The Father of Greatness (Middle Aramaic ; ) is the eternal divine manifestation of good in Manichaeism,Willis Barnstone, Marvin Meyer. The Gnostic Bible: Revised and Expanded Edition, Shambhala Publications, 2009, , pages 4, 595, 827 a four-fold deity, embracing divinity, light, power and goodness. His throne is surrounded by at least 156 peaceful entities: 12 aeons, aeons of the aeons, and angels.H. J. Klimkeit Manichaean Art and Calligraphy 1982 p. 9
When the Prince of Darkness assaulted the Realm of Light, he invoked entities of light to ward off the invaders. These entities mingled with the demons and gave existence to the earthly beings, thus humans carry consubstantial light particles of the Father of Greatness, but are unaware of them until they awaken from their sleep by remembering their divine origin. The Father of Greatness responds by creating a series of entities to prepare a rescue for light particles.
Theodicy Manichaeism rejects everything associated with evil from the Father of Greatness, the Manichaean deity. Neither can he cause suffering nor is he able to charge.Jacob Albert van den Berg, Annemaré Kotzé, Tobias Nicklas, Madeleine Scopello In Search of Truth. Augustine, Manichaeism and other Gnosticism: Studies for Johannes van Oort at Sixty BRILL 2010 p. 233 He can merely defend. Thus, the power of the Father of Greatness is limited by its own nature. Although he is not all-powerful, in the end time he will have gathered all light particles and evil will be banished into its own kingdom never commingling again. Therefore, Manichaeism also rejects the portrayal of God in the Old Testament, who promises victory over one's enemies (Lev: 26:3-10).Jason David BeDuhn Augustine's Manichaean dilemma, Band 2 University of Pennsylvania Press 2010 p. 176 Accordingly, the problem of evil can be solved straightforwardly as God is limited in his power against forces beyond the world of light and by his own nature.David Vincent Meconi, Eleonore Stump The Cambridge Companion to Augustine Cambridge University Press 2014 p.98
Parallels in Mandaeism In the Asut Malkia, a commonly recited Mandaean prayer, another name for Hayyi Rabbi is Aba Rba ḏ-ʿqara ( 'Great Father of Glory').
See also Ahura Mazda Demiurge God the Father Hayyi Rabbi in Mandaeism, also referred to as Mara ḏ-Rabuta (the Lord of Greatness) Sophia (Gnosticism)
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