Mani
Manichaeism was founded by the prophet Mani in the 3rd century CE in Persia. Mani, born in 217 CE, received a revelation at thirteen years of age from his "divine twin," which was later repeated when he was 25 years old, at which time he felt compelled to share his teachings with the rest of the world. [1] It was during this time that Mani presented himself as the Paraclete foretold in the Gospel of John, and the true successor to Jesus Christ. Mani then began to perform missionary work throughout the Middle East, including travelling into India. [2]
Mani's teachings incorporated elements of Christianity, Zoroastrianism, and Buddhism, which proved to be attractive to the expansionist policies of the current leader of the Persian Empire, Shapur I. Mani was then given great freedom to spread his message throughout the Persian Empire, eventually travelling to the Caucasus to further spread his teachings. Wherever Manichaeism was spread, it took on elements of the majority religion practiced in a region; Manichaeism in the Roman Empire took on Christian attributes, and in Persia it took on Zoroastrian elements. [2]
Mani eventually fell out of favor with the succeeding emperor, Bahram I, who took favor to hoisting Zoroastrianism as the state religion of the empire. Mani was eventually executed by Bahram I in 274 CE. [1]
Mani's teachings incorporated elements of Christianity, Zoroastrianism, and Buddhism, which proved to be attractive to the expansionist policies of the current leader of the Persian Empire, Shapur I. Mani was then given great freedom to spread his message throughout the Persian Empire, eventually travelling to the Caucasus to further spread his teachings. Wherever Manichaeism was spread, it took on elements of the majority religion practiced in a region; Manichaeism in the Roman Empire took on Christian attributes, and in Persia it took on Zoroastrian elements. [2]
Mani eventually fell out of favor with the succeeding emperor, Bahram I, who took favor to hoisting Zoroastrianism as the state religion of the empire. Mani was eventually executed by Bahram I in 274 CE. [1]
Manichaeism in the Roman Empire
Manichean missionaries after Mani's death eventually approached the Roman Empire, and established the first communities in the Roman provinces of Syria and Egypt. With time, Manichaeism spread throughout the network of roads that connected the Roman Empire.
Manichaeism eventually became an accepted religion after the reign of Constantine, where it passed off as a Christian sect. It was only during the reign of Theodosius I did Manichaeism come under imperial assault along with Roman paganism, with adherents being barred from practicing their religion. Eventually, under Justinian I, Manichaeism was declared completely and utterly illegal under penalty of death. [2]
Manichaeism eventually became an accepted religion after the reign of Constantine, where it passed off as a Christian sect. It was only during the reign of Theodosius I did Manichaeism come under imperial assault along with Roman paganism, with adherents being barred from practicing their religion. Eventually, under Justinian I, Manichaeism was declared completely and utterly illegal under penalty of death. [2]
Bibliography
- Michel Tardieu, Manichaeism, trans. M. B. DeBevoise (Urbana and Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 2008).
- Iain Gardner and Samuel N. C. Lieu, Manichaean Texts from the Roman Empire (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004).