Martyrdom of Matthias

Martyrium Matthaei

Standard abbreviation: Mart. Mth.

Other titles: none

Clavis numbers: ECCA 482; CANT 280.2

Category: Apocryphal Acts

Related literature: Acts of Andrew and Matthias

Compiled by Tony Burke, York University

Citing this resource (using Chicago Manual of Style): Burke, Tony. “Martyrdom of Matthias.” e-Clavis: Christian Apocrypha. Accessed DAY MONTH YEAR. https://www.nasscal.com/e-clavis-christian-apocrypha/martyrdom-of-matthias/.

Created November 2020. Current as of January 2024.

1. SUMMARY

The martyrdom of Matthias takes place on 8 Baramhāt (Julian March 4, in Copto-Arabic Synaxarion and the Ethiopic text; 8 Parmouti [April 3] in the Arabic text). The text begins with a recounting of the selection of Matthias as the replacement of Judas Iscariot in the Twelve (Acts 1:21–26). After this, Matthias departs to Damascus, where he delivers a speech to the crowds condemning the worship of idols. The speech includes a number of orthodox trinitarian statements (“He is always in heaven with his Father without separation,” a “single Godhead; One in substance”) and advocates asceticism (“keep yourselves free from pollution, and . . . do not increase your intercourse with women”).

The crowd becomes agitated, thinking Matthias is one of the twelve “wizards” who have been going around the countries separating women from their husbands (a common charge in the later apocryphal acts). They seize Matthias, bind him, and place him on an iron bed. A fire is kindled beneath it with flames shooting high in the air. Three days go by and Matthias is not only still alive but his clothes are not even singed. Another seven days pass and he is still unharmed. As a result, many become believers, but a small group are undeterred and stir up the fire for another 24 days and nights. Matthias is finally removed from the flames and his body is whole from head to foot. He commands the people of the city to destroy all of their idols and throw them in the sea. Then he builds and consecrates a church, baptizes everyone, and delivers some final teaching before going on his way. The text concludes with a note that Matthias died in “one of the cities of the Jews” called Malâwân (Ethiopic: Phalaeon).

Named historical figures and characters: Adam (patriarch), Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, Judas Iscariot, Mary (Virgin), Satan.

Geographical locations: Damascus, Malâwân (Phalaeon).

2. RESOURCES

2.1 Online Resources

“Saint Matthias.” Wikipedia.

3. BIBLIOGRAPHY

3.1 Manuscripts and Editions

3.1.1 Arabic (BHO 731)

3.1.1.1 Arabic Script

Beirut, Bibliothèque Orientale de l’Université Saint Joseph, 1426 (1855) ~ contents unconfirmed

Cairo, Coptic Catholic Patriarchate Library, Graf 472 (18th cent.)

Cairo, Coptic Catholic Patriarchate Library, Hist. 1 (13th/14th cent.)

Cairo, Coptic Catholic Patriarchate Library, Hist. 2 (14th cent.)

Cairo, Coptic Catholic Patriarchate Library, Hist. 3 (1626)

Cairo, Coptic Catholic Patriarchate Library, Hist. 6 (not dated) ~ contents unconfirmed

Cairo, Coptic Catholic Patriarchate Library, Hist. 7 (14th cent.)

Cairo, Coptic Catholic Patriarchate Library, Hist. 16 (15th cent.)

Cairo, Coptic Museum, 60, fols. 237^r–240^r (19th cent.)

Florence, Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Firenze, Magl. III 29, fols. 197^v–200^v (ante 1664)

Leipzig, Universitätsbibliothek, Or. 1067 (Tischendorf 32) (15th cent.)

Mount Sinai, Monē tēs Hagias Aikaterinēs, ar. 539, fols. 194^r–196^v (12th cent.)

Oxford, Bodleian Library, Bodl. Ar. 541 (Nicoll 49), fols. 76^v–77^v (18th cent.)

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Arabe 81, fols. 157^v–160^v (16th cent.)

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Arabe 4770, fols. 322^v–326^r (19th cent.)

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Borg. ar. 223 (1729)

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Sbath 500, fols. 173^v–176^v (15th cent.)

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. ar. 171, fols. 65^v–67^r (17th cent.)

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. ar. 694, fols. 144^r–146^v (14th cent.)

Wadi El-Natrun, Monastery of the Syrians (Dayr al-Suryān), no shelf number, fols. 140^r–142^r (14th cent.)

3.1.1.2 Garšūnī Script

Edgbaston, University of Birmingham, Mingana Syr. 40, fols. 194^r–197^r (ca. 1750)

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Syr. 232, fols. 300^v–301^v (17th cent.)

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Sbath 124, fols. 172^v–175^v (16th cent.)

Bausi, Alessandro. “Alcune osservazioni sul Gadla ḥawāryāt.” Annali dell’Istituto Orientale di Napoli 60–61 (2001–2002): 77–114 (list of 31 Arabic manuscripts of the collection, pp. 97–101).

