Ecclesia Gnostica

Richard Jean Chretien Duc de Palatine with the object of "restoring the Gnosis – Divine Wisdom to the Christian Church, and to teach the Path of Holiness which leads to God and the Inner Illumination and Interior Communion with the Soul through the mortal body of man.

"[3] Born Ronald Powell, Richard Duc de Palatine had served in the Liberal Catholic Church in Australia, before moving to England.

[4][3] Bishop Duc de Palatine also received a charter in 1953 to head an organisation first called "the Brotherhood of the Illuminati," renamed "the Order of the Pleroma" in 1960.

"[5][3] In 1959 the organisation became active in the United States[6][7][8] through the work of Stephan A. Hoeller, who served as a priest of the church in Los Angeles, and was subsequently consecrated bishop in 1967.

Hugh George de Willmott Newman (Mar Georgius I) felt that all proper and valid consecrations and ordinations are equally efficacious regardless of the particular line of apostolic succession, but also that some degree of irregularity would attach itself to acts lacking ecumenical sanction.

[14] The focus is no single version or rendering of the Gnostic Mythos, but the entire heritage of the Gnostic tradition, which includes: primary sources such as the Nag Hammadi Library and much of the canonical Bible, with consideration of the less reliable accounts and recensions of teachings found in heresiological texts, the Hermetic writings, and the teachings of the Prophet Mani.

The "brief and inadequate outline" of this core given by bishop Hoeller[10] is further summarised below: There is an original and transcendental spiritual unity which came to emanate a vast manifestation of pluralities.

The awakening of the inmost divine essence is effected by salvific knowledge, called Gnosis.Messengers of light have been sent by the unity for the advancement of Gnosis in humans.

"[10] Ecclesia Gnostica services consist of different liturgical celebrations usually based on traditional Western forms of Christian liturgy.

[8] The church performs its sacraments "in accordance with the tradition of the Ancient Mystery Schools" and attempts to present them "in their original meaning as archetypal acts of ceremonial communion with the timeless realities of the soul.

[16] The Eucharist is central to the practice of the church, and is celebrated with high formality as congregants prepare to commune with "the indwelling and cosmic Christ.

"[8] The service resembles a Traditional Roman Catholic liturgy in style, complete with elaborate vestments, burning candles, incense, and bells.

May that peace brood over you, that Power uplift you into the Light, may It keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and Love of God, and of His Son, our Lord the Christ.