The Sovereign Sanctuary of the Gnosis consists
of members who have reached the higher degrees in The Order.
Their prime duty is to study and to practice
the theurgy and thaumaturgy of the degrees of Arcanum Arcanorum, consisting of
the Supreme Secret of the Order.
Varieties of Gnostic teachings are present in
virtually all transmissions of the esoteric tradition in the West. Some of
these later variations resemble the original model more closely than others.
Clergy, members and other persons interested in the Gnostic Church often
possess Masonic, Martinist, Rosicrucian, Theosophical and similar affiliations
and dedications. All of these schools of thought, whether they acknowledge it
or not, are related not only to each other, but by way of historical and
mystical descent also to the matrix of ancient Gnosticism.
What is Gnosis?
· In
the original Greek, Gnosis simply refers to "Knowledge".
· The
Oxford English Dictionary defines Gnosis as "A special knowledge of
spiritual mysteries."
What is Ecclesia?
· The
Ecclesia or Ekklesia (Greek eκκλησία) was the principal assembly of the democracy of ancient Athens during
its Golden Age (480–404).
· The
term Ecclesia comes from the Greek eκκλησία, which simply means any specially called
assembly of people.
· When
used in the New Testament, it acquired the sense of people gathering for
religious reasons.
What is Ecclesia
Gnostica?
·
Ecclesia Gnostica (Latin for The Church of Gnosis or The Gnostic Church)
is an openly Gnostic publicly practicing liturgical Church. The church and its
affiliate, the Gnostic Society, attempt to "make available the philosophy
and practice of gnosticism to the contemporary world.”
What is Ecclesia
Gnostica Ortodoxa?
All Memphis Mizraim members in Bulgaria are
regularly baptized in Eastern Orthodox Church - and Ecclesia Gnostica Ortodoxa
is that it's denomination, which is connected with the teachings of Bogomilism
- Bulgarian gnostic tradition. Templar membership in our Order requires the
applicant must be pre-baptize in Orthodox Church. The ceremony was performed by
Orthodox priests who belong to the Order, and constitute the body of clergymen
of Ecclesia Gnostica Ortodoxa - Bulgarian Bogomils Church.
What is Bogomilism?
Bulgarian gnostic tradition or Bogomilism
(Bulgarian: Богомилство)
is the Gnostic dualistic sect, the synthesis of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church
reform movement, which emerged in Bulgaria between 927 and 970 and spread into
Byzantine Empire, Russia, Serbia, Bosnia, Croatia, Italy and France. The
Gnostic social-religious movement and doctrine originated in the time of Peter
I of Bulgaria (927 – 969) as a reaction against state and clerical oppression
of church. In spite of all measures of repression, it remained strong and
popular.
The term "Bogomil" means "Dear
to God" in Bulgarian. Bogomilism was a natural outcome of many factors
that had arisen till the beginning of 10th century. It is difficult to
ascertain whether the name was taken from the reputed founder of that movement,
priest Bogumil or Bogomil, (Bulgarian поп Богомил where 'поп' [pop] means priest – Father – and
his name Богомил
translates as "Dear to God") or whether he assumed that name after it
had been given to the whole sect.
The Bogomils were undoubtedly the connecting
link between the cristian sects of the East and those of the West. They were,
moreover, the most active agents in disseminating such teachings among all the
nations of Europe. In the 12th and 13th century, the Bogomils were already
known in the West as "Bulgari", i.e. Bulgarians (българи). In 1207 the Bulgarorum heresis is
mentioned. In 1223 the Albigenses are declared to be the local Bougres, and in
the same period mention is made of the "Pope of the Albigenses who resided
within the confines of Bulgaria" (see below Nicetas, Bogomil bishop). The
Cathars and Patarenes, the Waldenses, the Anabaptists, and in Russia the
Strigolniki, Molokani and Doukhobors, have all at different times been either
identified with the Bogomils or closely connected with them.
Bogomil's Doctrine
Bogomils accepted the teaching of Paul of
Samosata, though at a later period the name of Paul was believed to be that of
the Apostle; and they were not quite free from the Dualistic principle of the
Gnostics.
They rejected the Christianity of the orthodox
churches. They preached the doctrine that St. Paul had taught that simpleminded
men should instruct one another; therefore they elected their
"teachers" from among themselves to be their spiritual guides, and
had no special priests. It is tradition to believe that the Bogomils taught
that prayers were to be said in private houses, not in separate buildings such
as churches. Ordination was conferred by the congregation and not by any
specially appointed minister. The congregation were the "elect," and
each member could obtain the perfection of Christ and become a Christ. Bogomils
refused to fast on Mondays and Fridays, and they rejected monasticism. It is
also held that they declared Christ to be the Son of God only through grace
like other prophets, and that the bread and wine of the eucharist were not
physically transformed into flesh and blood; that the last judgment would be
executed by God and not by Jesus; that the images were idols and the veneration
of saints and relics idolatry.
