts and Editions
3.1.1 Arabic
Recension A:
Wadi al-Natrun, Deir al-Suryan 253, fols. 47v–53v (1709)
Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, arabe 4871, fols. 51r–58v (18th cent.) ~ Gallica
Wadi al-Natrun, Deir al-Suryan 792, pp. 139–160 (19th cent.)
Wadi al-Natrun, Deir al-Suryan 287, fols. 91r–97r (before 1725)
Recension B:
Wadi al-Natrun, Deir al-Suryan 316, fols. 2r–10v (1735)
Unknown recension:
Cairo, Cloister of St. Menas 134 (Theol. 18), fols. 191v–199r (1665)
Cairo, Coptic Patriarchate, Graf 454; Simaika 443 (Theol. 244), fols. 111r–118v (18th cent.)
Cairo, Coptic Patriarchate, Graf 457; Simaika 640 (Hist. 57), fols. 1r–11r (17th–18th cent.)
Cairo, Coptic Patriarchate, Graf 467; Simaika 646 (Hist. 26), fols. 145r–151r (1719/20)
Cairo, Coptic Patriarchate, Simaika 624 (Hist. 64) (1662/3) [uncertain]
Cairo, Coptic Patriarchate, Graf 447 [uncertain]
Graf, Georg. Geschichte der christlichen arabischen Literatur. Erster Band: Die Übersetzungen. Studi e testi 118. Vatican State, 1944, 543(g) (mention of the Arabic witnesses known to Graf).
Toft, Lasse Løvlund. The Creation, Investiture and Compassion of the Archangel Michael: New Witnesses and Studies in Coptic and Copto-Arabic Literature and Liturgy (forthcoming; edition, translation and study of both recensions, updated list of manuscripts).
3.1.2 (Nubio-)Greek
Two Qasr el-Wizz fragments of a parchment codex, excavation nos. 65-10-59 + 65-11-99
Scanlon, George T. “Excavations at Kasr el-Wizz: A Preliminary Report. II.” The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 58 (1972): 7–42, at 12n1 + 37 + plate VI,1 (on the archaeological find spots).
Toft, Lasse Løvlund. The Creation, Investiture and Compassion of the Archangel Michael: New Witnesses and Studies in Coptic and Copto-Arabic Literature and Liturgy (forthcoming; identification of the fragments, codicological reconstruction, edition and translation).
Tsakos, Alexandros. “The Liber Institutionis Michaelis in Medieval Nubia.” Dotawo 1 (2014): 51–62, at 54–57 (discussion of the fragments prior to the identification of the content).
3.2 Translations
3.2.1 English
Toft, Lasse Løvlund. The Creation, Investiture and Compassion of the Archangel Michael: New Witnesses and Studies in Coptic and Copto-Arabic Literature and Liturgy (forthcoming).
3.3 General Works
Müller, C. Detlef G. Die Engellehre der koptischen Kirche: Untersuchungen zur Geschichte der christlichen Frömmigkeit in Ägypten. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 1959 (mention of the homily’s existence, p. 178).
Toft, Lasse Løvlund. The Creation, Investiture and Compassion of the Archangel Michael: New Witnesses and Studies in Coptic and Copto-Arabic Literature and Liturgy (forthcoming).
