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Micheus, Michar, Mnesinous
In Sethian Gnostic texts, Micheus, Michar, and Mnesinous are the three heavenly spirits that preside over the rite of baptism, performed in the wellspring of Living Water. They are mentioned in the Nag Hammadi tractates of the ''Holy Book of the Great Invisible Spirit'', '' Trimorphic Protennoia'', '' Zostrianos'', and '' Apocalypse of Adam''. In the texts, the trio is frequently mentioned along with Yesseus Mazareus Yessedekeus, the name of the Living Water. Occasionally in some of the Nag Hammadi texts, only Micheus and Michar are mentioned, without Mnesinous. Parallels In Mandaeism, Bihram is the uthra (celestial spirit) presiding over the masbuta (baptism). See also *Bihram In Mandaeism, Bihram ( myz, ࡁࡉࡄࡓࡀࡌ) or Bihram Rabba ( myz, ࡁࡉࡄࡓࡀࡌ ࡓࡁࡀ, "Bihram the Great") is an uthra (angel or guardian) who presides over the ''masbuta'', or baptism ritual. Bihram is mentioned in Mandaean texts su ... * Shilmai and Nidbai * Adathan and Yadathan ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sethianism
The Sethians were one of the main currents of Gnosticism during the 2nd and 3rd century CE, along with Valentinianism and Basilideanism. According to John D. Turner, it originated in the 2nd century CE as a fusion of two distinct Hellenistic Judaic philosophies and was influenced by Christianity and Middle Platonism. However, the exact origin of Sethianism is not properly understood. History Mentions The Sethians (Latin ''Sethoitae'') are first mentioned, alongside the Ophites, in the 2nd century, by Irenaeus (who was antagonistic towards gnosticism) and in Pseudo-Tertullian (Ch. 30). According to Frederik Wisse, all subsequent accounts appear to be largely dependent on Irenaeus. Hippolytus repeats information from Irenaeus. According to Epiphanius of Salamis (c. 375), Sethians were in his time found only in Egypt and Palestine, but fifty years earlier, they had been found as far away as Greater Armenia. Philaster's (4th century CE) ''Catalogue of Heresies'' places the Ophit ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shilmai
In Mandaeism, Shilmai (Šilmai; myz, ࡔࡉࡋࡌࡀࡉ) or Shalmai (Šalmai) is an uthra (angel or guardian) who serves as one of the two guardian spirits of Piriawis, the heavenly ''yardna'' (river) in the World of Light. In the ''Ginza Rabba'' and ''Qolasta'', he is usually mentioned together with Nidbai. Nhar and Kbar and mentioned as the "clouds" (Mandaic: ''anana'') of Shilmai and Nidbai in Chapter 17.1 of the ''Right Ginza''. In the ''Ginza Rabba'' In Chapter 5.5 (Book 7 in the Drabsha edition) of the ''Right Ginza'', ''The Book of Šilmai, Lord of the House'', is named after Šilmai. In the same chapter and also in Book 6 of the ''Right Ginza'', the uthra Yathrun is mentioned as the father of Shilmai. In this part of the ''Ginza Rabba'', Shilmai is portrayed very differently from all other Mandaean texts. While most Mandaean texts portray Shilmai as a guardian uthra of the heavenly Jordan who is always paired with Nidbai, the ''Book of Šilmai'' portrays him as the "Mast ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Water Spirits
Water (chemical formula ) is an inorganic, transparent, tasteless, odorless, and nearly colorless chemical substance, which is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known living organisms (in which it acts as a solvent). It is vital for all known forms of life, despite not providing food, energy or organic micronutrients. Its chemical formula, H2O, indicates that each of its molecules contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms, connected by covalent bonds. The hydrogen atoms are attached to the oxygen atom at an angle of 104.45°. "Water" is also the name of the liquid state of H2O at standard temperature and pressure. A number of natural states of water exist. It forms precipitation in the form of rain and aerosols in the form of fog. Clouds consist of suspended droplets of water and ice, its solid state. When finely divided, crystalline ice may precipitate in the form of snow. The gaseous state of water is steam or water vapor. Water covers ab ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Water And Religion