The Bogomils taught that God had two sons, the
elder Satanail and the younger Michael. The elder son rebelled against the
father and became the evil spirit. After his fall he created the lower heavens
and the earth and tried in vain to create man; in the end he had to appeal to
God for the Spirit. After creation Adam was allowed to till the ground on
condition that he sold himself and his posterity to the owner of the earth.
Then Michael was sent in the form of a man; he became identified with Jesus,
and was "elected" by God after the baptism in the Jordan. When the
Holy Ghost (again Michael) appeared in the shape of the dove, Jesus received
power to break the covenant in the form of a clay tablet (hierographon) held by
Satanail from Adam. He had now become the angel Michael in a human form; as
such he vanquished Satanail, and deprived him of the termination -il = God, in
which his power resided. Satanail was thus transformed into Satan. Through his
machinations the crucifixion took place, and Satan was the originator of the
whole Orthodox community with its churches, vestments, ceremonies, sacraments
and fasts, with its monks and priests. This world being the work of Satan, the
perfect must eschew any and every excess of its pleasure. But the Bogomils did
not go as far as to recommend asceticism.
They held the "Lord's Prayer" in high
respect as the most potent weapon against Satan, and had a number of
conjurations against "evil spirits." Each community had its own
twelve "Apostles," and women could be raised to the rank of
"Elect." The Bogomils wore garments like mendicant friars and were
known as keen missionaries, traveling far and wide to propagate their
doctrines. Healing the sick and exorcising the evil spirit, they traversed
different countries and spread their apocryphal literature along with some of
the books of the Old Testament, deeply influencing the religious spirit of the
nations, and preparing them for the Reformation. They accepted the four
Gospels, fourteen Epistles of Paul, the three Epistles of John, James, Jude,
and an Epistle to the Laodiceans, which they professed to have. They sowed the
seeds of a rich, popular religious literature in the East as well as the West.
The Historiated Bible, the Letter from Heaven, the Wanderings through Heaven
and Hell, the numerous Adam and Cross legends, the religious poems of the
"Kaliki perehozhie" and other similar productions owe their
dissemination to a large extent to the activity of the Bogomils of Bulgaria,
and their successors in other lands.
The essence of Bogomilism is the duality in the
creation of the world. This is exactly why it is considered a heresy. Bogomils
explained the earthly sinful corporeal life as a creation of Satan, an angel
that was sent to the Earth. Due to this duality, their doctrine rejects
everything that is socially created and that does not come from the soul, the
only divine possession of the human.
History
According to Slavonic documents, the founder of
this sect was a certain priest Bogumil, who "imbibed the Manichaean
teaching and flourished at the time of the Bulgarian emperor Peter"
(927-968). According to another source, the founder was called Jeremiah (or
there was another priest associated with him by the name of Jeremiah). This was
the beginning of a revival of the sect, which proved loyal to the empire.
Synodikon from the year 1210 adds the names of
his pupils or "apostles," Mihail, Todor, Dobri, Stefan, Vasilie and
Peter. The Church in Bulgaria also tried to extirpate Bogomilism. Several
thousand went in the army of Alexios I Komnenos against the Norman, Robert
Guiscard; but, deserting the emperor, many of them (1085) were thrown into
prison. Efforts were again put forth for their conversion; and for the converts
the new city of Alexiopolis was built, opposite Philippopolis. The popes in
Rome whilst leading the Crusade against the Albigenses did not forget their
counterpart in the Balkans and recommended the annihilation of the heretics.
The Legend of Saint Gerard discloses that
followers of Bulgarian Bogomilism were present during the early 11th century in
Ahtum's realm, which comprised present day Banat. They invoked Archangel Uriel,
whose name is common in amulets and magic rituals.
The Bogomils spread westwards and settled first
in Serbia; but at the end of the 12th century king of Serbia burned them,
persecuted them and expelled them from the country. Large numbers took refuge
in Bosnia, where they were known under the name of Patarenes or Patareni.
There, they were also brought into connection with the indigenous Bosnian
Church, which was also considered heretical by the Pope and Byzantines.
From Bosnia, their influence extended into
Italy (Piedmont). The Hungarians undertook many crusades in Bosnia, but towards
the close of the 15th century, the conquest of that country by the Turks put an
end to their persecution. It is alleged that a large number of the Bosnian
Bogomils, and especially the nobles, embraced Islam. Few or no remnants of
Bogomilism have survived in Bosnia. The Ritual in Slavonic written by the
Bosnian Radoslav, and published in vol. xv. of the Starine of the South
Slavonic Academy at Agram, shows great resemblance to the Cathar ritual
published by Cunitz, 1853.
