Brikha Nasoraia
Iraqi-Australian Mandaean priest and professor
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Early life and education
Brikha Nasoraia was born in Iraq to Mahdi Saed (father; Arabic: مهدي سعید) and Layla (mother). His Mandaean baptismal name is Sam bar Sam Yuhana (ࡎࡀࡌ ࡁࡓ ࡎࡀࡌ ࡉࡅࡄࡀࡍࡀ). He belongs to the Kuhailia (Choheili) family and can thus trace his ancestry back to Adam Zakia, the father of Bihram Bar-Hiia, who lived around 1500 A.D.
He was initiated into the Mandaean priesthood by Sheikh Abdullah, son of Sheikh Negm, of Baghdad. He was ordained as a ganzibra (Mandaean high priest) and later emigrated to Sydney, Australia, where he initially served with Ganzibra Salah Choheili. In 2005, he obtained a Ph.D. degree from the University of Sydney, where he wrote his doctoral dissertation on the translation and analysis of the Dmut Kušṭa scroll. After graduating from the University of Sydney, he later took the name Brikha Naṣoraia, which means "Blessed Naṣoraean" in Mandaic.
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Career
As a ganzibra (head priest), he is currently the President of the Mandaean Spiritual Council (or the Mandaean Nasoraean Supreme Council) of Australia and is also the President of the International Mandaean Nasoraean Supreme Council (or Nasoraean Mandaean Association).
Nasoraia lectures at the University of Sydney and also at Mardin Artuklu University in Mardin, Turkey.
Brikha Nasoraia's research interests include archaeology (particularly Mandaic lead rolls and incantation bowls), philosophy of religion, and translation of Mandaic manuscripts. In 1998, together with Majid Fandi Al-Mubaraki and his son Brian Mubaraki, he published a full printed version of the Ginza Rabba in typesetted Mandaic. He has participated in excavations at archaeological sites such as Harran.
He is fluent in English, Arabic, and Aramaic. Nasoraia is also an artist who produces oil paintings featuring Mandaean religious themes.
In late July 2024, Nasoraia was ordained as a Rishama. His ordination was attended by Rishama Sattar Jabbar Hilow and other Mandaean leaders. On 12 August 2024, his ordination was congratulated by Australian MP Anne Stanley.
Personal life
He is married to Nadia al-Faris, with whom he has three children.