Chrissie & The Essenes
Chrissie is a Trustee and member of The Essene Network and regularly gives talks on the Essenes, their teachings, spiritual practice and their relationship with Jesus.

Over 2000 years ago precious scrolls were hidden in the Judean Desert along the North West Shore of the Dead Sea at Qumran - in what is known today as The West Bank. What do we know about the Essenes, the scribes who created these scrolls?

Pliny the Elder, Roman geographer, mentions that “On the Western Shore of the Dead Sea are settled the Essenes ...” and they are mentioned by Jewish historian, Josephus, and philosopher, Philo of Alexandria. All three contemporary writers speak of the Essenes with great admiration. Having distanced themselves from the corrupt practices of the Temple priests in Jerusalem, the Essenes followed their leader to live a strict ascetic life in the desert - preparing for the expected end times and a new world order. The community was greatly admired for the way they shared everything in common.

The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947 was hailed as the greatest manuscript find of the age. These were the only writings which have survived from a period which saw the beginnings of Christianity and modern Judaism. They were the oldest extant Biblical scrolls. The discovery created enormous interest in Qumran and the Essenes. Excavation showed a well ordered, self-sufficient community where the scribes must have spent many hours daily working on the scrolls.

In her book, The New Essenes, Sophie Edwards describes the beautiful poetic translations of the Scrolls, along with Biblical and other ancient texts, by Edmond Bordeaux Szekely. We owe him a great debt, not only for the translations but for being among the pioneers to introduce the idea of wholistic health through living in harmony with nature.

Edwards also highlights the daily communions with the Angels that all Essenes followed as part of their daily spiritual practice, and which are still followed today by those commited to the Essene way of life.

The Essene Network is made up of a group of people who have been brought together by a common interest in the Essenes. It was founded by Sir George Trevelyan, Anne MacEwen, Brian and Jackie Stevenson and others to popularise the wonderful meditations with Angels published by Dr. Edmund Szekely in his book, “The Gospel of the Essenes.”

To find out more, visit their website: http://www.newessenesnetwork.org.uk/

ORDER SOPHIE EDWARDS' BOOK HERE FOR £6.99, OR A PACKAGE OF THE BOOK AND A SEPARATE PRINTED BOOKLET OF THE DAILY ESSENE COMMUNIONS WITH RECORDED COMMUNIONS ON CD. JUST £14.99 FOR THE PACKAGE. A small charge will be added for post & packing.

	The New Essenes, by Sophie Edwards - £6.99
	The New Essenes, by Sophie Edwards, plus Essene Communions with the Angels book/CD - £14.99

Image of the the Isaiah Scroll uploaded by Daniel.baranek via Wikimedia Commons