A ganzibra (singular form in , plural form in , literally 'treasurer' in
Mandaic; ) is a
high priest in
Mandaeism
Mandaeism (Mandaic language, Classical Mandaic: ),https://qadaha.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/nhura-dictionary-mandaic-english-mandaic.pdf sometimes also known as Nasoraeanism or Sabianism, is a Gnosticism, Gnostic, Monotheism, ...
.
Tarmida
A tarmida (singular form in , plural form in ; ; ) is a junior Mandaean priest, priest in Mandaeism. Ganzibras, or head priests, rank above tarmidas.Drower, E. S. 1960. ''The Secret Adam: A Study of Nasoraean Gnosis''. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
...
s, or junior priests, rank below the ganzibras.
[Drower, E. S. 1960. ''The Secret Adam: A Study of Nasoraean Gnosis''. Oxford: Clarendon Press.]
Symbolically, ganzibras are considered to be
uthra
An uthra or ʿutra (, Neo-Mandaic ''oṯrɔ'', traditionally transliterated ''eutra''; plural: ʿuthrē, traditionally transliterated ''eutria'') is a "divine messenger of the light" in Mandaeism. Charles G. Häberl and James F. McGrath transl ...
s 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.
Ganzibra priests are also prohibited from consuming stimulants such as wine, tobacco, and coffee.
Ordination
The ganzibras go through an elaborate set of initiation rituals that are separate from those performed for the
tarmida
A tarmida (singular form in , plural form in ; ; ) is a junior Mandaean priest, priest in Mandaeism. Ganzibras, or head priests, rank above tarmidas.Drower, E. S. 1960. ''The Secret Adam: A Study of Nasoraean Gnosis''. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
...
s.
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.
[ Drower, E. S. 1937. ''The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran''. Leiden: Brill (1962 reprint).]
The ''bukra'' is the first
masiqta performed by a ganzibra priest just after ordination.
The ''ʿngirta'' (; also refers to
Qulasta
The Qulasta, also spelled Qolastā in older sources (; ), is a compilation of Mandaean prayers. The Mandaic word ''qolastā'' means "collection".
The prayerbook is a collection of Mandaic prayers regarding baptisms ('' maṣbuta'') and other sa ...
prayers 73–74) is a ceremony used to inform the World of Light about the ordination of a ganzibra.
In Mandaean texts
In ''
Right Ginza'' 15.7, 15.8, 16.1, and 17.1, the
uthra
An uthra or ʿutra (, Neo-Mandaic ''oṯrɔ'', traditionally transliterated ''eutra''; plural: ʿuthrē, traditionally transliterated ''eutria'') is a "divine messenger of the light" in Mandaeism. Charles G. Häberl and James F. McGrath transl ...
Yura is mentioned as ''Yura Rba Ganzibra'', or "Great Yura the Ganzibra."
Notable ''ganzibria''
Notable ''ganzibria'' include:
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Brikha Nasoraia (Australia)
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Khaldoon Majid Abdullah (Australia)
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Salwan Alkhamas (Sweden)
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Najah Choheili (Iran)
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Taleb Doraji (Iran)
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Negm bar Zahroon (1892–1976, lived in both Iraq and Iran)
See also
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Mandaean priest
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Bishop
A bishop is an ordained member of the clergy who is entrusted with a position of Episcopal polity, authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance and administration of di ...
*
Grand Mufti
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Kohanim
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Rishama
A rishama (''rišama''; ''riš-ama''), rishamma, or rishema (; ; ; ) is a religious patriarch in Mandaeism. It is the highest rank out of all the Mandaean clergical ranks. The next ranks are the ''ganzibra'' and ''tarmida'' priests (see Mandaean ...
References
External links
The Worlds of Mandaean Priests
{{Mandaeism footer
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Mandaic words and phrases
Mandaean titles