The Secret of the Ancient Alchemist (42 page)

“
No, I
didn’t after all and I suppose you have no idea who would have
taken them.”

“
I can’t point to any individual or group, but false
teachings were highly condemned. The First Council of Nicaea of 325
was very strong and influential in those times
.”

“
How did
people react to the gospel? I’ve heard it was popular and well
circulated but who would have understood it? I am little intrigued
by this.”

“
Popular with scholars like Valentinius and Clement. It
wasn’t well circulated. Ordinary people didn’t concern themselves
with spiritual knowledge in those days, far less for such an
intricate gospel. They worshipped idols until the explosion of
Greek civilization and the expose of the Hermetica. Then, that ugly
Basil of Caesarea destroyed it all
.”

“
A great
pity.”

“
The Gnostics lived from the second century to the fourth
century in Alexandria and mingled with everyone. Some were
Christians, like Valentinius. It was Valentinius who first spoke of
a light bond to matter
.”

“
I know.
Did you know Clement of Alexandria? I find him
fascinating.”

“
Titus Flavius Clemens was a character and radical for his
time.
”

“
He sure
was.”

“
He lived one hundred years before I did. That’s old!
Clement claimed Greek philosophers were taught by Egyptian
scholars.
”

“
Were
they?”

“
Of course, Tom. The Alexandrians knew a lot about Math,
Astronomy, Philosophy. Clement also claimed that Valentinius, who
was the greatest Gnostic theologian, was taught by a Gnostic
thinker, called Theudas, who got secrets from Paul the
Apostle.
”

“
In the
end I didn’t get them. We’ll never know what those secrets were. I
suppose no one would have accepted that God’s essence could be
seen.”

“
Well, of course not, especially in my time. I lived in the
fourth century under Romanic rule, a time when Egyptian culture
disappeared along with Greek culture. Paganism was punishable by
death. All the great libraries were destroyed, even the Library of
Alexandria
.”

“
Which
was the greatest library in the ancient world, wasn’t
it?”

“
It was. There were gardens, lecture rooms, halls, meeting
rooms and vast collections of works
.”

“
Many
were papyrus scrolls. Small wonder I couldn’t find anything
connected to ancient secrets. They would have all been
destroyed.”

“
The library was managed by Aristotle’s son. Did you know
that?
”

“
No.”

“
And, fashioned after the Lyceum.
”

“
You
wrote books on alchemy, didn’t you, Zosimos? You were born in
Akhmim. You believed everything could be purified with a divine
mind.”

“
I wrote about drawing the universal spirit from bodies.
People portray alchemists as wizards in a laboratory. It’s not like
that. We spent many years in devotion, years in isolation drawing
upon the divine mind bound to matter. People like Gregory Palamas
learnt from us. I spent a lot of time at Mar Saba. It was tough.
Now, Hart, I must go.
”

“
Where
are you going?”

“
To the ninth realm. Hey, Hart you should see what perfect
matter looks like. It’s unbelievable.
”

“
Is it
supernatural?”

“
It sure is. Bye, Tom.
”

The voice
vanished.

The End

Biography

Yasmin Esack lives in the Caribbean with her
two beloved dogs, Jinny and Jenny. The former Science teacher has
also had brief stints with the UN FAO and the British Council. She
is currently an author with two published non-fiction books and one
fictional book. She likes the quiet life, the sun, the beach and
reading great books.