Nasoraean
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Nasoraean, Nasoreans or Nasaraean (Grk: Nasaraioi) is the name of a heretical Jewish sect described by Epiphanius of Salamis. They pre-dated the Christian era by at least 100 years. The word means watchers/guardians and their most infamous leader "The Wicked Teacher" spoken of in Essene traditions and in the Talmud is called Ha-Notzri.[citation needed] In Arabic they are called Nasaari and are associated with the pagan Arabic god Nasr (Quran 71:23) whose symbols are the Eagle, or Vulture, or falcon, or hawk, The Sun, Sunday, Sharp Sight/Insight/Gnosis. In Egypt he is Horus, and in Greece Apollo. They became Miryai and her Eagle Lord (Hibil Ziwa -The Light Bearer) in mandaean Nasoraean (Nasoraioi) mythology. They are described as fallen angels in the book of Jubilies. Due to the superficial conversion of many of them to Christianity, mainstream Christianity retains many characteristics of their faith and as a result, Christians are not distinguished from Notzrim in Hebrew. We find Epiphanius speaking about this sect in Bashan and Galaatides (Panarion 18; 20, 3; 29, 6, 1; 19, 5) who rejected temple sacrifice and the Torah but adhered to other Jewish practice. He describes them as vegetarian and distinguished them from Nazoraeans who did "know Christ". They are sometimes identified as the group called Nazorei by Filaster.
