The ecclesiastical body of Seven Spirits is Sacred Serpent Sanctuary, the operative expression of our local clergy and laity. The Sanctuary baptizes and confirms individuals into the laity, and confers diaconal orders on qualified ordinands. The Sanctuary serves to administer and celebrate the rites of Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica (E.G.C.) or the Gnostic Catholic Church - the ecclesiastical arm of Ordo Templi Orientis. 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 Aleister Crowley in 1913. Lay membership in E.G.C. is available through baptism and confirmation. Members of II° and higher are eligible for ordination as Deacon, and those who have reached K.E.W. are eligible for ordination as Priest or Priestess. Rites of affiliation in E.G.C. are public ceremonies.

Aleister Crowley wrote Liber XV ("Book 15"), The Gnostic Mass, in 1913 in Moscow. In many ways it is similar in structure to the Mass of the Roman Catholic Church. However, the comparison ends there, as the Gnostic Mass is a celebration of the principles of Thelema. It is a eucharistic ritual, and congregants are expected to “communicate� by partaking of the sacrament, which involves consuming a Cake of Light and drinking a glass of wine (water is available as an alternative), and then proclaiming, “There is no part of me that is not of the gods!�

The officers do not act as mediators between congregants and their god(s), but rather illustrate a process by which anyone may come to their own direct knowledge (gnosis) of the divine. No part of the Mass requires devotion to any individual, historical or mythological (i.e. Jesus or Aleister Crowley). The Mass does not include a sermon or any ethical instructions beyond the summary of the Law of Thelema.

Crowley writes in Confessions, “Human nature demands (in the case of most people) the satisfaction of the religious instinct, and, to very many, this may best be done by ceremonial means. I wished therefore to construct a ritual through which people might enter into ecstasy as they have always done under the influence of appropriate ritual.�

We celebrate the Gnostic Mass every other Saturday evening, with a few exceptions. Please check the calendar to check for scheduled Masses.

There are three recognized subclasses of Church membership:

1. The Clergy
• The Father/Mother of the Church (The Patriarch or Matriarch, who, at this time, is Frater Superior Hymenaeus Beta, O.H.O.)
• The Primate (or Presiding Bishop, and is the National Grand Master General who, at this time, is Sabazius X° in the U.S.)
• Bishops (The Episcopate)
• Priests & Priestesses (The Priesthood)
• Deacons (The Diaconate)
2. Lay members (The Laity)
3. Bishops in Amity (Advisory membership)

Many members of the Sanctuary enjoy participating in the celebration of the Gnostic Mass. There are five officers in the Mass:

Priest & Priestess:

these roles are celebrated by ordained members of the Priesthood (who must be ordained O.T.O. initiates of at least Knight of the East & West or K.E.W.) or a Novice who is I° or above and under the supervision of a Bishop.

Deacon:

this role is celebrated by ordained Deacons (who must be O.T.O. initiates of at least the II°) or a Novice under the supervision of a Bishop and at least I°.

The Children:

There are two Children (“Positive� and “Negative�), which can be filled by anyone who has been baptized in E.G.C. Participation as a Child does not require O.T.O. initiation or a supervising Bishop.

If you would like to participate as a Child or Deacon, the easiest way is to let an ordained member of the clergy know you are interested. You do not need to have anything in the Mass memorized to start “Childing�—the Clergy are happy to instruct beginning participants in their new roles. However, it is beneficial to have at least a passing familiarity with the ritual. If you are not sure which clergy member to talk to, or you have further questions, contact the Body Master.

While it is not necessary to participate in the Mass to enjoy a fulfilling membership in the Sanctuary, the experience can begin to give a deeper understanding into our rites. It is also an excellent way to get better acquainted with the clergy and other members of the community. We encourage new participants—it is a fine way to discover if one's will leads one further down the Path of Service, enriching not only one's own life, but also our Sanctuary and the Church as a whole.

Initiate members of any degree who have been accorded Lay membership in E.G.C. may enter the Novitiate, which is a period of training under the supervision of a bishop in preparation for eventual ordination as priest, priestess or deacon. Such initiate members may participate in the celebration of the Gnostic Mass as novice priests, priestesses and deacons. Novice status is not formally recognized by the Order, and is not included in the Order's records. It does not require a ceremony, public or private.

If you would like to become a novice, then you must have supervision by a bishop. This is an informal arrangement between you and a bishop. If a Candidate is interested in finding a Bishop, they must contact the Body Master who will then seek out available Bishops through the main EGC Secretary. Every bishop differs in style and availability, so you are encouraged to ask questions about expectations.

Baptism is open to any person at least 11 years old. Baptism by itself does not 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. Initiation within O.T.O. is not required to establish Lay membership in E.G.C. (and visa versa).