Welcome, seeker of gnosis, to the
Apostolic Church of the Pleroma

About Us

At the Apostolic Church of the Pleroma, we embrace the profound insights of Gnostic tradition to illuminate the path of spiritual awakening. Rooted in the rich heritage of the French Gnostic Tradition, our community is dedicated to exploring the depths of ancient wisdom while integrating contemporary scholarship, particularly in the study of the Nag Hammadi texts. Each aspect of our practice is designed to foster a deeper understanding of Gnostic teachings, harmonizing them with the principles of Hermetic and Qabalistic gnosis that have shaped the Western Mystery Tradition.

Our Mission

The mission of the Apostolic Church of the Pleroma is to cultivate spiritual growth and foster a deeper connection to the divine through the exploration of Gnostic teachings. We aim to provide a welcoming space for individuals seeking to enrich their understanding of spirituality, offering resources that bridge ancient wisdom with modern insights. Our commitment to education and community encourages each member to embark on their unique spiritual journey, illuminating their path with knowledge and grace.

Services at the Apostolic Church of the Pleroma

Explore our enriching services and thought-provoking discussions that deepen your spiritual understanding and connection.

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Spiritual Guidance

Embark on a journey of spiritual discovery with our experienced guides at the Apostolic Church of the Pleroma. We offer personalized sessions that delve into Gnostic teachings, helping you navigate your spiritual path. Our advisors are dedicated to understanding your unique questions and experiences, providing insights that resonate with your spiritual journey.

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Community Gatherings

Join us for our community gatherings, where we come together to share insights, discuss Gnostic texts, and explore the mysteries of existence. These gatherings foster a sense of belonging and encourage open dialogue, allowing members to deepen their understanding of Gnostic principles in a supportive environment.

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Educational Resources

Access a wealth of educational resources at the Apostolic Church of the Pleroma. Our library includes writings from esteemed Gnostic scholars and clergy, providing you with the tools to enhance your spiritual knowledge. Whether you are a seasoned practitioner or a curious seeker, our resources are designed to facilitate your exploration of Gnostic wisdom.

What We Believe

Man (that is, Humanity - male and female) is an essentially Spiritual being, functioning within a Physical vehicle.
The limiting and temporal nature of Matter obscures the eternal, limitless nature of Spirit. Thus, Man is largely ignorant of his Spiritual nature, which is his True Nature and his birthright.
It is from this ignorance alone that Man must be saved.
In addition to Spirit and Matter, there is a third, intermediating agent in Man - the Soul - that is realized through the function of the Mind, which may reconcile the Physical to the Spiritual.
Through the Mental faculty, Man may achieve an intimate knowledge of the Spirit, and attain an ideal integration of all levels of being.
This intimate knowledge, and the resulting equilibrium, is called gnosis.
It is only through gnosis that we may obtain salvation, which is the liberation from the fetters of spiritual ignorance.
Jesus Christ, co-eternal with the Father and the Holy Spirit, is the revealer of Divine Gnosis, and thus our Liberator and Redeemer.

What We Practice

The ACP is sacramental in character. The Master Jesus instituted a number of spiritual practices to help us to attain to the salvific gnosis. He also empowered certain of His followers, called Apostles, to perpetuate these traditions which we call Sacraments. The Sacraments are seven in number; and you will notice that they all relate, in some way, to Spiritual Purification, Regeneration, and Reintegration. The Sacraments of the ACP are as follows:

1. Baptism

Although all of the Sacraments of the Church may be traced to pre-Christian Jewish, Egyptian, Greek, and Persian traditions, the Rite of Baptism stands out as having a clear lineage of transmission from the pre-Christian era, as Jesus himself received this Sacrament and perpetuated it among His followers. Baptism is a rite of cleansing and purification. It generally marks the official entrance of an individual into full membership of the Church. This is true almost universally throughout Christendom, whether Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, or Gnostic. The traditional Baptism is of Water, but many Gnostic Churches today also include Earth and Air. Also within the Baptism Rite of the ACP, and some other Gnostic churches, is the Baptism of Fire, also called Chrism.

