Laudatio XII Apostoli
Standard abbreviation: Encom. Apost.
Other titles: Encomium of SS. Peter and Paul
Clavis numbers: ECCA 567
Category: Apocryphal Acts
Related literature: Acts of Paul, Martyrdom of Mark
Compiled by Tony Burke, York University
Citing this resource (using Chicago Manual of Style): Burke, Tony. “Encomium on the Twelve Apostles, by Pseudo-Severian of Gabala.” e-Clavis: Christian Apocrypha. Accessed DAY MONTH YEAR. https://www.nasscal.com/e-clavis-christian-apocrypha/encomium-on-the-twelve-apostles-by-pseudo-severian-of-gabala/.
Created September 2024.
1. SUMMARY
The introduction to Encom. Apost. states that it was delivered south of the city (presumably Gabala) on the day of commemoration for Peter and Paul (5 Abīb), but the encomium is a celebration of the entire Twelve, as well as Mark and Luke. Much of the first half of the text relates material from the canonical Gospels on the calling of the apostles and stories of their interactions with Jesus. In one lengthy section he compares them all to twelve precious stones (Peter is sardian, Andrew is chrysolite, etc.).
Parallels to apocryphal traditions begins in par. 65 with a list of the various preaching locations of the apostles and their particular teaching (e.g., in Italy and Asia preaching virginity). Affinities with Egyptian acts are observable in such details as Bartholomew’s activities in the oasis (see Preaching of Bartholomew). In an extended discussion of the death of Peter, mention is made of the apostles standing around his cross. Paul is also given a longer treatment with mention of his conversion, a list of his disciples and where they preached, and brief mention later in the text of Demas and Hermogenes contending with Paul before Thamyris (see Acts of Paul).
The largest block assigned to one particular apostle is the section focused on Mark. The text presents much of what is found in the Martyrdom of Mark but with some added details, including two miracle stories in which Mark heals a leper and a man with dropsy. Another lengthy section lists (once again) the preaching locations of the apostles and how they died. The information provided here has no clear relationship with other lists.
Named Historical Figures and Characters: Abel, Abraham (patriarch), Adam (patriarch), Agrippa I (king), Alexander (disciple), Ananias (disciple), Andrew (apostle), Anianus/Anionos (of Alexandria), Baal, Barnabas, Bartholomew (apostle), Beelzebul, Demas (heretic), devil, Demetrius (of Alexandria), Elijah (prophet), Eucarpus, Eve (matriarch), Ezekiel (prophet), Hermogenes, James (son of Zebedee), James (the Righteous), Jeremiah (prophet), John (son of Zebedee), John (the Baptist), Joseph (Justus), Judas (son of James; the Zealot), Judas Iscariot, Judas (of Damascus), Luke (evangelist), Mary (Virgin), Matthew (apostle), Matthias (apostle), Moses (patriarch), Naphtali (patriarch), Nero, Paul (apostle), Peter (apostle), Philemon, Philip (apostle), Phygellus, Serapis, Simon (the Canaanite/Zealot), Solomon (king), Stephen, Thaddaeus (apostle), Thamyris, Thomas (apostle), Timothy, Titus, Zebedee, Zebulun (patriarch).
Geographical Locations: Africa, Akeldama, Alexandria, Antioch, Asia, Cappadocia, Crete, Dalmatia, Damascus, Egypt, Elam, Galilee, Gomorrah, India, Italy, Jerusalem, Jordan River, Judea, Lycaonia, Nazareth, Parthia, Pontus, Rome, Salamis, Samaria, Scythia, Sea of Galilee, Sodom, Syria, Tarsus.
2. RESOURCES
“Severian of Gabala.” Wikipedia.
3. BIBLIOGRAPHY
3.1 Manuscripts and Editions
3.1.1 Arabic
Cairo, Coptic Museum, Hist. 474 (Graf 717; Simaika 95), fols. 115v–130v (1338)
Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. ar. 536, fols. 1r–32r (15th cent.) ~ BAV
Righi, Davide. Severiano di Gabala, In apostolos: Clavis Coptica 0331 (CPG 4281). 2 vols. Rome: C.I.M., 2004 (Arabic text of both manuscripts in parallel and Italian translation, vol. 2, pp. 262–405).
3.1.2 Coptic (Clavis Coptica 331; PAThs entry)
3.1.2.1 Bohairic
CMCL 3682: London, British Library, Add. 14740A, fols. 12-15 (PAThs entry)
3.1.2.2 Sahidic
MICH.CA: PPM M606, fols. 1–22 + Ann Arbor, Michigan University Library, 158,29 + Cairo, Coptic Musuem, 3812 ~ (PAThs entry; PPM)
CMCL 5613: Vat Borg. 109 cass. xxv, fasc. 124 (pp. 35-36) + BNF Copt. 161.5, fol. 25 + Cairo (ca. 1000) (PAThs entry)
CMCL 861: London, Victoria and Albert Museum, L 1159/41 S (7th/8th cent.) (PAThs entry) ~ IMAGES
Foat, Michael E. “Encomium on SS. Peter and Paul Attributed to Severian of Gabala.” Pages 85–130 in vol. 1 of Encomiastica from the Pierpont Morgan Library. Edited by Leo Depuydt. 2 vols. CSCO, 544 & 545. Scriptores coptici, 47 & 48. Leuven: Peeters, 1993 (Coptic text based on MICH.CA).
Georgi, Agostino A. De miraculis Sancti Coluthi et reliquiis actorum Sancti Panesniv martyrum thebaica fragmenta duo, alterum auctius alterum nunc primum editum. Rome: apud Antonium Fulgonium, 1793 (edition of Var. Borg. 109, pp. 102–106).
Guidi, Ignazio. “Frammenti copti. Nota Ia.” Rendiconti delle sedute della R. Accademia dei Lincei. Classe di scienze morali, storiche e filologiche vol. 3/sem. 1 (1887): 47–63 (corrections to Georgi, p. 52).
Righi, Davide. Severiano di Gabala, In apostolos: Clavis Coptica 0331 (CPG 4281). 2 vols. Rome: C.I.M., 2004 (Coptic text and Italian translation of PPM M606, vol. 1, pp. 118–213).
3.2 Modern Translations
3.2.1 English
Foat, Michael E. “Encomium on SS. Peter and Paul Attributed to Severian of Gabala.” Pages 65–101 in vol. 2 of n Encomiastica from the Pierpont Morgan Library. Edited by Leo Depuydt. 2 vols. CSCO, 544 & 545. Scriptores coptici, 47 & 48. Leuven: Peeters, 1993 (Coptic text, vol. 1, pp. 85–130; English translation, vol. 2, pp. 65–101).
3.2.2 Italian
Righi, Davide. Severiano di Gabala, In apostolos: Clavis Coptica 0331 (CPG 4281). 2 vols. Rome: C.I.M., 2004 (Coptic and Arabic editions with Italian translations).
3.3 General Works
Furlong, Dean. The John also Called Mark. Reception and Transformation in Christian Tradition. WUNT II 518. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2020 (pp. 43–44).
Suciu, Alin. “An Encomium on the 12 Apostles Attributed to Severian of Gabala: New Sahidic Fragments.” Alin Suciu. Posted 9 September 2011. Online: https://alinsuciu.com/2011/09/09/an-encomium-on-the-12-apostles-attributed-to-severian-of-gabala-new-sahidic-fragments/.
Voicu, Sever J. “Pseudo Severiano di Gabala, Encomium in XII Apostolos (CPG 4281): Gli spunti apocrifi.” Apocrypha 19 (2008): 217–66.