Acts of Philip

In 1974, a text called the Acts of Philip was discovered by [François Bovon] and [Bertrand Bouvier] in the library of Xenophontos Monastery on Mt. Athos in Greece. The manuscript that Bovon and Bouvier found was created in the fourteenth century, but the original text itself was written as early as the fourth century in Asia Minor.(1) A complete collection of several already-known single Acts, Bovon's discovery filled in the blanks existing in previously-published translations of the Acts of Philip.(2)

The text itself describes the adventures of a group of missionaries sent by Jesus to preach his message: Philip, Bartholomew, Philip's followers, and his sister, a woman named Mariamne. Although this woman is never identified beyond her first name, Bovon believes that, consistent with other contemporary references to Jesus' foremost follower, this Mariamne could have been Mary Magdalene.(3)

The Acts of Philip is considered a "heterodox" work, that is, it is not consistent with official teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. The purpose it served at the time it was written and thereafter was to present edifying and inspiring stories of accomplishments by the saints. As a fictional account, the text is filled with fantastic tales of talking animals and other supernatural occurances.

References to Mariamne in the Acts of Philip include:

• she was sister to [Philip] and [Martha]
• she prepared [bread and salt] for the "breaking of bread"
• Jesus called her ["chosen among women"]
• she should not wear her [summer dress] (also translated as ["women's aspect"])
• she assisted with [healings]
• she [baptized] converts
• she assisted in the [slaying of a dragon]
• when threatened, she turned into a [glass box] or a [cloud of fire]
• she is prophesied to die in the [Jordan river]

Read the Acts of Philip in the Magdalene.org Library.

Footnotes

1. Desmond, Peter H. "Women Priests, Vegetarians, and Summer Dresses: Fourth Century Church Tales," Harvard Magazine, May-June 2000 (online version: http://www.harvardmagazine.com/on-line/0500113.html).

2. Gewertz, Ken. "Women Priests, Vegetarianism - An Early Christian Manuscript Holds Some Surprises," The Harvard University Gazette, February 03, 2000 (from the online archives: http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2000/02.03/apocrypha.html).

3. ibid.

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©2005, Lesa Bellevie and Magdalene.org. Please do not reproduce without permission.