(L.). The sacred and very scarce book of the Mandean Gnostics frequently referred to by Helena P. BLAVATSKY in her The Secret Doctrine and other writings. It is also known as the Sidra Rabba or Great Book and latterly as Ginza (genza) rabba and further in English as The Book of Adam. Its full Latin title is: Codex Nazaraeus “Liber Adami” appelatus Syriace transcriptus. It was translated into Latin by M. Norberg and published in London in 1815. A number of German translations have also appeared including one by Lidzbarsky, 1926 and Robert Haardt, 1968 (fragments).

The books contain the beliefs of the Nazarenes, who were identified with the early Christians.

See NAZARENES.

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