Two Irish Apocalypses

The Vision of Adomnán and The Two Sorrows of the Kingdom of Heaven

John Carey

Pages: approx. xii + 218 p.
Size:120 x 190 mm
Illustrations:2 b/w

Language(s):English
Publication Year:2026

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ISBN: 978-2-503-62218-7
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Translations, with extensive commentary, of "The Vision of Adomnán", the most famous and remarkable afterworld vision account in the Irish language; and of "The Two Sorrows of the Kingdom of Heaven", a briefer related text about the end of the world.

Subject(s)

BIO

John Carey is Professor of Early and Medieval Irish at University College Cork, Ireland; a member of the Apocrypha Hiberniae project; and general editor of the "Temenos Academy Review". His publications include a prior contribution to the Brepols "Apocryphes" series, and other books on the religious culture of early medieval Ireland.

Summary

This volume presents translations of two medieval Irish eschatological texts, with extended commentary. "The Vision of Adomnán" is the most elaborate and ambitious account of the afterlife in the Irish language: using the framework of "The Vision of Saint Paul", the author constructs a rich and vivid picture of the next world, drawing upon many sources including a remarkable account of the seven heavens as regions of testing and punishment. "The Two Sorrows of the Kingdom of Heaven" is a considerably briefer work, describing the Last Judgement and the reign of Antichrist with reference to the eschatological martyrs Enoch and Elijah.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Foreword
Abbreviations

FÍS ADOMNÁIN: THE VISION OF ADOMNÁN
I. Synopsis
II. Context and Previous Scholarship
III.Irish Precursors of Dante?
IV. Background and Sources
1. A Vision within a Sermon
2. Other Celebrated Visions
3. The Land of the Saints and the Household of Heaven
4. The Seven Heavens
5. The Regions of Punishment
6. Other Celebrated Sermons
7. A Historical Context?
V. THE VISION OF ADOMNÁN
VI. Manuscripts
VII. Stemma
1. The Brendan fragment
2. BO vs. UQ
3. Y
4. “Na Seacht Neamha”
VIII. Language and Dating
IX. Conclusion

DÁ BRÓN FLATHA NIME: THE TWO SORROWS OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
I. Synopsis
II. Previous Scholarship
III. Background and Sources
1. “The Two Sorrows of the Kingdom of Heaven”
2. The Last Judgement
3. Antichrist
IV. THE TWO SORROWS OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
V. Manuscripts
VI. Stemma
VII. Language and Dating
VIII. Conclusion

Appendix: The Reichenau Seven Heavens Homily
Glossary
Bibliography
Indices
Index of Biblical Citations
Index of Sources