Canon Status
Canonical in Manichaeism. Not recognized by any other religious tradition.
Date & Provenance
Composed from the 3rd to the 8th centuries CE.
Language & Manuscripts
Parthian manuscripts from Turfan, Xinjiang.
Why It Matters for Study
Contains hymns and prayers for Manichaean worship, including the Hymn of the Pearl and the Hymns of Praise. Important for understanding Manichaean liturgy in Central Asia.
" Praise to the Father of Light, who has sent his Son to redeem the world." — Parthian Manichaean Hymn (paraphrase)
Read the Text & External Resources
Public-domain translations and scholarly databases where the text can be read online or downloaded.
- " Praise to the Father of Light, who has sent his Son to redeem the world." — Parthian Manichaean Hymn (paraphrase) " Praise to the Father of Light, who has sent his Son to redeem the world." — Parthian Manichaean Hymn (paraphrase)
External links open in a new tab. Sources are chosen for public-domain or open-access availability; always verify edition and translation when citing in academic work.
Further Reading
Boyce, M. A Reader in Manichaean Middle Persian and Parthian. Brill, 1975.
Sundermann, W. " Parthian Manichaean Texts." In The Cambridge History of Iran, vol. 3. Cambridge University Press, 1983.
Parthian Manichaean Texts — Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manichaean_texts|Background and scholarly discussion.