Manuscripts and ancient codices
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2. Historical and Documentary Sources
2.1 Manuscripts and ancient codices
2.1.1 - The oldest records of the Micael cult
Oriental origins: Greek and Syriac texts
The documentary roots of the micaelic cult date back to the 4th century in the Greek and Syriac areas. Among the earliest traces:
• The Michaelion at Chalcedon (near Byzantium), built by Constantine the Great, considered one of the oldest shrines dedicated to Michael as a healer.
• Syriac liturgical texts and mentions in hymns, orations and apocrypha reveal the early centrality of the angelic figure as defender and deliverer from disease and demons.
Testimonies in the Church Fathers
• Epiphanius of Salamis (4th cent.) describes him as Lucifer's successor in leading the faithful angels.
• Basil the Great, in his Homily on Angels, places him first among the celestial spirits.
• Gregory the Great, Roman pontiff, linked Michael's vision on Hadrian's Mausoleum (later Castel Sant'Angelo) to the end of a plague, strengthening the cult in Rome.
Liturgical forms and hymns dedicated to Michael
• Leonian Sacramentary (6th century): already contains forms dedicated to the Archangel.
• Gelasian Sacramentary (7th cent.): introduces the liturgical feast on 29 September.
• Gregorian Sacramentary (8th century): definitively consolidated the Micaelic liturgy in the Christian West.
Recommended multimedia content
Images
• Medieval miniature of St Michael defeating the devil
• Illuminated page with St Michael - Missale et horae ad usum Fratrum Minorum
• Medieval codex with icon of St. Michael the Archangel
Video
1. Italy: journey into beauty - An archangel in the caves: the cult of St Michael in medieval Italy
A documentary produced by Rai Cultura that explores Italy's main micaelic shrines, including the Sanctuary of San Michele in Monte Sant'Angelo, the Sacra di San Michele in Val di Susa and the cave of Olevano sul Tusciano. The programme delves into the origins of the cult of St Michael in Italy and its spread in the Middle Ages.
2. Saint Michael: Meet the Angel (2022)
An international documentary examining the role of St. Michael and other angels in Scripture and in daily life. The film offers an overview of the origins of the Michaelic cult and its evolution over time.IMDb
Sources and references
Michael (archangel) - Wikipedia
Ancient Sacramentaries - Treccani
Church Fathers - New Dimension
Michaelion - Catholic Encyclopaedia
2.1.2 - Hagiographic codes
The Golden Legend and the stories of the apparitions on the Gargano
The Legenda Aurea by Jacopo da Varazze (13th century) is one of the most influential hagiographic collections of the Middle Ages. Inside, the section dedicated to St Michael narrates the apparitions of the Archangel on Mount Gargano in Apulia. According to legend, Michael appeared to Bishop Lorenzo Maiorano in 490, indicating a cave as a sacred place dedicated to him. This narrative contributed significantly to the spread of the cult of Michael in Western Europe.
Another fundamental source is the Liber de apparitione Sancti Michaelis, an 8th century hagiographic text recounting the three apparitions of the Archangel on Mount Gargano. This text is preserved in several medieval manuscripts and played a crucial role in promoting the sanctuary of Monte Sant'Angelo as a pilgrimage centre.
Latin and Byzantine codices containing the lives of the archangels
Numerous medieval codices, both Latin and Byzantine, contain texts dedicated to the archangels. In the Latin sphere, in addition to the Legenda Aurea, there are lives of saints and collections of miracles that include episodes concerning St. Michael. In the Byzantine sphere, homilies and liturgical hymns often celebrate Michael as the leader of the heavenly hosts and defender of the faith. These texts are preserved in important libraries and monasteries, such as Mount Athos and the Vatican Library.
The cycle of Michaelic miracles in the martyrologies
Medieval martyrologies, such as the Martirologio Geronimiano, record the feasts and commemorations of saints, including archangels. St Michael is often mentioned in connection with miracles and apparitions, such as the one on Mount Gargano. These liturgical annotations have helped consolidate the cult of Michael in the Christian calendar, with the main feast celebrated on 29 September.
Recommended multimedia content
Images
1. Miniature of the Golden Legend depicting St. Michael the Archangel
An illuminated manuscript from the 15th century depicting the Archangel Michael.
