or MANICHEANS (Manichei), a sect of ancient heretics, who asserted two principles; so called from their author Manes or Manichaeus, a Persian by nation, and educated among the Magi, being himself one of that number before he embraced Christianity.

This heresy had its first rise about the year 277, and spread itself principally in Arabia, Egypt, and Africa. St Epiphanius, who treats of it at large, observes that the true name of this heresarch was Cubricus; and that he changed it for Manes, which in the Persian or Babylonish language signifies vessel. A rich widow, whose servant he had been, dying without issue, left him store of wealth; after which he assumed the title of the apostle or envoy of Jesus Christ.

Manes was not contented with the quality of apostle of Jesus Christ, but he also assumed that of the Paraclete, whom Christ had promised to send: which Augustine explains, by saying that Manes endeavoured to persuade men, that the Holy Ghost did personally dwell in him with full authority. He left several disciples, and among others, Addas, Thomas, and Hermas. These he sent in his lifetime into several provinces to preach his doctrine. Manes, having undertaken to cure the king of Persia's son, and not succeeding, was put in prison upon the young prince's death, whence he made his escape; but he was apprehended soon after, and flayed alive.

However, the oriental writers, cited by D'Herbelot and Hyde, tell us, that Manes, after having been protected in a singular manner by Hormizdas, who succeeded Sapor in the Persian throne, but who was not able to defend him, at length, against the united hatred of the Christians, the Magi, the Jews, and the Pagans, was shut up in a strong castle, to serve him as a refuge against those who persecuted him on account of his doctrine. They add, that after the death of Hormizdas, Varanes I. his successor, first protected Manes, but afterwards gave him up to the fury of the Magi, whose resentment against him was due to his having adopted the Sadducean principles, as some say; while others attribute it to his having mingled the tenets of the Magi with the doctrines of Christianity. However, it is certain that the Manicheans celebrated the day of their master's death. It has been a subject of much controversy whether Manes was an impostor. The learned Dr Lardner has examined the arguments on both sides; and though he does not choose to deny that he was an impostor, he does not discern evident proofs of it. He acknowledges, that he was an arrogant philosopher and a great chemist; but whether he was an impostor, he cannot certainly say. He was much too fond of philosophical notions, which he endeavored to bring into religion, for which he is to be blamed: nevertheless, he observes, that every bold dogmatizer is not an impostor.

The doctrine of Manes was a motley mixture of the tenet of Christianity with the ancient philosophy of the Persians, in which he had been instructed during his youth. He combined these two systems, and applied and accommodated to Jesus Christ the characters and actions which the Persians attributed to the god Mithras.

He established two principles, viz. a good and an evil one; the first a most pure and subtle matter, which he called light, did nothing but good; and the Manichean second, a gross and corrupt substance, which he called darkness, nothing but evil. This philosophy is very ancient; and Plutarch treats of it at large in his Isis and Osiris.

Manes borrowed many things from the ancient Gnostics; on which account many authors consider the Manicheans as a branch of the Gnostics.

In truth, the Manichean doctrine was a system of philosophy rather than of religion. They made use of amulets, in imitation of the Babiladians; and are said to have made profession of astronomy and astrology. They denied that Jesus Christ, who was only God, assumed a true human body, and maintained it was only imaginary; and therefore they denied his incarnation, death, &c. They pretended that the law of Moses did not come from God, or the good principle, but from the evil one; and that for this reason it was abrogated. They rejected almost all the sacred books in which Christians look for the sublime truths of their holy religion. They affirmed, that the Old Testament was not the work of God, but of the prince of darkness, who was substituted by the Jews in the place of the true God. They abstained entirely from eating the flesh of any animal; following herein the doctrine of the ancient Pythagoreans; they also condemned marriage. The rest of their errors may be seen in St Epiphanius and St Augustine; which last, having been of their sect, may be presumed to have been thoroughly acquainted with them.

Though the Manichees professed to receive the books of the New Testament, yet in effect they only took so much of them as suited with their own opinions. They first formed to themselves a certain idea or scheme of Christianity; and to this adjusted the writings of the apostles, pretending that whatever was inconsistent with this had been foisted into the New Testament by later writers, who were half Jews. On the other hand, they made fables and apocryphal books pass for apostolical writings; and even are suspected to have forged several others, the better to maintain their errors. St Epiphanius gives a catalogue of several pieces published by Manes, and adds extracts out of some of them. These are the Mysteries, Chapters, Gospel, and Treasury.

The rule of life and manners which Manes prescribed to his followers was most extravagantly rigorous and severe. However, he divided his disciples into two classes; one of which comprehended the perfect Christians, under the name of the elect; and the other the imperfect and feeble, under the title of auditors or hearers. The elect were obliged to a rigorous and entire abstinence from flesh, eggs, milk, fish, wine, all intoxicating drink, wedlock, and all amorous gratifications; and to live in a state of the severest penury, nourishing their emaciated bodies with bread, herbs, pulse, and melons, and depriving themselves of all the comforts that arise from the moderate indulgence of natural passions, and also from a variety of innocent and agreeable pursuits. The auditors were allowed to possess houses, lands, and wealth, to feed on flesh, to enter into the bonds of conjugal tenderness; but this liberty was granted them with many limitations, and under the strictest conditions of moderation and temperance. The general assembly of the Manicheans was headed by a president, Manichees president, who represented Jesus Christ. There were joined to him 12 rulers or masters, who were deigned to represent the 12 apostles, and these were followed by 72 bishops, the images of the 72 disciples of our Lord. These bishops had prebysers or deacons under them, and all the members of these religious orders were chosen out of the class of the elect. Their worship was simple and plain; and consisted of prayers, reading the scriptures, and hearing public discourses, at which both the auditors and elect were allowed to be present. They also observed the Christian appointment of baptism and the eucharist. They kept the Lord's day, observing it as a fast; and they likewise kept Easter and Pentecost.

Towards the 4th century, the Manicheans concealed themselves under various names, which they successively adopted, and changed in proportion as they were discovered by them. Thus they assumed the names of Encratites, Apotacticis, Saccophori, Hydropharafates, Solitaries, and several others, under which they lay concealed for a certain time, but could not however long escape the vigilance of their enemies. About the close of the 6th century, this sect gained a very considerable influence, particularly among the Persians.

Toward the middle of the 12th century, the sect of Manichees took a new face, on occasion of one Constantine, an Armenian, and an adherer to it; who took upon him to suppress the reading of all other books besides the Evangelists and the epistles of St Paul, which he explained in such a manner as to make them contain a new system of Manicheism. He entirely discarded all the writings of his predecessors; rejecting the chimeras of the Valentinians, and their 30 aeons; the fable of Manes, with regard to the origin of rain, and other dreams; but still retained the impurities of Bahaldes. In this manner he reformed Manicheism, in so much that his followers made no scruple of anathematizing Scythian, Buddas, called also Addas and Terebinth, the contemporaries and disciples, as some say, and, according to others, the predecessors and masters of Manes, and even Manes himself; Constantine being now their great apostle. After he had seduced an infinite number of people, he was at last stoned by order of the emperor.

This sect prevailed in Bosnia and the adjacent provinces about the close of the 15th century; propagated their doctrines with confidence, and held their religious assemblies with impunity.