Water is considered a purifier in most religions. Holy water Some faiths use water especially prepared for religious purposes (holy water in most Christian denominations, ''mambuha'' in Mandaeism, ''amrita'' in Sikhism and Hinduism). Many religions also consider particular sources or bodies of water to be sacred or at least auspicious; examples include Lourdes in Roman Catholicism, the Jordan River (at least symbolically) in some Christian churches and Mandaeism called ''Yardena'', the Zamzam Well in Islam and the River Ganges (among many others) in Hinduism. Ritual washing Faiths that incorporate ritual washing (ablution) include Christianity, Mandaeism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Judaism, Islam, the Baháʼí Faith, Shinto, Taoism, and the Rastafari movement. Immersion (or aspersion or affusion) of a person in water is a central sacrament of Christianity (where it is called baptism); it is also a part of the practice of other religions, including Mandaeism (''masbuta''), ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Baptism
Baptism (from grc-x-koine, βάπτισμα, váptisma) is a form of ritual purification—a characteristic of many religions throughout time and geography. In Christianity, it is a Christian sacrament of initiation and adoption, almost invariably with the use of water. It may be performed by sprinkling or pouring water on the head, or by immersing in water either partially or completely, traditionally three times, once for each person of the Trinity. The synoptic gospels recount that John the Baptist baptised Jesus. Baptism is considered a sacrament in most churches, and as an ordinance in others. Baptism according to the Trinitarian formula, which is done in most mainstream Christian denominations, is seen as being a basis for Christian ecumenism, the concept of unity amongst Christians. Baptism is also called christening, although some reserve the word "christening" for the baptism of infants. In certain Christian denominations, such as the Lutheran Churches, baptism ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Triple Deity
A triple deity is a deity with three apparent forms that function as a singular whole. Such deities may sometimes be referred to as threefold, tripled, triplicate, tripartite, triune, triadic, or as a trinity. The number three has a long history of mythical associations and triple deities are common throughout world mythology. Carl Jung considered the arrangement of deities into triplets an archetype in the history of religion. In classical religious iconography or mythological art, three separate beings may represent either a triad who typically appear as a group (the Greek Moirai, Charites, and Erinyes; the Norse Norns; or the Irish Morrígan) or a single deity notable for having three aspects (Greek Hecate, Roman Diana).Virgil addresses Hecate as ''tergemina Hecate, tria virginis, ora Dianae'' (''Aeneid'', 4.511). Origins Georges Dumézil proposed in his trifunctional hypothesis that ancient Indo-European society conceived of itself as structured around three activities: w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Abraxas
Abraxas ( grc-x-biblical, ἀβραξάς, abraxas, variant form romanized: ) is a word of mystic meaning in the system of the Gnostic Basilides, being there applied to the "Great Archon" (), the princeps of the 365 spheres (). The word is found in Gnostic texts such as the '' Holy Book of the Great Invisible Spirit'', and also appears in the Greek Magical Papyri. It was engraved on certain antique gemstones, called on that account Abraxas stones, which were used as amulets or charms. As the initial spelling on stones was (), the spelling of seen today probably originates in the confusion made between the Greek letters sigma (Σ) and xi (Ξ) in the Latin transliteration. The seven letters spelling its name may represent each of the seven classic planets. The word may be related to ''Abracadabra'', although other explanations exist. There are similarities and differences between such figures in reports about Basilides's teaching, ancient Gnostic texts, the larger Greco-Roma ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Manichaeism