What is Catharism?
Catharism was a name given to a Christian
religious sect with dualistic and gnostic elements that appeared in the
Languedoc region of France and other parts of Europe in the 11th century and
flourished in the 12th and 13th centuries. Catharism had its roots in the the
Bogomils of Bulgaria. They also became influenced by dualist.
Like many medieval movements, there were
various schools of thought and practice amongst the Cathari; some were
dualistic, others Gnostic, some closer to orthodoxy while abstaining from an
acceptance of Roman Catholicism. The dualist theology was the most prominent,
however, and was based upon the complete incompatibility of love and power. As
matter was seen as a manifestation of power, it was also incompatible with
love. They did not believe in one all-encompassing god, but in two, both equal
and comparable in status. They held that the physical world was evil and
created by Rex Mundi (translated from Latin as "King of the World"),
who encompassed all that was corporeal, chaotic and powerful; the second god,
the one whom they worshipped, was entirely disincarnate: a being or principle
of pure spirit and completely unsullied by the taint of matter. He was the god
of love, order and peace.
According to some Cathars, the purpose of man's
life on Earth was to transcend matter, perpetually renouncing anything
connected with the principle of power and thereby attained union with the
principle of love. According to others, man's purpose was to reclaim or redeem
matter, spiritualizing and transforming it.
There is consensus that Cathars is a name given
to the movement and not one that its members chose. Indeed, the Cathars had no
official name, preferring to refer to themselves only as Bons Hommes et Bonnes
Femmes (Good Men and Good Women). The most popular theory is that the word
Cathar most likely originated from Greek καθαροί (Katharoi), meaning "pure ones", a
term related to the word Katharsis or Catharsis, meaning
"purification". The first recorded use of the word is by religious
authority Eckbert von Schönau, who wrote regarding the so-called heretics in
Cologne in 1181: Hos nostra Germania catharos appellat ("Our Germany calls
them Cathars").
The Cathars were also sometimes referred to as
the Albigensians (Albigeois). This name originates from the end of the 12th
century, and was used by the chronicler Geoffroy du Breuil of Vigeois in 1181.
The name refers to the town of Albi (the ancient Albiga), northeast of
Toulouse. The designation is misleading as the movement had no centre and is
known to have flourished in several European countries (from Catalonia in
northern Spain, to Belgium, and from Italy to the Rhineland). Use of the name
came from the fact that a debate was held in Albi between priests and the
Cathars; no conclusion was reached, but from then on it was assumed in France
that Cathars were supporters of the "Albigensian doctrine". However,
few inhabitants of Albi were actually Cathars, and the city gladly accepted
Catholicism during the crusade. The Cathars' beliefs are thought to have come
originally from Eastern Europe and the Byzantine Empire by way of trade routes.
The name of Bulgarians (Bougres) was also applied to the Albigenses, and they
maintained an association with the similar Christian movement of the Bogomils
("Friends of God") of Thrace. Their doctrines have numerous
resemblances to those of the Bogomils.
What is Albigensianism?
Officially known as heretics, Albigensianis
were actually Cathari , Provençal adherents of a doctrine similar to the
dualistic system of material evil and spiritual good (see Bogomils ). They held
the coexistence of these two principles, represented by God and the Evil One,
light and dark, the soul and the body, the next life and this life, peace and
war, and the like. They believed that Jesus only seemed to have a human body.
Albigensianism appeared in the 12th cent. and soon had powerful protectors.
Local bishops were ineffectual in dealing with the problem, and the pope sent
St. Bernard of Clairvaux and other Cistercians to preach in Languedoc, the
center of the movement. In 1167 the Albigenses held a council of their own at
Toulouse.
The Albigenses were extremely ascetic,
abstaining from flesh in all its forms, including milk and cheese. They
comprised two classes, believers and Perfect, the former much more numerous,
making up a catechumenate not bound by the stricter rules observed by the
Perfect. The Perfect were those who had received the sacrament of
consolamentum, a kind of laying on of hands. The Albigenses held their clergy
in high regard. An occasional practice was suicide, preferably by starvation;
for if this life is essentially evil, its end is to be hastened.
They had enthusiasm for proselytizing and
preached vigorously. This fact partly accounted for their success, for at that
time preaching was unknown in ordinary parish life. In the practice of
asceticism as well, the contrast between local clergy and the Albigenses was
helpful to the new sect.
Albigensians (or Albigenses) are followers of a
form of the Cathars; they took their name from the town of Albi in Languedoc in
southern France. There and in northern Italy the sect acquired immense
popularity. The movement was condemned at the Council of Toulouse in 1119 and
by the Third and Fourth Lateran councils in 1179 and 1215, which opposed it not
only as heretical but because it threatened the family and the state. St
Bernard and St Dominic were its vigorous opponents. Between 1209 and 1228 the
wars known as the Albigensian Crusade were mounted, led principally by Simon de
Montfort.
