In Jesus’ day there were more than just Pharisees and Sadducees influencing the faith practices of the Judaean Jews. There were also the Essenes, a mystic and contemplative communal sect of educated Jewish men. The Essenes lived what we’d consider monastic life. They gave up all their earthly possessions, practiced celibacy, and were strict vegetarians.…
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Black Eyed Stories to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.