Gospel of Mani Papyrus

From the BBC news service:

The Gospel of Mani, is written on blackened papyrus.

"In its day, it was one of the greatest books to survive from the ancient world."

"They [the MSS] were caught up in the collapse of the Third Reich, taken to Russia, and has finally ended up in the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin.

"Some pages were placed in a bunker under Berlin Zoo for safety"

"Others were kept by Ibscher, who took them to Bavaria to continue his restoration."

"When Berlin was conquered by the Russian army, the manuscripts were discovered by the Russians and taken to Leningrad."

"Michael Ryan, director of the Chester Beatty Library, said: "It is remarkable that after all this historical messing around that the gospel is now back together again in Dublin"."

A fragment of a writing ascribed to Mani, in Sogdian and Persian:

Manichean Musicians
Illumination from Qoco, East Turkestan
Museum für Indische Kunst, Berlin

The most Beloved Son, the Savior Jesus, the head of all these gifts,

Who is a refuge for the holy and a blessing for the wise, is exalted.

May he be praised!

The Maiden of Light, the chief of all wisdom, is exalted.

May she be praised!

The Holy Religion, by the power of the Father,

by the blessing of the Mother and by the wisdom of the Son, is exalted.

May it be praised!

Well-being and blessing to the sons of goodness

and to the speakers and hearers of the true Word!

Praise and honor to the Father and the Son

and the Holy Spirit and to the holy recollection!

He (Mani) teaches the word of the Living Gospel

for Eye and Ear, and he preaches the fruit of righteousness.

I, Mani, the Apostle of Jesus the Friend, by the will of the Father,

the true God, of Him, by whom I have become ...

Everything that is and everything that was and will be is by His Power.

The blessed ones will receive this message,

the wise ones understand it,

the strong ones will take on the wisdom of the wise ....