Work dossier · summary and historical context
The Miracle of St Michael on the sterile woman is an anonymous Ethiopic hagiographic text recounting the intercession of the archangel Michael to heal a noblewoman of Rome from infertility. The narrative follows a formulaic miracle structure, opening with a title and the phrase ተብህለ (it is said), then describing the woman's childlessness, her prayer to Michael, and the miraculous conception that follows. The story concludes with her joyful testimony, reinforcing Michael's role as a healer and patron of the faithful. The text survives in a single manuscript (betmas) within the Ethiopian Orthodox Täwaḥədo tradition, likely used for homilies or feast-day readings. Its Geʿez language and hagiographic genre align with broader Michaeline miracle cycles, though its specific origin and date remain unknown.
This miracle exemplifies the Ethiopic hagiographic tradition's adaptation of universal Christian themes to local contexts, particularly the veneration of Michael as a healer. It contributes to understanding the Täwaḥədo Church's liturgical and devotional practices, especially regarding infertility and women's agency. The text's anonymity and single-witness survival highlight the challenges of studying Ethiopic manuscript traditions and the need for further codicological and comparative research.
The text belongs to the Ethiopic hagiographic cycle of St Michael, a prominent figure in the Täwaḥədo tradition, where he is venerated as a warrior against evil and a protector of the faithful. The manuscript (betmas) is undated, but paleographic analysis could place it within the later medieval or early modern period (possibly 14th–18th centuries). The setting in Rome (ሮሜ) is a common topos in Ethiopic literature, lending prestige without historical specificity. The miracle's focus on infertility reflects local or monastic concerns, possibly linked to pilgrimage or healing shrines. The text's survival in a single witness limits knowledge of its circulation, but its inclusion in liturgical manuscripts suggests use in church services. No critical edition or translation exists; the present edition provides only the Geʿez text. The manuscript is held by the Ethiopian Orthodox Täwaḥədo Church, with digital surrogates at HMML.
Apparatus · what the pipeline recorded
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