Illustration of the Liber de apparitione Sancti Michaelis - Monte Gargano
A page from the Liber de apparitione Sancti Michaelis in Monte Gargano, a 9th century hagiographic text.
Miniature of St Michael Archangel in a medieval codex
A 14th century miniature depicting St. Michael fighting the dragon.
Video
"Saint Michael the Archangel: the cult and the apparitions" - Historical documentary
A documentary exploring the cult of St Michael the Archangel and his apparitions, with a focus on Mount Gargano.
'The Legenda Aurea and Medieval Hagiography'
A lecture analysing the Legenda Aurea and its role in medieval hagiography, with references to St Michael the Archangel.
Sources and references
2.1.3 - Illuminated manuscripts and written iconography
Medieval illustrations with Michael in the Last Judgement
In the Middle Ages, the Archangel Michael is frequently depicted in Last Judgement scenes, often in the act of weighing souls with scales, a symbol of divine discernment. A significant example is the French miniature of 1430, preserved at Bridgeman Images, which depicts Michael at the centre of the scene, separating the righteous from the damned .
In Italy, the fresco on the façade of the Church of San Michele in Riva Valdobbia, attributed to Melchiorre d'Enrico, presents a majestic representation of the Last Judgement, with Michael occupying a central position in the work .
Byzantine and Carolingian illuminated codices
Byzantine miniature, which developed between the 4th and 15th centuries, is characterised by a rich and symbolic iconographic style. Numerous Byzantine manuscripts depict St Michael as the leader of the heavenly hosts, often in scenes of battle against evil.
In the Carolingian sphere, the production of illuminated codices between the 8th and 9th centuries, such as those from the scriptorium of Reims, present images of Michael in liturgical and apocalyptic contexts, highlighting his role as defender of the faith .
The role of images in sacred texts (e.g. Beati di Liébana)
The commentaries on the Apocalypse by Beatus of Liébana, known as 'Beati', are among the most famous medieval illuminated manuscripts. These codices, produced between the 9th and 13th centuries in Spain, contain vivid apocalyptic illustrations, with St. Michael often depicted fighting the dragon or leading the angelic hosts. A notable example is the Beatus of Fernando I and Sancha, preserved in the National Library in Madrid.
Recommended multimedia content
Images
• Miniature of the Last Judgement (1430)
A French representation of the Last Judgement with St. Michael in the centre.
• Fresco of the Last Judgement - Church of San Michele in Riva Valdobbia
A fresco attributed to Melchiorre d'Enrico decorates the façade of the church.
• Byzantine miniature depicting St. Michael
An example of a Byzantine miniature with the Archangel Michael in a dominant position.
• Miniature from the Beatus of Liébana
A vivid apocalyptic illustration with St. Michael, taken from the commentaries of Beatus of Liébana.
Video
• "The Last Judgement in Medieval Art".
An in-depth study of the representations of the Last Judgement in medieval art, with a focus on St. Michael.
• 'The Byzantine and Carolingian Miniature'
A lecture exploring the characteristics of Byzantine and Carolingian miniatures, including depictions of St Michael.
Sources and references
Treccani - Miniature (Byzantine area)
Schola Palatina - The Medieval Miniature: The Insular and Carolingian Illuminated Codex
Wikipedia - Church of San Michele (Riva Valdobbia)
Bridgeman Images - The Last Judgement, 1430
2.1.4 - Conservation Libraries and Archives
Main conservation institutions
The following institutions hold important ancient manuscripts and codices:
• Vatican Apostolic Library (Vatican City): Founded in the 15th century, it holds a vast collection of manuscripts, including the Codex Vaticanus. It has initiated digitisation projects to make numerous documents accessible online.
• Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana (Florence): Designed by Michelangelo, it houses the Plutei Fund, a collection of Greek and Latin manuscripts. Many of these have been digitised and made available online.
• Real Biblioteca del Monastero de El Escorial (Spain): Founded in the 16th century, it holds a rich collection of manuscripts in several languages, including Greek, Latin and Hebrew.
