Ecclesiæ Gnosticæ Catholicæ

About Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica

Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica (EGC), or the Gnostic Catholic Church, is the ecclesiastical arm of Ordo Templi Orientis (OTO). The EGC is a Thelemic religious environment, dedicated to the advancement of Light, Life, Love, and Liberty through alignment with the Law of Thelema.  more...

About the Gnostic Mass

Liber XV, The Gnostic Mass, is the official public rite of Ordo Templi Orientis and of the Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica. It has been said with authority that every important secret of the O.T.O. is revealed, in symbol and in ceremony, within the Mass.

Aleister Crowley wrote Liber XV in 1913 in Moscow, the year after his appointment by Theodor Reuss as the X° Head of the British Section of O.T.O. According to W. B. Crow in A History of Magic, Witchcraft and Occultism (Aquarian Press, London 1968), Crowley wrote it "under the influence of the Liturgy of St. Basil of the Russian Church." Crowley published the Gnostic Mass three times during his life: in 1918 in The International, in 1919 in The Equinox, Volume III, No. 1 (the "Blue Equinox"), and in 1929 in Appendix VI of Magick in Theory and Practice. Theodor Reuss published a German variant in 1918. It was first publicly celebrated on Sunday, March 19, 1933 e.v. by Wilfred T. Smith and Regina Kahl in Hollywood, California. Crowley writes in Chapter 73 of his Confessions:

"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..."

Attending Gnostic Mass

Horizon holds Mass on the 2nd Saturday and 4th Sunday of each month, at our temple:

1423 10th Ave

Seattle, WA 98122

Map

Mass starts at 6:00pm. It's not necessary to contact Horizon prior to attending; our masses are open to the public and we welcome new people. A $5.00 donation is requested of non-members, but no one is turned away for lack of funds. For more information contact mass@seattle-oto.org

Baptism and Confirmation; Joining Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica

Lay Membership in E.G.C. is conferred by the ceremony of confirmation, which must be preceded by the ceremony of baptism. Baptism by itself does not confer Lay Membership.

Baptism is open to any person at least 11 years old. Confirmation is open to any person who has been baptized and who has attained the age of puberty. Baptism or confirmation for any person less than 18 years of age requires the prior written consent of the custodial parent(s) or legal guardian(s). Baptism and confirmation are public ceremonies.

To request baptism or confirmation contact Horizon’s E.G.C. Secretary.