About Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica

Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica (E.G.C.), or the Gnostic Catholic Church, is the ecclesiastical arm of Ordo Templi Orientis (OTO). 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. To learn more about E.G.C., our history, ceremonies, and administrative structure, visit the Grand Lodge E.G.C. page.

Attending Gnostic Mass

Horizon holds Mass three times a month at our temple according to the following schedule:

1st Sunday at 3pm

2nd Saturday at 6pm

4th Sunday at 6pm

Check our calendar for specific dates.

It's not necessary to contact Horizon prior to attending; our masses are open to the public and we welcome new people. A donation is requested, but no one is turned away for lack of funds. For more information contact horizon@seattle-oto.org.

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..."

Suggested Reading

Liber XV; The Gnostic Mass
With Annotations and Commentary by Sr Helena and T Apiryon

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 by emailing horizon@seattle-oto.org.

Being in the Gnostic Mass

Any member who is interested in being part of the mass is warmly encouraged to pursue this interest. Performing in the mass can be a deeply rewarding experience and is a service to the Oasis.

Generally, being a Child is the first role one learns and performs as part of a mass team. To become part of the mass, contact Horizon's E.G.C. secretary at mass@seattle-oto.org and let them know of your interest. They will give you more information and can help you begin.

Basic Requirements

Everyone performing mass at Horizon must first meet the requirements set by the E.G.C:

• Those filling the role of Children must be baptized in E.G.C.
• Those filling the role of Priest, Priestess and Deacon must be:
  • An initiate OTO member in good standing.
  • A confirmed member of E.G.C.
  • Under the active supervision of a Bishop. This applies to ordained E.G.C. clergy as well as to novices.

Horizon sets these additional requirements:

• Priests, Priestesses and Deacons must be 1st degree or above.
• Priests, Priestesses and Deacons must be either a dues current member of the Oasis, or a guest officer with the approval of the Body Master.
  The Oasis defines "not current" as failing to pay Oasis dues for two or more consecutive months without making other arrangements, such as asking for a waiver. For information about dues, see our Dues page. For information about membership in general, see our Membership page.

Each supervising Bishop may (and probably will) have additional expectations. The local body has no authority over the Novice/Bishop relationship; check with your supervising Bishop about their requirements.

General Expectations

Each mass team has their own interpretation and personal way of performing the mass, and Horizon has a long history of encouraging and respecting that. These are Horizon Oasis's expectations about what mass teams, and team members, will do:

• Each mass has an owner – The Priest or Priestess who has committed to that mass date. The mass owner gathers the rest of their team. The Horizon E.G.C. secretary is available to help with suggestions and contact information, but the responsibility belongs to the mass owner.
• Everyone is expected to practice together, to ensure that they work together smoothly.
• Although the Horizon EGC secretary will be there to help, mass teams are expected to arrive early to make sure everything is in order.
• The mass team brings the Cakes of Light. Horizon will provide candles, roses and wine, unless the mass team prefers to bring these items themselves.
• Each member of the mass team is responsible for their own robe and other regalia.
• The negative child has charge of the wine and juice – filling the glasses before mass, washing them afterwards and putting them away.
• The positive child has charge of the candles and the charcoal, making sure they are fresh enough to last all mass, lighting them, and putting them out afterwards.
• The deacon has charge of the congregation, giving the deacon announcements, offering the missals, bringing the congregation into the temple room, and ensuring that everyone is seated and the temple is secure.
  
  The deacon marshals the people for communion by indicating to each when it’s their turn and making The local body announcements won't be made until starting time when everyone is there, so the deacon should greet the people, indicating mass is about to begin, and then wait until body announcements have been made.
  
  If possible body announcements should be made by the body master or another officer - not the deacon - but the deacon may need to do both when the available body officers are on the mass team.