Archontics

Archontiker called a Gnostic group in Palestine of the 4th century. Main source of the tradition is a Christian polemics against heretical groups from the 4th century, the Panarion of Epiphanius of Salamis.

The representation is based in this case, at least in part on personal experience of the author. Epiphanius reports namely first by a presbyter named Peter, who originally lived in Eleutheropolis and in Jerusalem, and had been occupied by Bishop Aetios with a curse. Then he disappeared for some time, then returned and was now accused by Epiphanius and again anathematized curse. This Peter was certain dimensions of Erzhäresiarch, of which a certain Eutaktus the heresy had as contracted an infection. After Aetius was condemned 359 as Arians and Epiphanius no longer resided in Eleutheropolis after 367, the contact between Epiphanius and the Archontikern can be dated to the period 359-367.

Epiphanius says of the Archontikern that they abhor the baptism. Indeed, it is so that the Archons, Gnostic planetary rulers and their chief, enthroned in heaven 8 Sabaoth, who was identified with the God of the Old Testament, who were hostile to the true deity emerging soul. Not only that, the soul serve the Archons as a sort of food can un this metaphysical " being eaten " only by Gnostic knowledge missed. With the baptism of the soul, however, is subject to Sabaoth and can not ascend.

According to Epiphanius several apocryphal writings were under Archontikern circulated or have been written by Archontikern. He gives the key works a "Great Harmony" and a " Small harmony," and other writings, which were based in particular also apocryphal Ascension of Isaiah. This is the doctrine of the Archons, their spheres and their subordinate angels, as Ogdoad ( Ogdoad ) or as the planet according Hebdomade ( septenate ). None of this is obtained ( at least not under the mentioned titles).

As regards the importance of the total Archontiker, it seems to have been a relatively small group ( Epiphanius thought so ) was widespread in Syria only in Palestine and perhaps and nothing of their writings is preserved. On the other hand, it is one of the few cases in which the anti-gnostic polemic of a Christian author is not only based on hearsay and traditional scriptures, but on personal experience and contact.

Swell

• Epiphanius of Salamis Panarion 40, 45.2, 78.3; Anacoratus 40
• Theodoret haereticarum fabularum compendium 1:11
• John of Damascus de haeresibus 40