Coptic Apocrypha in the Dialect of Upper Egypt #224873

Seventh Heaven, and the reconciliation of God with Adam and his sons in the presence of myriads of Cherubim, Seraphim, Archangels, Angels, Thrones, Dominions, Principalities, Powers, and all the hosts of heaven. Here and there in the work there are passages that resemble parts of the mediaeval com position known as the Harrowing of Hell but its contents are entirely diflerent from those of the second part of the Gospel of Nicodemus which deals with Christ's Descent into Hell. The whole Apocryphon exhibits strong Egyptian (gnostic) influence, and professes to give the actual words of the divine unknown language in which our Lord and the Virgin Mary spoke to each other. The ms. From which the text is edited was mitwn probably in the tenth or eleventh century, and it was presented to the church of Illarte by an um named benefactor who states in the colophon that he supplied his own parchment. The form of the name Illarte suggests that this church was situated in Nubia, perhaps near the modern town of Wadi Halfah. In view of the importance of the work, and the very mutilated condition of the text, the Trustees ordered a complete facsimile of the ms. To be made and published with the text (plates I — XLVIII). Two of the Apocrypha printed in this volume deal with Saint John the Apostle. The text of the first is edited from the vellum ms. Oriental N 82, which was written in the seven hundred and sixth year of Diocletian, or the Era of the Martyrs, i. E. A. D. 990. It states that Saint John was in Ephesus.