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The Gnostic Ophites and Naaseni - Sakshi Zion

The Ophites and Naaseni were ancient Gnostic sects in Egypt that worshipped snakes. They believed the serpent in the Garden of Eden was a savior who provided knowledge. Members would handle live snakes during rituals and kiss them to receive blessings. They studied Gnostic gospels and employed Greek and Hebrew names for the serpent deity they revered.

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175 views3 pages

The Gnostic Ophites and Naaseni - Sakshi Zion

The Ophites and Naaseni were ancient Gnostic sects in Egypt that worshipped snakes. They believed the serpent in the Garden of Eden was a savior who provided knowledge. Members would handle live snakes during rituals and kiss them to receive blessings. They studied Gnostic gospels and employed Greek and Hebrew names for the serpent deity they revered.

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ztt
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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The Gnostic Ophites and Naaseni - Sakshi Zion https://sakshizion.com/?

p=2389

Sakshi Zion

CHRIST, EGYPT, HISTORY, MYSTICAL, SPIRITUAL

THE GNOSTIC OPHITES AND NAASENI


SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 | SAKSHIZION | LEAVE A COMMENT

THE GNOSTIC SERPENTS : The Ophites and Naaseni 🐍

The Serpent Gnostic sects of Egypt included known as the Ophites and Naaseni. Both names are
Greek and denote “Serpents.” The Fourth Century historian Philaster maintained that these sects,
along with the Sethians and Cainites, were specially united by having descended directly from the
First Instructor and Serpent on the Tree. Of these sects the Ophites (from Ophidian, “snake”) and
Nasseni (from Hebrew Naas or Nachash, “snake”) were unique in being the pre-eminent worshipers
of live snakes. Like Serpent Gnostics worldwide, they were also renown for having “knowledge of the
deepest things.”

The Naaseni are believed to have descended from the original gnostics in the west, and to have ex-
isted well before the birth of Christ. They are related to the Nasurai, the enlightened gnostics of the
Mandeans, who blended with the Essenes to form the sect of Nasoreans or “Nazarenes.” The
Mandaean Nasurai Jesus was born into this Essene Serpent sect and known by his peers as the
Nasorean (or the Nazarene). Long after his Ascension, his Apostles continued the Serpent tradition of
Jesus and named their little group Nasoreans. Jesus’s brother, James, oversaw this small group and
continued to tradition of remaining in contact with other Serpent Gnostics in the Middle East.

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The Gnostic Ophites and Naaseni - Sakshi Zion https://sakshizion.com/?p=2389

According to historical record, James sent “Mariam” with some very secretive “Serpent” teachings to
transmit to the Nasseni of Alexandria. This Nasorean Mariam is believed to be none other than Mary
Magadalene, who was apparently in association with the Apostles and their Nasorean sect long after
the departure of Jesus.

According to the historian Epiphanius, the most important live snake of the Nasseni and Ophites was
venerated as the First Instructor and commonly kept in a special chest known as the Cista Mystica,
which was only opened during the most sacred of rituals. At mealtimes the favored snake, which the
Serpent Gnostics addressed as their Savior, was coaxed out of its box and let loose to consecrate
their food by slithering over and around it. Afterwards, the Ophites would take turns kissing the sa-
cred snake upon the mouth and then sinking to their knees in humble worship of the reptile. These
and other more secretive rites of the Ophites were timed with the ascension of the Celestial Serpent,
the constellation of Draco the Dragon, which was acknowledged by them to be the eternal heavenly
manifestation of the First Instructor.

The Ophites and Nasseni employed various Greek and Hebrew names for their Serpent Savior, in-
cluding Nachash, Kneph, Chnouphis, and the Agathodeamon. For protection they carried coins, talis-
mans and gems with images of their serpent deity carved deeply into them. The gems and talismans
were often bright red in color, thus reflecting the fiery nature of the serpent engraved upon them,
and covered with Greek mantras and symbols. The red gems also activated the Kundalini, which was
a form of the Serpent Savior in the human body. Ophite initiate’s were known to spend long periods
of time in the caves of the Egyptian desert while propitiating their Serpent Savior and his transforma-
tive power.

For their academic contemplation the Gnostic Nasseni studied The Gospel According to Thomas and
they were known to have been great fans of The Gospel According to the Egyptians. They were also
inveterate devotees of the Goddess and adopted many of Her rites that had been observed in the
Eleusinian Mysteries and other Left Hand Path schools.

From: “World Gnosis: The Coming Gnostic Civilization” 🐉 by Mark Amaru Pinkham

EBIONITES EGYPT ESSENE SERPENT SECT ESSENES GNOSIS GNOSTIC GOSPEL OF THOMAS

HEBREW NAAS JESUS JESUS CHRIST KISS THE SNAKE KNOWLEDGE OF THE DEEPEST THINGS KUNDALINI

MANDAEAN NASURAI MANDEANS MARK AMARU PINKHAM NACHASH NAS SERPENT NASOREAN

NASOREANS NASSENI NASURAI NAZARENES OPHITES SERPENT GNOSTICS SERPENT SAVIOR

SERPENTS OF WISDOM SNAKE CHARMER THE COMING GNOSTIC CIVILIZATION WORLD GNOSIS

WORSHIPERS OF LIVE SNAKES

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