Manichaeism

Manichaeism was a Dualist Gnostic Religion created by the Persian Prophet Mani (216-c. 274 CE), which was based on the individual choice between Good and Evil.
Mani combined elements from three Religions, Christianity, Zoroastrianism and Buddhism to create a new Religion. Manichaeism spread west through the Roman Empire and east into China and was influential from the third to seventh centuries CE.

Mani (216-c. 274 CE), which means ‘Eternity’ in Persian, was a Persian Prophet, born in Ctesiphon, Parthia.
Mani styled himself as a Prophet who claimed to be a Reincarnation of the Leading figures in other Religions.
Mani considered there were four great Empires in his lifetime, the Roman Empire, Persian Empire, Chinese Empire and the Axumite Empire.
After travelling to India, Mani returned to Persia and was accepted into the Court of Hormizd I. However, when Hormzid I was succeeded by Bahram I, a Zoroastrian, Mani was imprisoned and died a month later.

Mani organised his Followers into a Church. Manichaeism quickly spread west through the Roman Empire and east into China.
It was influential from the third to seventh centuries CE.
Manichaeism became briefly popular in the Roman Empire and had its own monasteries.
The Diocletianic Persecution (303-313 CE) against Christianity was preceded by an edict against Manichaeism issued in 302 CE.
In 380 CE Theodosius I passed the Edict of Thessalonica banning the old Pagan Religions and making Christianity the only State Religion. In 382 CE he banned Manichaeism, and it virtually disappeared from the Roman Empire.

Shabuhragan (Book of Shapur) written in Persian.
- This describes Manichaeism in six volumes written in Syriac and one written in Persian which was dedicated to Shapur I (215-272 CE), the Ruler of Persia.
The Gospel of Mani
The Treasure of Life
The Treatise
Secrets
The Book of Giants
Epistles
Psalms and Prayers
Arhzang (Message of Truth)
- This is the holy book of Manichaeism with drawings and paintings.