Apocrypha
Falling Asleep of Mary (John)
Dormition of the Virgin
1 chapter · read and listen
Reading note
An apocryphal or pseudepigraphal text — outside the canon of the Western churches, yet widely circulated among ancient Jews and Christians. Published here from a public-domain translation, edited for continuous reading.
Chapters
Dossier
The version attributed to the apostle John of Mary's death: the angel's warning, the palm from paradise, and the days of waiting until the appointed hour.
Where this text comes from
Greek, 5th or 6th century AD, the most widespread of the dormition narratives in the East.
Why it is not in the Bible
Outside every canon.
What you will find
- The angel gives Mary a palm from paradise, later carried at the head of the procession.
- A man's attempt to overturn the bier, and what happens to his hands.
- The tone is liturgical: the text was made to be read aloud at the feast.
Frequently asked questions
- How does this differ from the Transitus of Mary?
- They are distinct recensions of the same tradition, differing in detail and order. This collection has both, which makes comparison possible.