Exegesis on the feast day of Archangel Michael ascribed to Macarius of Tkow (М. 592 f. 27v–37r). Translation from Coptic into Russian, comments and introduction

Abstract

The Archangel Michael is the angel in charge of all the heavenly powers. He is mentioned by name only in the Book of Daniel (Old Testament), the Epistle of Jude (New Testament) and the Revelation written by John the Apostle (New Testament). The Archistratigus is highly revered in various Christian traditions. This article presents the first literary translation into Russian of a Coptic text known as ‘Exegesis on the feast day of Archangel Michael ascribed to Macarius of Tkow’. The Coptic text, published by G. Lafontaine with a Latin translation in 1979, was used for translation. The analysis of the ‘Exegesis’ in question is relevant from the point of view of Coptic peculiarities both in the veneration of the Archangel and in the construction of the sermon. All the more so because there is no serious reason to doubt the authenticity of the authorship. The Coptic tradition, through the translation of the ‘Exegesis’, offers opportunities for comparative studies of the image of the Archangel Michael.