Homilia de dormitione
Standard abbreviation: Hom. Dorm. Vir. (Geo.)
Other titles: none.
Other designations: I3 in van Esbroeck’s classification of Dormition; Stephen Shoemaker designates it as I2
Clavis numbers: ECCA 257; CANT 173
Category: Dormition Narratives
Related literature: no specific text
Compiled by Tony Burke, York University
Citing this resource (using Chicago Manual of Style): Burke, Tony. “Homily on the Dormition of the Virgin (Georgian Fragment).” e-Clavis: Christian Apocrypha. Accessed DAY MONTH YEAR. https://www.nasscal.com/e-clavis-christian-apocrypha/homily-on-the-dormition-of-the-virgin-georgian-fragment/.
Created September 2024.
1. SUMMARY
This one-page fragment is placed in between two fragments of the Book of Mary’s Repose. The full extent of the text is not known as pages are missing in the manuscript before and after the text. Its identification as a homily is due to the author’s first-person narration, abbreviation of the original narrative, and rhetorical flourishes.
The fragment begins with the arrival of the patriarchs and heavenly host. As Mary’s soul is received into Jesus’ hands, the apostles praise Mary’s departure and receive a blessing from God. The homilist then goes into more detail of this event, narrating a dialogue between Jesus and Mary and Mary blessing all who are present. Then Mary is brought to her heavenly throne by angels. Those who witness her assumption kiss her body and are cured of their infirmities. The body is wrapped in a shroud and anointed with perfumes. The apostles place it on a bier and take it to a tomb, their way led by angels carrying lamps and singing hymns. After the body is placed in the tomb, it “ascended to the heavenly bridal chamber.” Here the fragment ends.
Named Historical Figures and Characters: Adam (patriarch), Eve (matriarch), Mary (Virgin).
Geographical Locations: Zion.
2. RESOURCES
3. BIBLIOGRAPHY
3.1 Manuscripts and Editions
3.1.1 Georgian
Tiblisi, National Center of Manuscripts, A-144, fols. 201v–202v, 203r–203v (10th cent.)
Esbroeck, Michel van. “Apocryphes géorgiens de la Dormition.” AnBoll 91 (1973): 55–75 (text, pp. 62–64; Latin trans., pp. 65–66).
Mgaloblišvili, Tamila, ed. The Klardjeti Homiliary. (In Georgian). Zveli kartuli mcerlobis zeglebi 12. Tbilisi: ‘Metsnieba’, 1991 (pp. 421–23).
3.2 Modern Translations
3.2.1 English
Shoemaker, Stephen J., trans. The Dormition and Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Apocryphes 17. Turnhout: Brepols, 2023 (translation based on edition by Mgaloblišvili, pp. 285–174).
3.2.2 Modern Latin
Esbroeck, Michel van. “Apocryphes géorgiens de la Dormition.” AnBoll 91 (1973): 55–75 (Latin trans., pp. 65–66).
3.3 General Works
3.3.1 Dormition Narratives
Esbroeck, Michel van. “Les textes litteraires sur l’Assomption avant le Xe siècle.” Pages 265–85 in Les actes apocryphes des apôtres. Edited by François Bovon. Publications de la faculte de theologie de l’Universite de Geneve 4. Geneva: Labor et Fides, 1981.
McNamara, Martin. “Transitus Mariae: General Introduction.” Pages 225–44 in Apocrypha Hiberniae II. Apocalyptica 2. Edited by Martin McNamara et al. CCSA 21. Turnhout: Brepols, 2019.
Mimouni, Simon. Dormition et assumption de Marie: Histoire des traditions anciennnes. Paris: Beauchesne, 1995.
__________. Les traditions anciennes sur la Dormition et l’Assomption de Marie: Études littéraires, historiques et doctrinales. Supplements to Vigiliae Christianae 104. Leiden: Brill, 2011 (pp. 166–67).
Shoemaker, Stephen J. Ancient Traditions of the Virgin Mary’s Dormition and Assumption. Oxford Early Christian Studies. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002.
__________. Mary in Early Christian Faith and Devotion. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2016.
Wenger, Antoine. L’Assomption de la T.S. Vierge dans la tradition byzantine du VIe au Xe siècle. Études et documents. Archives de l’Orient chrétien 5. Paris: Institut français d’études byzantines, 1955.