Texts
Apocrypha Priscillianistica
Incoming data
Early medieval compilation of six homiletic pieces in Latin, including an early version of the so-called ‘Seven Heavens’ apocryphon. It is known for having Irish connections and may represent a Hiberno-Latin adaptation of material that goes back to Visigothic Spain.
Manuscript witnesses
MS
Einsiedeln, Stiftsbibliothek, MS 199/pp. 431-526
context: Questiones (Einsiedeln MS 199) rubric: Incipiunt questiones incipit: In primis dicit apostolus: nolite facire peccatum incl. Apocrypha Priscillianistica Charles D. Wright, ‘The pledge of the soul: a judgment theme in Old English homiletic literature and Cynewulf's Elene’, Neuphilologische Mitteilungen 91 (1990): 29 n. 11 notes that pp. 434-439 contain “extensive passages from the homilies” (though not all) of the Apocrypha Priscillianistica. No edition or closer study is known at this stage.
in section: p. 431–
Text
Karlsruhe, Badische Landesbibliothek, Aug. perg. 254/ff. 72-213
rubric: Incipit collectario de diuersis sententiis The second item is incomplete.
ff. 153r–172v
MS
Karlsruhe, Badische Landesbibliothek, Aug. perg. 254/ff. 72-213
rubric: Incipit collectario de diuersis sententiis incl. Canon in Ebreica, Reichenau Seven Heavens homily, Homilia de die iudicii Fragmentary compilation. According to Holder, many folia are wanting: three in gathering I (ff. 153-159), before f. 153, between ff. 153-154, and between ff. 156-157; two in gathering II (ff. 160-167), between ff. 163-164 and ff. 164-165; and two in gathering III (ff. 168-175), between ff. 170-171 (and ff. 173-174). Six homiletic pieces can be distinguished: (1) beg. Christus ait. Diligite inuicem sicut et ego dilexi vos (ff. 153r-156r); (2) a version of the Seven Heavens apocryphon, beg. Omnis roris qui discendit de austro (156r-157r); (3) headed Sanctus Augustinus episcopus dixit, beg. Fratres karissimi qui in Xpisto deum colentes (157v-160r); (4) a dialogue concerning Judgment, headed Homilia de die iudicii, beg. on the verso, Oportit enim nos timere uerbum domini (160r-161v); (5) headed De parabolas [sic] Salomonis fili Dauid, beg. Timor domini gloria et letitia celestis (162r-165v), incl. six enumerative pieces (ff. 164v-165r), the first beg. Septem scala sunt quibus ascenditur ad regna celorum, and a homily on physical and spiritual food; and (6) headed Liber canon in Ebreica Hieronimi presbiteri, beg. on the next page, Canon in Ebreica. regula in greca. aequitas (165v-172v).
in section: f. 153r–
Sources
Primary sources Text editions and/or modern translations – in whole or in part – along with publications containing additions and corrections, if known. Diplomatic editions, facsimiles and digital image reproductions of the manuscripts are not always listed here but may be found in entries for the relevant manuscripts. For historical purposes, early editions, transcriptions and translations are not excluded, even if their reliability does not meet modern standards.
[ed.] De Bruyne, Donatien, “Fragments retrouvés d’apocryphes priscillianistes”, Revue Bénédictine 24:3 (1907): 318–335.
Editio princeps.
[ed.] [tr.] Carey, John, “The Reichenau Seven Heavens homily”, in: John Carey, Emma Nic Cárthaigh, and Caitríona Ó Dochartaigh (eds), The end and beyond: medieval Irish eschatology, vol. 1, 17.1, Aberystwyth: Celtic Studies Publications, 2014. 189–195.
Edition and translation of the second item (ff. 156r-157r), which offers a version of the Seven Heavens apocryphon.
Secondary sources (select)
Touati, Charlotte, “The ‘Apocalypse of the Seven Heavens’: from Egypt to Ireland”, in: John Carey, Emma Nic Cárthaigh, and Caitríona Ó Dochartaigh (eds), The end and beyond: medieval Irish eschatology, vol. 1, 17.1, Aberystwyth: Celtic Studies Publications, 2014. 171–187.
esp. 185–186
Carey, John, “The Reichenau Seven Heavens homily”, in: John Carey, Emma Nic Cárthaigh, and Caitríona Ó Dochartaigh (eds), The end and beyond: medieval Irish eschatology, vol. 1, 17.1, Aberystwyth: Celtic Studies Publications, 2014. 189–195.
Wright, Charles D., The Irish tradition in Old English literature, Cambridge Studies in Anglo-Saxon England, 6, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993.
Based on the author's dissertation.
e.g. 64–68; 216
Wright, Charles D., “[Multiple contributions]”, in: Frederick M. Biggs, Thomas D. Hill, Paul E. Szarmach, and Karen Hammond [ass.] (eds), Sources of Anglo-Saxon literary culture: a trial version, 74, Binghamton, New York, 1990. 34–36, 48–65, 68–70, 87–123.
69–70 [‘Apolypha Priscillianistica’]
Wright, Charles D., “Apocryphal lore and insular tradition in St. Gall, Stiftsbibliothek MS 908”, in: Próinséas Ní Chatháin, and Michael Richter (eds), Irland und die Christenheit: Bibelstudien und Mission. Ireland and Christendom: the Bible and the missions, Stuttgart: Klett-Cotta, 1987. 124–145.
135–136
Lapidge, Michael, and Richard Sharpe, A bibliography of Celtic-Latin literature, 400-1200, Royal Irish Academy Dictionary of Medieval Latin from Celtic Sources, Ancillary Publications, 1, Dublin: Royal Irish Academy, 1985.
[id. 1252.]
Dumville, David N., “Towards an interpretation of Fís Adomnáin”, Studia Celtica 12–13 (1977–1978): 62–77.
Dumville, David N., “Biblical apocrypha and the early Irish: a preliminary investigation”, Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 73 C (1973): 299–338.
Williard, Rudolph, Two apocrypha in Old English homilies., Beiträge zur Englischen Philologie, Leipzig: B. Tauchnitz, 1935.
