[Der Begriff μετάνoια in gnostischen Schriften]

This paper explores the use and meaning of the concept of mu epsilon tau alpha nu omicron iota alpha in Gnostic texts. It is found with regard to Sophia, Sabaoth and the soul. It expresses their avertion from the created order and its demiurge and their conversion to the real God. The main characteristics of the mu epsilon tau alpha nu omicron iota alpha are: it starts off as an avertion, some kind of negative knowledge about reality; it involves some public display of culpability and regret; it is a demand to a graceful deity who allows for an eschatological liberation of everything that belongs to the order of creation; before this return to the pleromatic origin takes places, the repentent often stays in a place called the mu epsilon tau alpha nu omicron iota alpha. Typical for the Gnostic uetavoia is the fact that it has an epistemic value: it is the condition for true knowledge.