|
Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica, or the Gnostic Catholic Church, is the Ecclesiastical arm of Ordo Templi Orientis. It provides sacraments such as the Gnostic Mass, the principal ritual of both the E.G.C. and O.T.O., as well as Baptism and Confirmation.
Thelemic Holy Days
We celebrate the Thelemic holy days as outlined in The Book of the Law:
The Rituals of the Elements and Feasts of the Times are observed at the Solstices and Equinoxes
The Feast for the First Night of the Prophet and His Bride is observed on August 12
The Feast for the Three Days of the Writing of The Book of the Law is celebrated on April 8, 9, and 10, generally starting at noon each day
The Feast for the Supreme Ritual (the invocation of Horus) is celebrated on March 20, and signifies the beginning of the Thelemic New Year
The Feast for the Equinox of the Gods is celebrated on the Vernal Equinox of each year to commemorate the founding of Thelema in 1904
Birth is commemorated through a Feast for Life. Thelemic birthdays are known as Lesser Feasts.
Puberty is commemorated through a Feast for Fire (boys) and a Feast for Water (girls)
Death is commemorated through a Greater Feast for Death
Baptism, Confirmation, and Ordination
The sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation are provided for any interested party who can find a member of the Church to vouch for him or her. Membership with OTO. is not required for lay membership in the E.G.C. However, membership in OTO is a requirement for ordination within the Church. Deacons must be an Initiate member of the IIº (Second Degree). Priests and Priestesses must have reached the K.E.W. (Knight of East and West) degree, and must have trained as a Novitiate under the supervision of a Bishop of the Church. The E.G.C. Priesthood takes a great deal of study and effort, and candidates must have attained the IVº and P.I.º (Fourth and Perfect Initiate Degrees) before they are eligible to be invited to the K.E.W. and receive ordination.
|
|
