MEND JEANS
82
MEXD^ANS
into the heavens; the first seven are the seven planets, one for each of the seven heavens ; the sun, as the great- est, stands in the central or fourth heaven ; the twelve became the signs of the zodiac; the fate of the remain- ing five is unknown. They are intended to be service- able to man, but only seek to injure liim, and are the source of aU evil and wrong upon eartli. The seven planets have their stations, Sr"i^"2, where they return always, after accomplishing tlieir course in the heav- ens. They, like tlie earth, and another world situated in its neighborhood, to the north, rest on anvils which Hebil-Siva placed on the belly of the " fire." The Men- dseans consider the heavens as built of the clearest, purest water, but so solid that even diamond will not cut it. On this water the planets and other stars are sailing ; tliey are of themselves dark, being evU demons, but are illuminated by brilliant hghts carried by the angels. The clearness of the sky enables us to see through the seven heavens as far as the polar star, around which, as the central sun, all the other stars are revolv- ing. It stands at the dome of heaven, before the door of the Abathur, ami is therefore the place to which the MendiBans direct their prayers. They consider the earth i as a circle, inclining somewhat to the south. It is sur- | rounded on three sides by the sea ; on the north, on the , contrary, is a great mountain of turquoise, whose reflec- tion causes the sky to appear blue. Immediately on the other side of that mountain is another world, in which Pliaraoh, a king and high-priest of the Mendaj- ans, and tlie Egyptians, who did not perish in the Red Sea, but were saved, lead a happy life. Botli worlds aresurroundedby the outer sea, "101 X3'n XSl^ (which Norberg erroneously translates " the Ked Sea"), and im- mediately behind this are tlie stations of the seven plan- ets. Man consists of three parts : the body, N"^5S ; the 1 animal soul, Xni"l ; and the heavenly soul, the spirit, , Kria'JS, or awfia, rp^xn, vovc. It is Rucha, i^vxv ,'^'''^^0 leads him into evil; one virtue only is assigned to her — she plays the part of Juno Lucina at confinements.
Although the Mendieans were originally Christians, thoy have entirely estranged themselves from the true principles of Christianity. When in the Syriac N. T. they found the Holy Spirit called Ituchu de-Kodgha, as for them Rucha, as ^vxu, was the mother of the devil, they identified them, considered the Messiah as her son, and therefore looked upon him as a sorcerer, and, as Mercurj', placed him among the planets. They consider the earth as altogether 480,000 years old, during which it has been alternately under the influence of the various planets for an equal length of time ; the human race has been three times destroyed by the sword, fire, and water, only one couple remaining alive after each time. At tlie time of Noah the world was 4G6.000 years old; 6000 years after him, when the sun (whom they call also ^•'X b-'X, "^i^nx, t^l^) came to reign over the world, and Jerusalem (called C^'IJ^ilX) was built at its command, her first prophet, Abraham, C^fl'^SX, ap- peared ; her second was Jloses, Xd'^72, after whom came Shlimun bar-Davith, to whom the d;emons yielded obe- dience. As the third false prophet, they name ^'C^ Kri^'ii"2, whom they consider as an impostor, taught l)y the Kucha dc-Kodsha, calling himself (iod and the son of God, but was inimasked as an impostor by Anush (perhaps so called in view of the N'wIX "i3 of the Syr- iac N. T.),and was put to. death by the Jews. Anush himself was bajitizcd i)y John the Raiitist, the only true prophet, and he i)erfiirnied the miracles -and resurrec- tions attributed by Christians to Christ. The last of the false ])roi)hets was ^lohammed, whom they call Ach- mat, and there will be none after him. After 4000 or 5000 years mankind will again be destroyed: this time by a terrific storm. But the world will be again repeo- . pled b}' a man and a woman from the upper world, and their, descendants shall dwell on the earth for oO,000
years in piety and innocence. Then will the fire, also called leviathan, destroy the earth and the other metlium worlds, as well as the nether worlds ; their spirits will be annihilated, and the universe become a realm of liglu.
Priesthood. — There are different degrees in their priesthood. The lower class is called Sheganda, Xlja'j, and forms a sort of medium between the clergj-, properly so called, and the laity. The members of it are actually but assistants, Ciukovoi, of the priests, and can be re- ceived into it while yet mere boys. They are conse- crated to that office by the imposition of hands, and the recital of a short formula at baptism. Many remain al- ways in this subordinate position; if they desire to go higher, which they are not permitted to do before they are fifteen years of age, they must study diligently the reli.gious books and customs of their people, undergo a strict trial for sixty days, and pass seven days and nights awake and in prayer with a priest; if admitted, they then become T(irmides,^^'''Z'^'T\ (probably for Xl'^^bplj "scholars"), to which office they are consecrated by seven priests. This is the true priestly order, which qualifies them for every ecclesiastical office. Those who distinguish themselves by their science and conduct can become N'^3T:|i, which probably is equivalent to "wja, "I3T5, Ezra i, 8; vii, 21, or " thesaurarius," he who pos- sesses the great treasure in himself. It corresponds to the office of high-priest or bishop, and requires only a short ]>robation and the consecration by another of that rank. His functions are only to consecrate others, and to preside at marriages, which can, however, be legally administered by the tarmides, without his participation. A priest who officiates at the marriage of a woman not a maiden, a widow, or a woman divorced from her hus- band, looses the right to perform afterwards any relig- ious ceremony except such marriages ; he is then called pO'^iS, " one cut off." Finally, the liighest ecclesias- tical dignity, similar to that of patriarch or pope, is that of the XS? ^'''!^> " chief of the people," who is also con- sidered as their civil chief. Their princes — when they had princes — were to be at the same time their high- priests, as they assert was the case with Pharaoh. At present they have none. AN'omen are also allowed by them to become members of the clergy ; they must be I virgins to enter into the order of shegandi, but wlien they enter the order of tarmides they must at once marrj' a priest of that order or of a higher. They can in this manner arrive to the degree of Rcsh Amnia, if their husband is invested with that title, for in no case can the woman have a higher title than her hus- band. The official dress of the priests is pure white, is very simple, and consists of white linen underclothing, I and a shirt of the same material tied with a white belt. From both shoulders hangs a white stole, about the 1 width of the hand, extending down to the feet. They i wear a white cloth on their head, twisted like a tur- j ban, the end of which, about a yard in length, liangs down on the left side in front. On the right fore- arm they wear, during divine worship only, the XJP, ' "crown." whjch consists of a piece of white linen, two finger-lengths in breadth, sewed on three sides, and which, when not in use, is ])ut under the turban. On the little finger of the right hand the tarmides wear a gilt and the suiierior priests a golden seal-ring, bearing the inscription XT^T "il^ CVr, " the name of the Jiirar- Sira,'" and carry an olive-branch in the left hand. They ' must always be barefooted in exercising their func- 1 tions.