Our Creed.

"I believe in the two eternal principles of Light and Darkness, respectively representing the spiritual and material worlds. I affirm the teachings of the Prophet Mani, our Illuminator, who showed us the path of redemption through Gnosis. I recognize the World of Light, ruled by the Father of Greatness and his Five Divine Emanations, as the ultimate source of all goodness and wisdom.

I affirm my faith in the dualism of Light and Darkness, reflecting the spiritual and material worlds. I recognize this eternal conflict as defined by our Prophet Mani, our luminous guide, depicting an ongoing cosmic battle between spiritual enlightenment and earthly confines.

In the realm of Deity, I acknowledge the Father of Greatness, the divine entity of the World of Light, as my spiritual fountainhead. His radiance emanates in the form of Five Divine Emanations. I also acknowledge the Prince of Darkness, ruler of the material world, and the eternal adversary of the Light.

I affirm my belief in Jesus Christ, the Luminous Prophet of God according to the teachings of Mani, He who exists in a state beyond the confines of earthly matter, encapsulating the spirit of divinity and enlightenment.

In his earthly form, Jesus, known as Jesus Patibilis, suffered the trials and tribulations of the material world; devoured by the Darkness, he served as a stark reminder of the evils and limitations of physical existence.

Simultaneously, I recognize the existence of Jesus the Splendour, who remained in the World of Light, providing wisdom and revelation, aiding the Father of Greatness in His eternal combat against the forces of darkness.

I acknowledge the role of Jesus the Luminous, the celestial embodiment of divine wisdom, who guides the souls of the enlightened against the hardships of the material world, leading them towards the ultimate salvation in the World of Light.

I revere Jesus as the Living Jesus, the immortal, spiritual representation of the divine Logos, his teachings illuminating the path of Gnosis, and serving as the beacon of salvation for the trapped light in the world of matter.

I confirm that Mani, as the Apostle of Jesus Christ, continues this divine legacy by professing the way of salvation through the enlightenment of the soul.

In this faith, I stand firm, embracing the teachings of Jesus within the Manichaean context, holding steadfast in my journey from the realm of Darkness towards the eternal Light.

Cosmology:

I recognise our cosmology as a battlefield, where Light and Darkness wage their eternal war. The World of Light, our spiritual home, is beleaguered by the Prince of Darkness, resulting in an entanglement of light particles within the constraining material world. It is my belief that this primal tragedy gave birth to mankind and our earthly existence.

I acknowledge the ongoing cosmic conflict, detailing the entrapment of particles of light within the darkness of materiality, induced by the machinations of the Prince of Darkness. I understand humanity as the venue for this struggle, every individual embodying both light and dark elements.

Soteriology:

On the subject of Soteriology, I uphold the teachings of Mani, proposing a path to salvation through enlightenment and understanding, a Gnosis. I believe that through adherence to the Three Seals - virtuous speech, virtuous action, and virtuous thought, symbolised by the Seal of the Mouth, Seal of the Hands, and the Seal of the Bosom, I can liberate my soul, the particle of light within me, from the shackles of worldly matter.

Eschatology:

In accepting Manichaean eschatology, I anticipate a time when the Light finally triumphs over Darkness. A 'call from above' will catalyse the purification and discharge of all captive light from the world of matter. The Prince of Darkness and his realm will be vanquished, and my soul will find its path back to reunification with the World of Light.

In this faith, I find my spiritual purpose and my eternal salvation."

Concerning the bread and wine

I submit myself to the teachings of Mani, embodying the enlightenment and wisdom reflected in the sacred symbols of bread and wine.

I believe in the bread as a symbol of the Jesus Patibilis, the physical manifestation of Jesus on Earth. We partake of His hardships, His suffering endured in the flesh within the world of matter, thus gaining a deeper understanding of our earthly struggles.

I perceive the wine as representative of the liberating wisdom of Jesus the Luminous. Just as the grape undergoes transformation to become wine, we too are made aware of our metamorphosis from the confines of material existence to the luminosity of spiritual enlightenment.

In the ritual consumption of bread and wine under Manichaean teachings, I understand the process of liberating my imprisoned Light; consuming the bread, I connect with the earthly trials experienced by my spiritual counterparts, and drinking the wine, I embrace the teachings that deliver me towards the realm of Light.

With open heart, I commit to this rite, acknowledging it as an apt reflection of my endeavor to escape the clutches of Darkness. With every morsel of bread and sip of wine, I reaffirm my path towards Light, guided by the teachings of Jesus Christ as professed by His Apostle, Mani.

Andrew Ter-Grigoryan in Ekklesia of Light2 years ago

Andrew Ter-Grigoryan
in
Ekklesia of Light
2 years ago