Ordo Templi Orientis, the “Order of the Temple of the East,” is an international religious fraternity/sorority and church.

O.T.O. began as a Freemasonic study group, which was adapted to the philosophy of Thelema under the leadership of Aleister Crowley, who became head of O.T.O. in 1912.

Ordo Templi Orientis has departed from its Freemasonic roots since its inception and became an established non-profit religious organization in 1996 in the state of California

The mysteries of O.T.O. are conveyed through a series of initiatory rites, the first series being called the Man of Earth triad. These initiations are open to any member, and center around the themes of conception, birth, life, and death.

Aside from initiations, most of our events are open to the public. Thus we are not a “secret society” in the technical sense of the word. Rather we aim to bring the Light of Thelema to the world and help to establish peace, tolerance, and truth, on the basis of universal brother and sisterhood.

O.T.O. has locations in many major cities throughout the U.S..

Church and Clergy

O.T.O. contains an ecclesiastical arm entitled Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica. This means “universal gnostic church” and does not refer to Christian Catholicism. Similarly, Gnostic means knowledge, and refers to direct knowledge through spiritual experience, and not early Gnosticism.

Ordained Clergy can perform marriage ceremonies, baptisms, confirmations, and funerary services. The central rite of both E.G.C. and O.T.O. is the Gnostic Mass.

Ordained clergy includes Priests, Priestesses, and Deacons. These clergy and overseen by the Bishops of E.G.C.

Novice clergy are permitted to perform in public ceremonies, so long as an Ordained clergy member is there to oversee the ceremony.

The Creed of Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica:

“I believe in one secret and ineffable LORD; and in one Star in the Company of Stars of whose fire we are created, and to which we shall return; and in one Father of Life, Mystery of Mystery, in His name CHAOS, the sole viceregent of the Sun upon the Earth; and in one Air the nourisher of all that breathes.

And I believe in one Earth, the Mother of us all, and in one Womb wherein all men are begotten,
and wherein they shall rest, Mystery of Mystery, in Her name BABALON.

And I believe in the Serpent and the Lion, Mystery of Mystery, in His name BAPHOMET.

And I believe in one Gnostic and Catholic Church of Light, Life, Love and Liberty,
the Word of whose Law is THELEMA.

And I believe in the communion of Saints.

And, forasmuch as meat and drink are transmuted in us daily into spiritual substance,
I believe in the Miracle of the Mass.

And I confess one Baptism of Wisdom, whereby we accomplish the Miracle of Incarnation.

And I confess my life one, individual and eternal that was, and is, and is to come.

AUMN. AUMN. AUMN.”

To learn more about becoming a member of The E.G.C., contact ararita.secretary@oto-usa.org or attend a local public performance of the Gnostic Mass.

Further reading: https://sabazius.oto-usa.org/gnostic-mass/