The Essenes were a group of very holy people who lived in and around Palestine about the 1st century BC and 1st century AD. The Jewish historian Josephus and Philo wrote about them, and considered them a race of people above all others for their pious and exemplary ways. They were called "healers" for their ability to administer to the sick and injured. There were 3 distinct groups of Essenes at the time of Christ. The Essenes of Qumran who either authored or were the scribes of the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Therapeutae (healers) of Egypt and the Essenes of Mount Carmel.
This last group of Carmel were also known as Nazoreans, and founded the community and village later known as Nazareth. Mount Carmel was considered holy ground at the time since it was the place were Elijah was last seen. The Nazoreans lived therefore in yurts and tipis on the top of mount Carmel and when not in prayer spent their days tending their gardens and various trees. It is though that the ancestors of Mary and Joseph lived with the Essenes (Nazoreans) here on mount Carmel in prayer and preparation for the coming Messiah. many authors have written about this but much has been lost or destroyed. It is only now that we are discovering this. The discoveries at Qumran and Nag Hammadi in Egypt are shedding light on this part of early christ-ian or Esse-nian way of life.
The Aramaic of Jesus is Yeshua, and they also called him Essa, or Esse. So the early followers of Essa or the Essenes. They had chosen their name from prophesy and named Esse when he was born. The Essenes were vegetarians and did not partake in the Jewish ritual offerings at Temple. They also healed on the Sabbath and celebrated their day of rest on the 1st day of the week (Sunday). They did not allow slavery and believed all men to be equal and all had the ability to become sons of God. This could be achieved by living a holy life and following the Way of their Messiah - Essa. And "Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS." John 19:19
