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Manichaean Writings

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Archive Notes

As classical Gnosticism was waning, another Gnostic movement developed under the inspiration of the Prophet Mani. The Manichaean movement became a true world religion, spreading to Europe, Central Asia and China; it survived as a living religion in the Orient up until the present century. Though once anathematized and little understood, the discovery of several ancient documents during the last century, including large collections of Manichaean texts in Central Asia, has stimulated a new study and understanding of one of Gnosticism's most important living representatives.

Also available here is an archived lecture from The Gnostic Society introducing the Manichaean materials: Mani: Helmsman of the Ship of Light.  (This lecture is in RealAudio format and runs about 70 minutes.)

 

The Manichaean Prayerbooks

    The Psalms of the Festival of Bema (The Mercy Seat)

Page from an illustrated Manichaean hymn manuscript, found in Central Asia and probably dating to the eleventh century.

• Psalm CCXXIII.
• Psalm CCXXVIII.
• Psalm CCXXX.
• Psalm CCXXXV.    
• Psalm CCXXXVII.
• Pslam CCXXXIX.
• Psalm CCXL.
• Psalm CXLI.

    The Psalms to Jesus

• Psalm I.
• Psalm II.
• Psalm V.
• Psalm VII.
• Psalm X.
• Psalm XI.
• Psalm XXI.
• Psalm XXX.
• Psalm XXXI.

    Separate Psalms

• Taste and Know that the Lord is Sweet
• Put in Me a Holy Heart, My God.
• Light Your Lamps.

 

The Kephalia of the Lord Mani

• Excerpt from the Kephalia: The Three Blows Struck at the Enemy on Account of The Light.

 

Parthian Hymns and Prayers

• The Hymn on the Third Messenger and the Archons.
• Hymn to the Father of Greatness.
• The Hymn about the Captivity of Light.
• Invocation of Jesus the Splendor.
• Hymn on the Second Coming of Jesus.
• Hymn on the Fate of the Living Soul.
• Hymn Exhorting the Soul to Remembrance
• Hymn to the Living Soul .
• Hymn to the Third Messenger.
• Hymn in Praise of Mani.
• Commemorative Hymn for Mar Zaku.
• Homily on the Correct Preparations for the Sacred Meal.
• Invocation of the Angels.
• The Invocation of Bar Simus.
• Invocation of the Gods in the Moon.
• A Confessional Prayer for the Elect.
• The Hymn on the End of the World.
• The Hymn on Body-and-Soul.
• The Funerary Hymn.
• Hymns to the Soul.
• Hymn in Honor of the Dominions of Light.
• Untitled Parthian Hymn.
• The Crucifixion Hymn.

 

Hymns and Writings Ascribed to Mani

• The Praise of the Lesser Ones.
• The Praise of the Greater Ones.
• We Would Fulfil: Mani's Hymn to Jesus, the King.
• The Praise of Jesus the Life-giver.
• Untitled Psalm fragment.
• The Opening Words of the Living Gospel.
• Apocryphal letter to Màr Ammo ascribed to Mani.

 

Parables

• Parable about the Auditors.
• Parable about the Farmer.
• Parable of the Pearl Borer.
• The Parable of the Monk and the Girl.
• Parable about the Two Snakes.

 

Miscellaneous Manichaean Scriptures

• The Psalms of Thomas (a collection of 12 psalms)
• A Manichaean Psalm:  A summary of the Manichaean creation myth
• Primal Man, a Manichaean fragment.
• Come to Me, My Kinsman, the Light, My Guide. A Manichaean Prayer.
• The End of the Deficiency. A Manichaean eschatological hymn.
• Joy Came Over Me. A Manichaean fragment.
• Salvation of the Soul. A Turkish Manichaean fragment.
• Excerpt from the Fundamental Epistle of Mani.
• O Soul, a Manichaean fragment.

 

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Secondary Sources: Anti-Manichaean Writings of Augustine

• De Moribus Ecclesiae Catholicae
  (On the Morals of the Catholic Church)
• De Moribus Manichaerorum
  (On the Morals of the Manichaeans)
• De Duabus Animabus Contra Manichaeos
  (Concerning Two Souls: Against the Manichaeans)
• Disputatio Contra Fortunatum Manichaeum
  (Disputations Against Fortunatus, the Manichaean)
• Contra Epistolam Fundamenti Manichaei
  (Against the Fundamental Epistle of Mani)
• Contra Faustum Manichaeum Books, I - XV
  (Against Faustus, the Manichaean)
  Contra Faustum Manichaeum Books, XVI-XXII
  Contra Faustum Manichaeum Books, XXIII-XXXIII
• De Natura Boni, Contra Manichaeos
  (Concerning the Nature of Good: Against the Manichaeans)
  

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