VISION OF THEOPHILUS: the Journey of the Holy Family in Egypt
Vision of Theophilus is an embedded apocryphon taking the form of
an apparition of the Virgin Mary recounting the journey of the Holy
Family in Egypt to Theophilus, patriarch of Alexandria (r. 385-412).
Theophilus recounts the vision in a homily delivered on the feast day of
her dormition. Cyril of Alexandria (r. 412-444) is credited here with
writing down Theophilus's words. According to the framing homily,
Theophilus was appointed by the emperor Theodosius to use funds looted
from pagan temples and treasuries to build and renovate churches in
Egypt. He comes to Dayr al-Muharraq, a monastery on a holy mountain near
the village of Qusqam and there delivers the homily in praise of a
church built on the mountain over the remains of a home said to have
been the dwelling of the holy family for six months of their three-year
and six-month stay in Egypt. The bishop begins by comparing Jesus' stay
on the holy mountain to the epiphany of Moses on Mount Sinai and to
Jesus' addresses to the disciples on the Mount of Olives. He connects
the holy family's flight to Egypt also with the woman who flees from the
dragon of Revelation to the mountains (Rev 12:1-6; 14-17). Then he
details his efforts to build a church for John the Baptist in Rome,
after which Theodosius charges him with his mission to Egypt. He
mentions his arrival at the holy mountain and introduces his vision,
which he received while lodging at the house on its premises.
Released: Dec. 1, 2022, ISBN: 9781960069450