2. Chrismation

Chrismation (known as Confirmation in the Roman Catholic Church) always follows the Baptism. In the ACP, it is conferred within the same ceremony. Our ancient Gnostic brethren placed a particular significance upon Chrism. The Gospel of Philip asserts the supremacy of Chrism over Baptism, and also associates it with the Element of Fire. The Chrism is an extension of Baptism. Just as the Baptism represents our awaking and rebirth into Pneumatic (Spiritual) truth, the Chrism recalls the Holy Fire of Pentecost that bestows Spiritual gifts. It is truly a completion of the Baptism rite.

3. Eucharist

The Eucharist is the central rite of the ACP, and of all Apostolic Churches. The Rite of Eucharist, or Communion, is the transubstantiation of the elements of Bread and Wine into the Body and the Blood of Christ, the Logos; and then partaking of that Body and Blood - which effects a regenerative influence upon the human Soul. This is a Sacramental Grace that aids the communicant toward Spiritual Reintegration and the ultimate restoration of the Spiritual Self to the Fullness of God. The ACP practices open Communion. That is, the Sacrament of the Eucharist is open to all who wish to partake of its vivifying grace. The Sacraments of Baptism and Chrism, while encouraged for all regular congregants, are only required if one desires full membership in the Church, or if one intends to petition to receive Holy Orders. An individual who has not received Baptism and Chrism is not automatically barred from receiving Communion.

4. Bridal Chamber

This Sacrament is mentioned throughout the Gospel of Philip, but we have no details of how it may have been practiced by the ancient Gnostics. The descriptions given by heresiologists of wanton sexual rites are very likely a misunderstanding, or intentional perversion of the Rite of Bridal Chamber. It is generally held that this Sacrament refers to the Mystical Marriage of Spirit and Soul; the Christ and Sophia; the reintegration of the primitive wholeness. In this sense it can be seen as an extension of the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Like Redemption, this Sacrament can only be fully realized Spiritually. Matrimony is sometimes seen as a "substitute" Sacrament, or as a temporal representation of the true Bridal Chamber.

5. Redemption

In the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches, this Sacrament is preserved as Confession and Absolution. The Scriptures tell us that Jesus gave his Apostles the power to forgive sins. In the Roman Rite, the priest personally offers forgiveness (e.g. "I forgive..." etc.). In the Eastern Orthodox, the priest calls on the Holy Spirit to forgive. The Gnostic view would be more in line with the Eastern Church, though by no means identical; the principal difference, of course, being our understanding of what exactly "sin" is. A group Confession and Absolution is given within the context of the Mass, but an individualized Confession and Absolution is not mandated by the ACP unless it is desired by a member. Public Confession and Absolution is in fact more in line with the ancient Church than the sort of Confessional boxes used by the Church of Rome. True Redemption, however, is something that can only be accomplished in full reintegration and regeneration. It may be thought of as the completion of the Bridal Chamber union.

6. Holy Unction (or Anointing of the Sick)

In the Roman Church, this is called Extreme Unction and has traditionally been reserved for those who are believed to be near death or terminally ill. In the Eastern Church, as in the Gnostic Church, this Sacrament may be conferred at any time. Even if one does not seem to be physically ill, we can seek alleviation from the disease of Spiritual darkness. This Sacrament is a powerful theurgic operation.

7. Holy Orders

This is the Sacrament that transmits the Apostolic Succession, and confers the powers that Jesus first vested in his Apostles. These Spiritual Powers have been transmitted in unbroken succession - person to person, from the time of Jesus Christ up to the present day. The ACP offers the possibility of ordination to men and women who have received Baptism and Chrismation within the ACP, or within any ecclesiastical body that is in full communion with the ACP.

The Esoteric Tradition

The ACP is not only Sacramental, but also Initiatic. The Christian Mysteries (which are, in fact, a perpetuation of more anicient traditions) have always maintained an inner, esoteric, initiatic tradition. Throughout history, the exoteric Church has not always embraced this secret doctrine. So, in many ages the inner mystical traditions, communicated by Christ only to the Elect, operated outside the bounds of the Ecclesia. But the Apostolic Church of the Pleroma is the inheritor of both aspects of the ancient and primitive Christian Church. One of the principal vehicles for the transmission of the Mysteries within the ACP is the Christian Knights of Saint-Martin. The CKSM preserves the teachings of the 18th century Christian mystic, Louis-Claude de Saint-Martin (as well as those of his Master, Martinès de Pasqually); and transmits the Martinist Initiation according to the traditional methods as developed by Papus, Augustin Chaboseau, Robert Ambelain, and other conservators of this venerable tradition.

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