A Source Book for Ancient Church History - Mirrors

280 A Source Book for Ancient Church History[254]his prophet. He commands thee now to proclaim thy truth and onmy announcement to proclaim the truth which is from him andto throw thyself into this calling with all thy zeal.”The Manichæans say: He first openly entered upon his workon the day when Sapor, the son of Ardaschir, entered upon hisreign, and placed the crown upon his head; and this was Sunday,the first day of Nisan (March 20, 241), when the sun stood in thesign Aries. He was accompanied by two men, who had alreadyattached themselves to his religion; one was called Simeon, theother Zakwa; besides these, his father accompanied him, to seehow his affairs would turn out.Mani said he was the Paraclete, whom Jesus, of blessed memory,85 had previously announced. Mani took the elements ofhis doctrine from the religion of the Magi and Christianity.…Before he met Sapor Mani had spent about forty years in foreignlands. 86 Afterward he converted Peroz, the brother of Sapor,and Peroz procured him an audience with his brother Sapor. TheManichæans relate: He thereupon entered where he was andon his shoulders were shining, as it were, two candles. WhenSapor perceived him, he was filled with reverence for him, andhe appeared great in his eyes; although he previously had determinedto seize him and put him to death. After he had methim, therefore, the fear of him filled him, he rejoiced over himand asked him why he had come and promised to become hisdisciple. Mani requested of him a number of things, among themthat his followers might be unmolested in the capital and in theother territories of the Persian Empire, and that they might extendthemselves whither they wished in the provinces. Sapor grantedhim all he asked.Mani had already preached in India, China, and among theinhabitants of Turkestan, and in every land he left behind him85 The author is a Moslem, and therefore speaks of Jesus with great respect;Mani regarded Jesus as evil.86 This is undoubtedly a mistake.