Canon Status
Not canonical in any tradition. Widely read in the medieval Church.
Date & Provenance
Composed in Greek in the 5th century CE or later.
Language & Manuscripts
Greek, Latin, Syriac, Ethiopic, and other manuscripts. The work dates to the 5th century CE or later.
Why It Matters for Study
Describes Mary's vision of heaven and hell, and her intercession for sinners. Important for understanding Marian devotion and the development of apocalyptic literature.
" And Mary saw the place of punishment, and she wept for the sinners." — Apocalypse of the Virgin (paraphrase)
Read the Text & External Resources
Public-domain translations and scholarly databases where the text can be read online or downloaded.
- " And Mary saw the place of punishment, and she wept for the sinners." — Apocalypse of the Virgin (paraphrase) " And Mary saw the place of punishment, and she wept for the sinners." — Apocalypse of the Virgin (paraphrase)
External links open in a new tab. Sources are chosen for public-domain or open-access availability; always verify edition and translation when citing in academic work.
Further Reading
Elliott, J. K. The Apocryphal New Testament. Oxford, 1993.
Schneemelcher, W. New Testament Apocrypha. Westminster John Knox, 1991.
" And Mary saw the place of punishment, and she wept for the sinners." — Apocalypse of the Virgin (paraphrase)