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Scribes In Manichaean Monasteries
Scribal Activity & Printing  In A Manichaean Monastan
By Abba Yesai Nasrai, O:N:E:

Electi in Mani's system were excused from agricultural labor so that they could direct disturbance of the cross of light (ecosystem) and so that they could concentrate fully on the production of scriptures and sermons. Within a very labor intensive  agricultural culture this arrangement allowed the few Electi more time to produce more written copies of sacred scripture.  One scholar has said:

"The high quality of execution of both the miniatures and the calligraphy of the Manichaean texts attests to an active scribal tradition in Turfan and this finds expression in what can only be termed a group-self-portrait of Manichaean Electi performing scribal duties. Seated in two rows in front of two Trees of Life, they are shown to be engaged in their craft with intense expressions. Two of the figures hold a pen in each hand - one perhaps for copying in black ink and the other for red as many of the extant Manichaean text fragments are two-toned. As Manichaeism was a religion of the book, the Manichaeans took their scribal duties very seriously. A monk is required in a Sogdian confessional to ask for forgiveness for having neglected his calligraphy, for hating or despising it and for having damaged or injured a brush, a writing board, a piece of silk or' paper." - Manichaeism In Central Asia and China by Samuel Lieu

In the Kit?b al-h?ayaw?n, al-?ah?iz? related the following:

Ibr?h?m asSind?  once said to me: 
»I wish the Zandiks [i.e. the Manichaeans] were not so intent on spending good money on clean white paper and for the use of shining black ink and that they would not put such great value on calligraphy und would encourage the calligraphers less; because indeed no paper that I ever saw is comparable to the paper of their books and no calligraphy with that which is used therein.«
I replied to Ibr?h?m: »When the Manichaeans go to great lengths for the decoration of their holy books it is the same as when the Christians do it for their churches«. 
(Translation of a quote from K. Keßler: Mani. Forschungen über die manichäische Religion. Berlin 1889, S. 366)