• St. Catherine of Sinai Monastery (Egypt): One of the oldest Christian monasteries, it holds the Codex Sinaiticus, one of the oldest manuscripts of the Bible. A digitisation project is underway to preserve and make its manuscripts accessible.
• Monasteries of Mount Athos (Greece): An Orthodox monastic community that preserves a vast collection of Byzantine manuscripts. A digital archive, the Athoniki Kivotos, has been created to make over 300,000 digital images of these manuscripts available online.
Digitalisation and online consultations
The above-mentioned institutions have initiated digitisation projects to preserve and make their manuscripts accessible:
• Vatican Library: Has made thousands of manuscripts available online through its Digital Library.
• Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana: Has digitised over 1,600 works of the Plutei Fund, which can be consulted online.
• Monastery of St. Catherine of Sinai: In collaboration with international partners, it has started digitising around 1,100 manuscripts, making more than
400,000 images.
• Mount Athos: Created the digital archive Athoniki Kivotos, which offers access to over
300,000 digital images of manuscripts.
Restoration and enhancement projects
In addition to digitisation, these institutions are engaged in restoration and valorisation projects:
• Vatican Library: Has implemented advanced security and conservation systems to protect its manuscripts.
• Real Biblioteca del Monastero de El Escorial: It has initiated projects for the restoration of its most important codices and the creation of detailed catalogues of its collections.
Recommended multimedia content
Images
• Sistine Hall of the Vatican Library
• Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana - Reading Room designed by Michelangelo
• Real Biblioteca del Monastero de El Escorial (Spain)
Video
• The Vatican Library: history and treasures
A historical-visual tour among the manuscripts and treasures of the Vatican Library.
Sources and references
Vatican Apostolic Library - https://www.vaticanlibrary.va
Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana - https://www.bmlonline.it
Real Biblioteca de El Escorial - https://www.patrimonionacional.es
Athoniki Kivotos (Mount Athos Archive
Pappas Patristic Institute - https://www.pappaspatristicinstitute.com/post/treasures-new-and- old-the-mt-athos-repository-online
2.1.5 - Palaeographic and codicological analysis Materials and writing techniques
The production of medieval manuscripts required the use of specific materials and craft techniques
elaborate. The most common medium was parchment, made from the skin of animals such as sheep, goats or calves. A prized variant was vellum, made from unborn calf skins, characterised by a smooth and resistant surface, ideal for writing and miniatures.
The amanuenses used sharpened quills to trace the texts, employing inks based on walnut and iron. The preparation of the parchment included scraping, smoothing with pumice stone and scoring the pages to guide the writing. These operations took place in the scriptoria, monastic workshops where copyists, illuminators, rubricators and bookbinders worked.
Devotional signs in the margins (glosses, invocations)
The margins of manuscripts often contained glosses, annotations and invocations that reflected the personal devotion of the readers. These marginal marks could include theological commentaries, prayers, religious symbols or references to Saint Michael the Archangel. Such annotations offer valuable information on the reception and interpretation of texts in the medieval context.
History of the transmission of texts on Michael
Texts dedicated to St Michael the Archangel spread widely in the Middle Ages through copying and transcription in various European scriptoria. A significant example is the Breviary of San Michele della Chiusa, a liturgical manuscript from 1315 that was used for centuries in the Sacra di San Michele.
This breviary has been the subject of in-depth studies and digitisation projects to preserve its content and make it accessible to scholars.
Recommended multimedia content
Images
• Miniature of Saint Michael Archangel - Fra Angelico (1424-1430)
Miniature painting by Giovanni da Fiesole, known as Beato Angelico, depicting St. Michael the Archangel.
• Page of Smithfield Decretals with marginal glosses
Medieval manuscript page with illustrative marginal annotations.
• Tools and materials for medieval writing
Image showing the tools used for writing in the Middle Ages.
• Miniature of St Michael in the Pavia Chorales
Illustration taken from the choir books of San Michele Maggiore, Pavia.
Video
Sources and references
Wikipedia - VellumWikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
Wikipedia - ScriptoriumWikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
Wikipedia - Breviary of St. Michael of the ChiusaWikipedia
Wikipedia - Material philologyWikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wikipedia - Illuminated manuscriptWikipedia, the free encyclopaedia