Work dossier · summary and historical context
This anonymous Ethiopic hagiographic text recounts a miracle of the archangel Michael, who heals a blind man. The narrative follows a typical Coptic-Ethiopic pattern: a doxological opening, a brief account of the affliction and the angelic intervention, and a concluding blessing. The miracle is part of a larger cycle of Michael miracles used in Ethiopian Orthodox liturgy, especially on the 12th of each month. The Geʿez text survives in a single manuscript (Bet Mas 3), likely from the 18th–19th century, though the composition may be earlier. No translation or critical edition exists; the primary source is the betmas edition.
This miracle exemplifies the integration of angelic devotion into Ethiopian Orthodox liturgy and hagiography. It reflects the popularity of Michael as a healer and protector, a theme common in Coptic and Ethiopian Christianity. The text also illustrates the formulaic structure of Ethiopic miracle stories, with doxological frames and liturgical connections. It contributes to the study of the transmission of Coptic hagiographic traditions into Ethiopia and the development of local hagiographic cycles.
The work is preserved in Geʿez, the classical liturgical language of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. The sole manuscript, Bet Mas 3, is dated on paleographic grounds to the 18th–19th centuries, but the composition could be older, possibly medieval. The miracle belongs to a widespread cycle of Michael miracles that circulated in Ethiopia, often read on the 12th of each month, a major feast of the archangel. The text shows strong Coptic influence, as many Ethiopian hagiographic works were adapted from Coptic originals. The anonymous author likely belonged to a monastic or clerical milieu. The lack of internal or external dating evidence makes precise dating impossible. The work was transmitted only in Geʿez and has not been translated into other languages.
Apparatus · what the pipeline recorded
| Coptic | Rendering | Count | First |
|---|---|---|---|
| no glossary terms recorded | |||