Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica (E.G.C.), or the Gnostic Catholic Church (the Church), is the ecclesiastical aspect of Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.). The E.G.C. is a Thelemic religious environment, dedicated to the advancement of Light, Life, Love, and Liberty through alignment with the Law of Thelema. The central activity of the E.G.C. is the celebration of the Gnostic Mass, as set forth in Liber XV, composed by Crowley for O.T.O. and E.G.C. in 1913. Lay membership in E.G.C. is available through baptism and confirmation. Members of O.T.O. in good standing are eligible for clerical ordination in E.G.C. Members of II° and higher (or even I°, in some situations) are eligible for ordination as Deacon, and those who have reached K.E.W. are eligible for ordination as Priest or Priestess. Many O.T.O. local bodies celebrate the Gnostic Mass on a regular basis, and in most locations, no formal affiliation is required to attend the Mass.
The name "Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica" was coined by Aleister Crowley when he wrote the Gnostic Mass for O.T.O. in 1913 e.v. Reuss translated the Gnostic Mass into German and published it in 1918 e.v., adopting it as an official rite of the Gnostic Catholic Church; and proclaiming himself "Sovereign Patriarch and Primate of the Gnostic Catholic Church," as well as Gnostic Legate to Switzerland for Bricaud's Universal Gnostic Church. Reuss's publication of the Gnostic Mass constituted the formal acceptance of the Law of Thelema by the Gnostic Catholic Church, and its formal declaration of independence from Bricaud's Universal Gnostic Church.
Thus, the Gnostic Catholic Church, or Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica, is an inseparable part of Ordo Templi Orientis; and the Gnostic Mass is one of the official rituals, more specifically the central ritual, of Ordo Templi Orientis.
While E.G.C. traces its historic origins to the French Gnostic revival of the turn of the century, which was a movement within Christianity, it has since accepted the Law of Thelema, has declared itself independent from the Christian Universal Gnostic Church and its successors, and is no longer to be considered a Christian Church. E.G.C. does not administer Christian Sacraments, and its ecclesiastical powers are founded on a spiritual succession from the Master Therion and the constituent originating assemblies of O.T.O., rather than on the traditional Christian Apostolic Succession. The theology, doctrines and sacramental theory of E.G.C. are based on the principles of the Thelemic Religion. Its rites and ceremonies, while eclectic in form (drawing upon the sacerdotal practices of a wide variety of cultures and historical religious systems) are fundamentally Thelemic in character. The traditional doctrines, theology, canon law, and insignia of the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Jacobite Churches do not operate within E.G.C.
At this time, the Patriarch is Frater Superior Hymenaeus Beta, Caliph and Acting O.H.O. of O.T.O.
At this time, the Primate of E.G.C. within the U.S.A. is Sabazius X°, National Grand Master General of the U.S. Grand Lodge of O.T.O. Frater Superior Hymenaeus Beta has delegated, in full, his duties and authority within E.G.C. to Sabazius X° for exercise within the U.S.A. The actions and decisions of the Primate are subject to modification or reversal by the Patriarch upon appeal by any Bishop within the U.S.A.
Full Bishops within E.G.C. must be Sovereign Grand Inspectors General VII° of O.T.O. There are a number of Bishops of E.G.C. who were consecrated prior to the institution of this requirement, and who are not yet Sovereign Grand Inspectors General of O.T.O. Such Bishops are known as Auxiliary Bishops, and their authority is similar to that of E.G.C. Priests and Priestesses, along with any additional authority specifically given to them by the Patriarch or the Primate.
Bishops and Auxiliary Bishops of E.G.C. have the responsibility of serving as official representatives of E.G.C. within O.T.O. Therefore, any public celebration of the Gnostic Mass which involves the participation of a recognized Bishop or Auxiliary Bishop of E.G.C. as an officer is by definition an official O.T.O. event and is subject to all the policies of O.T.O. regarding official O.T.O. events.
The term "Bishop" does not carry the same meaning within E.G.C. as it does in Christian Churches or in the so-called "Wandering Bishops" tradition. Possession of a valid and documented Apostolic Succession does not make one a Bishop of E.G.C.; neither is a Christian Apostolic Succession necessary to the Bishops of E.G.C.
Gnostic Bishops of the Doinel Succession assume a Mystic Name prefaced by the Greek letter "T" or "Tau" upon their consecration. Bishops and Auxiliary Bishops of E.G.C. who wish to emphasize this part of their spiritual heritage may, at their option, follow this tradition. However, the Double Tau is reserved for use by the Patriarch and the Primate.