Bogomils bishops
Nicetas (bulgarian bogomil Nikita), known only
from Latin sources who call him papa Nicetas, is said to have been the Bogomil
bishop of Constantinople. In the 1160s he went to Lombardy. His purpose was to
reinforce the dualist beliefs of the Cathars of these regions, and, in
particular, to throw doubt on the validity of their spiritual lineage or ordo,
the sequence of consolamentum by which they were linked to the Apostles.
Mark, a moderate dualist, who then presided
over the Cathars of Lombardy, belonged to the ordo of Bulgaria, which Nicetas
impugned. Mark received consolamentum afresh from Nicetas, an absolute dualist
who belonged to the ordo of Drugunthia or Dragovitia (in the southeastern
Balkans), having received his consolamentum from bishop Simon of Dragovitia.
Nicetas then went on to Languedoc. In 1167 in
the presence of Mark and other representatives of Cathar churches in Languedoc,
France and Catalonia, Nicetas presided over the Council of Saint-Félix at which
he renewed the consolamenta and confirmed the episcopal office of six Cathar
bishops:
1. Robert d'Espernon, bishop of the French, i.e. of northern France
2. Sicard Cellarier, bishop of Albi
3. Mark, bishop of Lombardy, apparently synonymous with Italy
4. Bernard Raymond, bishop of Toulouse
5. Gerald Mercier, bishop of Carcassonne
5. Raymond de Casals, bishop of Agen
6. Simeon
Nicetas instructed the assembly that, just as
the Seven Churches of Asia did not interfere with one another's independence,
neither did the modern bishoprics of the Bogomils, and nor must the bishoprics
of the Cathars. For more on the document on which this report is based, see
Council of Saint-Félix.
At some later date, perhaps in the early 1180s,
a certain Petracius came to Italy, following in Nicetas's footsteps, and threw
doubt on the moral behaviour of Simon of Dragovitia, thus invalidating the ordo
of Nicetas and all those whose consolamenta Nicetas had given or renewed. This
was disastrous for the Cathar church of Italy, which was plunged into lengthy
schism.
Gnosticism
In Classical Gnosticism, the historical
continuum of the visible cosmos was regarded as a creation of inferior and
anti-spiritual ruling powers - the Archons. As such they considered it a prison
in which the spirit or Divine Spark is trapped in exile. They believed that the
goal of existence is to extract the sparks trapped in matter, so that they can
return to their true spiritual home. But the material elements, properly used,
can assist us on the path to Gnosis. Yet there may be an element of truth to
the myth of the Archons - the desire for power and authority over others may
hinder not only ones own spiritual progress, but may also become an obstacle
for those who submit to that authority. Thus, while following in the tradition
of the Gnostic Churches of the past and present, such as l'Église Gnostique de
France, l'Église Gnostique Universelle, Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica, Ecclesia
Gnostica Ortodoxa etc., we embrace a more wider definition of Gnosis and
inherit a colorful phantasmagoria of rites and rituals from the many gnostic
traditions of the world.
The man we call Jesus is the Supreme Patriarch
of the Gnostic Church. Jesus founded the Gnostic Church. This Church is open
and accessible to those devout aspirants who awaken their consciousness,
because it exists within the Three Amens, the Divine Trinity that palpitates throughout
space, and finds its physical exponent within the soul of the man who
self-realizes them. Jesus taught the methods to acquire gnosis, but when he
delivered his doctrine it was not proper at that time to teach everything
publicly, thus the esoteric teachings of Jesus are found in the ancient Coptic
text The Pistis Sophia.
The Pistis Sophia is the Gnostic Bible and the
words of the Adorable Savior of the World. The Pistis Sophia contains all the
words of the adorable Savior of the world. It was written by the Apostles.
Thus, all the Esoteric Christic instructions that Jesus Christ gave to his
disciples on the Mount of the Olives and other holy places is written within
this book. This book had been conserved in secret for many centuries. In this
book, the Adorable One left an extraordinary, formidable body of doctrine. The
Pistis Sophia Unveiled Modern Christianity can be traced back to St. Paul, when
his sect of Gnosticism was selected as the major source for what became the New
Testament. Contrary to popular belief, Paul’s teachings are pure Gnosticism.
For these reasons Paul, the great Gnostic Hierophant stated the following: “I
gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive
it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able”. – 1 Corinthians 3:2. Now we can
understand a bit clearer as to why Jesus spoke in parables, and why some were
given the secrets and some not.
LVX
06/12/2019
Comentarios
Publicar un comentario