Marcosian Rituals for Prophecy and Apolytrosis

Abstract

In spite of the considerable number and quality of sources, Marcus, and his Valentinian doctrine and rites have been neglected in modern research. Marcus's doctrine, and special Gnostic rites and ceremonies, were not at all mere witchcraft or playing with numbers and letters, but a kind of religious syncretism. This chapter argues that it was so successful precisely because it was not understood as a syncretistic mixture of different religions and non-religious traditions. It begins by establishing Marcus's dates. The chapter then turn its attention to the community-life and cultic practice of the Marcosians and the challenge presented to the early Catholic Church by Marcosian syncretism. It discusses why Christians of the second and third century became Marcosians. The chapter finally briefs about a survey of Marcus's gnosis in the setting of second and third century religion. Keywords: early Catholic Church; Gnostic rites; Marcosians; religious syncretism; Valentinian doctrine; witchcraft