| Part of a series on |
| Mandaeism |
|---|
 |
| Religion portal |
A Ganzibra (singular form in Classical Mandaic: ࡂࡀࡍࡆࡉࡁࡓࡀ, plural form in Classical Mandaic: ࡂࡀࡍࡆࡉࡁࡓࡉࡀ ganzibria, literally 'treasurer' in Mandaic; Persian: گنزورا) is a high priest in Mandaeism. Tarmidas, or junior priests, rank below the Ganzibras. [1]
Symbolically, ganzibras are considered to be uthras on earth ( Tibil). Their responsibilities include performing masbuta, masiqta, wedding ceremonies, and other rituals, all of which can only be performed by priests. They must prepare their own food to maintain ritual purity. [2] Ganzibra priests are also prohibited from consuming stimulants such as wine, tobacco, and coffee. [3]
Ordination
The ganzibras go through an elaborate set of initiation rituals that are separate from those performed for the tarmidas. [2] According Drower (1937), a ganzibra can only be initiated immediately before the death of a pious member of the Mandaean community. Two ganzibras and two shgandas are required to perform the initiation. [3]
The bukra is the first masiqta performed by a ganzibra priest just after ordination. [4]
The ʿngirta ( lit. 'message'; also refers to Qolasta prayers 73–74) is a ceremony used to inform the World of Light about the ordination of a ganzibra. [5]
In Mandaean texts
In Right Ginza 15.7, 15.8, 16.1, and 17.1, the uthra Yura is mentioned as Yura Rba Ganzibra, or "Great Yura the Ganzibra." [6]
Notable ganzibria
Notable ganzibria include:
- Brikha Nasoraia (Australia)
- Khaldoon Majid Abdullah (Australia)
- Negm bar Zahroon (1892–1976, lived in both Iraq and Iran)
See also
References
- ^ Drower, E. S. 1960. The Secret Adam: A Study of Nasoraean Gnosis. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
- ^ a b Buckley, Jorunn Jacobsen (2002). The Mandaeans: ancient texts and modern people. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-515385-5. OCLC 65198443.
- ^ a b Drower, E. S. 1937. The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran. Leiden: Brill (1962 reprint).
- ^ Aldihisi, Sabah (2008). The story of creation in the Mandaean holy book in the Ginza Rba (PhD). University College London.
- ^ Häberl, Charles (2022). The Book of Kings and the Explanations of This World: A Universal History from the Late Sasanian Empire. Liverpool: Liverpool University Press. p. 214. ISBN 978-1-80085-627-1.
- ^ Gelbert, Carlos (2011). Ginza Rba. Sydney: Living Water Books. ISBN 9780958034630.
External links
| People |  | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Historical identities | |||||||||||||||
| Priesthood | |||||||||||||||
| Literature |
| ||||||||||||||
| Cosmology |
| ||||||||||||||
| Important figures | |||||||||||||||
| Legendary figures | |||||||||||||||
| Concepts |
| ||||||||||||||
| Objects and symbols | |||||||||||||||
| Ritual food and drink |
| ||||||||||||||
| Clothing | |||||||||||||||
| Rituals and practices | |||||||||||||||
| Buildings and structures | |||||||||||||||
| Calendar |
| ||||||||||||||
| Language | |||||||||||||||
| Other topics | |||||||||||||||