Priests and Priestesses within E.G.C. must be Initiate members in good standing of at least Knight of the East and West; and their ordination must be reported to and recorded by the Grand Secretary General and the Ecclesiastical Secretary. Prior to their ordination, they must have been accorded Lay membership in E.G.C. With the permission of the Primate, they may, prior to their formal ordination, take on limited duties and authority of the Priesthood under the supervision of a Bishop.
Priests and Priestesses of E.G.C. have the responsibility of serving as official representatives of E.G.C. within O.T.O. Therefore, any public celebration of the Gnostic Mass which involves the participation of a recognized Priest or Priestess of E.G.C. as an officer is by definition an official O.T.O. event and is subject to all the policies of O.T.O. regarding official O.T.O. events.
At this time, Deacons have the power and authority only to assist recognized Priests and Priestesses of E.G.C. in the performance of their duties. They are not considered as official representatives of E.G.C.
Novice status is not formally recognized by the Order, and is not included in the Order's records.
Baptism is open to any person of at least the age of 11 years, but does not, in itself, confer Lay Membership. Confirmation is open to any person who has been baptized and who has attained the age of puberty. Baptism and/or confirmation for any person less than 18 years of age requires the prior written consent of a parent or legal guardian. Baptism and confirmation are public ceremonies.
Advisory membership in E.G.C. confers no clerical authority within E.G.C.
"During this period [The summer of 1913 e.v. - Ed.] the full interpretation of the central mystery of freemasonry became clear in consciousness, and I expressed it in dramatic form in `The Ship'. The lyrical climax is in some respects my supreme achievement in invocation; in fact, the chorus beginning:Thou who art I beyond all I am...seemed to me worthy to be introduced as the anthem into the Ritual of the Gnostic Catholic Church, which, later in the year, I prepared for the use of the O.T.O., the central ceremony of its public and private celebration, corresponding to the Mass of the Roman Catholic Church."
For public celebrations of the Gnostic Mass, at least one of the three principal celebrating officers must be a Clerical member of E.G.C. with recognized status as Priest, Priestess, Bishop, or Auxiliary Bishop. In developing areas, this last requirement may be waived by the Primate or the Patriarch when the Gnostic Mass is being celebrated by Novices under the supervision of a Bishop.
Public celebrations of the Gnostic Mass are to be held to the highest standards of performance and fidelity to approved texts of Liber XV. The officers of the Mass are expected to know their parts by heart and not use scripts; with the exception that the Deacon may use a script while intoning the collects if necessary.
The text of Liber XV, including the Collects, is not to be added to or modified without the express permission of the current Patriarch.
Local economic and spatial constraints may prevent the full implementation of the provisions in Liber XV regarding temple furniture and costuming. However, these provisions should be implemented as best as possible; and improvements should continue to be made as additional resources become available.
The roles of the two "Children" in Liber XV should be filled whenever possible for public celebrations of the Gnostic Mass. These roles may be filled by any two individuals who have been baptized in E.G.C., including adults. The Children serve the Cakes of Light and goblets of wine to the individual communicants. Where the roles of the Children cannot be filled in a public celebration of the Gnostic Mass, the Deacon should serve the Cakes of Light and the goblets of wine to the individual communicants.
Liber XV may be modified for Requiem Masses by including a brief mention of the deceased at the eleventh Collect.
Any celebration of the Gnostic Mass which is held at, or is sponsored by, an official O.T.O. Local Body is, by definition, an official E.G.C. and O.T.O. event, and is subject to all the policies of O.T.O. regarding official O.T.O. events. The Master of the Local Body is responsible for enforcing these policies.
In some jurisdictions, civil registration may be required to perform certain religious functions. Generally, civil registration is required only for the performance of weddings, but in some jurisdictions the performance of other religious functions may require civil registration as well. The Supreme Grand Council of O.T.O. will assist those Bishops and Auxiliary Bishops who qualify for recognition of Ministerial Status within O.T.O. to obtain the appropriate civil registrations. Bishops and Auxiliary Bishops who possess the necessary civil registrations may assist Priests and Priestesses within their jurisdictions to obtain their own civil registrations, if necessary.
Ordinations should be reported to the Grand Secretary General and the Ecclesiastical Secretary for recording and official recognition. Baptisms and consecrations may also be reported to the Ecclesiastical Secretary.
Certificates commemorating baptism, confirmation and ordination may be issued by individual Bishops. The design of such certificates must be submitted to the Grand Secretary General for approval by the Primate.
The Ecclesiastical Secretary is an Assistant Secretary of O.T.O. whose duty is to log and maintain records of Ecclesiastical Membership.
Questions on E.G.C. policies and procedures should be addressed to the Grand Secretary General.
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