Elcesaite

plural Elcesaites · alternative Elchasaite · alternative Elkasaite · alternative Elkesaite · alternative Helkesaite

1. historicalA member of an ancient Jewish-Christian sect, possibly related to the Ebionites, in Sassanid southern Mesopotamia.

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   The Homilies speak of the “Wisdom” or “Sophia” of God as if it were part of God’s feminine aspect (16.12). The Elchasaites, another Jewish Christian group, believed that the Holy Spirit was female and was either the equal of Christ or his sister (Panarion 30.17.6, 53.1.9). All of this makes sense because it is in accordance with Hebrew, which spoke of the holy spirit or divine presence, the shekinah, as feminine. It is significant that the Elchasaites also had two women leaders in the fourth century who according to Epiphanius were “worshipped as goddesses” (Panarion 53.1.2).

   2000, Keith Akers, chapter 4, in The lost religion of Jesus: simple living and nonviolence in early Christianity, New York, NY: Lantern Books, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 54