Manichaeism (; in New Persian ; ) is a former major religionR. van den Broek, Wouter J. Hanegraaff ''Gnosis and Hermeticism from Antiquity to Modern Times''SUNY Press, 1998 p. 37 founded in the 3rd century AD by the Parthian Empire, Parthian prophet Mani (prophet), Mani (AD 216–274), in the Sasanian Empire. Manichaeism teaches an elaborate dualistic cosmology describing the conflict between good and evil, struggle between a goodness and value theory, good, spirituality, spiritual world of light, and an evil, material world of darkness. Through an ongoing process that takes place in human history, light is gradually removed from the world of matter and returned to the world of light, whence it came. Its beliefs are based on local Mesopotamian religious movements and Gnosticism. It reveres Mani as the final prophet after Zoroaster, Gautama Buddha, and Jesus. Manichaeism was quickly successful and spread far through the Aramaic language, Aramaic-speaking regions. It thrived be ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Xroshtag And Padvaxtag
Xrôshtag and Padvâxtag (''Xrōštag and Padvāxtag'') are a pair of Manichaeanism, Manichaean divinity, divinities, always depicted together, who serve as the personifications of the words "call" and "answer".Burkitt, F. C. 1935. Xrôshtag and Padvâxtag, Call and Answer. ''JTS'' 36:180–181. The call is uttered from above by the "living spirit", and is answered from below by the man who wishes to be saved. See also *Shilmai and Nidbai in Mandaeism *Adathan and Yadathan in Mandaeism *Shuqamuna and Shumaliya References Manichaeism Deities and spirits Pairs of angels {{Manichaeism-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Adathan And Yadathan
In Mandaeism, Adathan ( myz, ࡀࡃࡀࡕࡀࡍ) and Yadathan ( myz, ࡅࡀࡃࡀࡕࡀࡍ) are a pair of uthras (angel or guardian) who stand at the Gate of Life in the World of Light, praising and worshipping Hayyi Rabbi. In the ''Ginza Rabba'' and ''Qolasta'', they are always mentioned together. Book 14 of the ''Right Ginza'' mentions Adathan and Yadathan as the guardians of the "first river" (). See also *Shilmai and Nidbai *Xroshtag and Padvaxtag in Manichaeism *Shuqamuna and Shumaliya Šuqamuna (d''šu-qa-mu-na'') and Šumaliya (d''šu-ma-li-ia'') were a pair of deities introduced to Mesopotamia during the Kassite dynasty of Babylonia. They had a close association with the royal family; the pair of gods are referred to as 'the ... References Pairs of angels Uthras {{Mandaeism-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nidbai
In Mandaeism, Nidbai ( myz, ࡍࡉࡃࡁࡀࡉ) is an uthra (angel or guardian) who serves as one of the two guardian spirits () of Piriawis, the heavenly ''yardna'' (river) in the World of Light. In the ''Ginza Rabba'' and ''Qolasta'', he is usually mentioned together with Shilmai. See also *Adathan and Yadathan *Xroshtag and Padvaxtag in Manichaeism Manichaeism (; in New Persian ; ) is a former major religionR. van den Broek, Wouter J. Hanegraaff ''Gnosis and Hermeticism from Antiquity to Modern Times''SUNY Press, 1998 p. 37 founded in the 3rd century AD by the Parthian Empire, Parthian ... References Individual angels Uthras Water spirits {{Mandaeism-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Masbuta
Maṣbuta ( myz, ࡌࡀࡑࡁࡅࡕࡀ) is the ritual of immersion in water in the Mandaeism, Mandaean religion. Overview Mandaeans revere John the Baptist and practice frequent baptism (''masbuta'') as a Ritual purification, ritual of purification, not of initiation. They are possibly one of the earliest peoples to practice ritual baptism. Mandaeans undergo baptism on Sundays (''Habshaba''), wearing a white sacral robe (''Rasta (Mandaeism), rasta''). Baptism for Mandaeans consists of a triple full immersion in water, a triple ''signing'' of the forehead with water and a triple drinking of water. The priest (''Mandaean priest, rabbi'') then removes a ring made of myrtle (''klila'') worn by the baptized and places it on their forehead. This is then followed by a handshake (''kušṭa'' - hand of truth) with the priest. The final blessing involves the priest laying his right hand on the baptized person's head. ''Living water'' (fresh, natural, flowing water, called ''mia hayyi'') is ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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