Graf, Georg. Geschichte der christlichen arabischen Literatur. 5 vols. Rome: Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, 1944 (manuscripts listed, vol. 1, p. 260–62, 265).

Lewis, Agnes Smith, ed. Acta Mythologica Apostolorum, Transcribed from an Arabic Ms. in the Convent of Deyr-es-Suriani, Egypt, and from Mss. in the Convent of St Catherine, on Mount Sinai. Horae Semiticae 3. London: C.J. Clay and Sons, 1904 (Arabic text based on unidentified Deir al-Suryān MS, pp. 118–20).

3.1.2 Coptic (CPC 0588; PAThs entry)

3.1.2.1 Bohairic

CLM 2879, pp. 727–728 (13th cent.)

Evelyn White, Hugh G. The Monasteries of the Wadi ‘n Natrûn. Part 1: New Coptic Texts from the Monastery of Saint Macarius. The Metropolitan Museum of Art Egyptian Expedition. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1926 (text and English translation of CLM 2879, p. 45).

3.1.2.2 Sahidic (see links for editions)

MONB.MR, pp. [59]–60 (ca. 10th cent.)

New York, Morgan Library and Museum, M635 (=MICH.CG), fols. 18^r–19^v (10th cent.)

3.1.3 Copto-Arabic Synaxarion

The Copto-Arabic Synaxarion includes some details of the story for March 4 (8 Baramhāt).

Basset, René. “Le Synaxaire arabe jacobite (rédaction copte) IV: Les mois de Barmahat, Barmoudah et Bachons.” Patrologia orientalis 16 (1922): 186–424 (edition and translation, pp. 212–13).

3.1.4 Ethiopic

3.1.4.1 Martyrdom of Matthias (BHO 732)

London, British Library, Or. 678, fols. 108^v–110^v (15th cent.)

London, British Library, Or. 683, fols. 219^r–220^v (17th cent.)

London, British Library, Or. 685, fols. 118^v–119^v (18th cent.)

Manchester, John Rylands University Library, Eth. 6, fols. 164^r–168^r(19th cent.)

Bausi, Alessandro. “Alcune osservazioni sul Gadla ḥawāryāt.” Annali dell’Istituto Orientale di Napoli 60–61 (2001–2002): 77–114 (list of 31 Ethiopic manuscripts of the collection, pp. 93–97).

Budge, Ernest A. W. Gadla Ḥawâryât: The Contendings of the Apostles, Being the Lives and Martyrdoms and Deaths of the Twelve Apostles and Evangelists. Vol. 1. London: Henry Frowde, 1899 (Ethiopic text based on British Library, Or. 678 and 683, pp. 243–46).

Pisani, Vitagrazia. “The apocryphal Acts of the Apostles: unknown witnesses from East Tәgray.” Pages 75–93 in Essays in Ethiopian Manuscript Studies. Proceedings of the International Conference Manuscripts and Texts, Languages and Contexts: the Transmission of Knowledge in the Horn of Africa. Hamburg, 17–19 July 2014. Edited by Alessandro Bausi, Alessandro Gori, and Denis Nosnitsin. Supplements to Aethiopica 4. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 2015 (descriptions of ten Ethiopic manuscripts cataloged for the Ethio-SPaRe project).

3.1.4.2 Ethiopic Synaxarion

The Ethiopian Synaxarion includes a summary of the text for Maggabit 8 (March 14).

Budge, E. A. Wallis. The Book of the Saints of the Ethiopian Church. 2 vols. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1928 (vol. 2, pp. 680–81).

3.2 Modern Translations

3.2.1 English

Budge, E. Wallis. Gadla Ḥawâryât: The Contendings of the Apostles, Being the Lives and Martyrdoms and Deaths of the Twelve Apostles and Evangelists. Vol. 2 (English translations). London: Henry Frowde, 1901 (English translation of the Ethiopic text, pp. 289–94).

Lewis, Agnes Smith. The Mythological Acts of the Apostles, Translated from an Arabic Ms. in the Convent of Deyr-es-Suriani, Egypt, and from Mss. in the Convent of St Catherine on Mount Sinai and in the Vatican Library. Horae Semiticae 4. London: C.J. Clay and Sons, 1904 (English translation of the Arabic text from the Dayr al-Suryān manuscript, pp. 137–39).

Malan, Solomon C. The Conflicts of the Holy Apostles, An Apocryphal Book of the Early Eastern Church. London: D. Nutt, 1871 (English translation of the Ethiopic text based on Rylands Eth. 6, pp. 163–67).

3.3 General Works

Lipsius, Richard A. Die apokryphen Apostelgeschichten und Apostellegenden. 2 vols. in 3 parts. Braunschweig, 1883–1890 (see vol. 2.2:260–61).

McDowell, Sean. The Fate of the Apostles: Examining the Martyrdom Accounts of the Closest Followers of Jesus. Abingdon: Ashgate, 2008. Repr. London and New York: Routledge, 2015 (p. 255).