Tag: Martyr

Day of the Holy Apostle Thomas

December 21

Color: Red

The COLLECT

O eternal God, who hast singled out with Thy divine favor the illustrious apostle of the Logos, Didymos Judas Thomas, and hast raised him above all other disciples by imparting to him the mysteries of the Gnosis; grant that we may follow his example and inspiration and be also thus lifted up into the light of true knowledge that sets free. Amen.

The Lesson and Gospel are those ordained for the Twelfth Sunday after Trinity. An alternate Lesson follows:

The LESSON

The Lesson is taken from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Colossians:
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him; rooted and built up in Him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and ye are complete in Him, who is the Head of all principality and power; buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through faith of the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead. If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth; for ye are dead to earth, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

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The Day of All Gnostic Saints

November 20

Color: White

The COLLECT

Praise be to Thee, O Father of all Fatherhood, Thou, the unknown God, who was before the fall of the sparks into the darkness of this aeon, for the glorious messengers of the light of Thy everlasting and redeeming Gnosis. Especially do we praise and thank Thee today for the following holy and enlightened teachers and knowers of truth: Valentinus of Rome; Basilides of Antioch; Carpocrates of Alexandria; Bardesanes of Syria; Mani of Babylonia, Martyr; Priscillian of Avila, Bishop and Martyr; Paul of Samosata, Bishop; Peter of Bruys, Martyr; Amalric of Bena; David of Dinan and William of Paris; Bogomil of Dragowitza, Bishop; Peter Waldo of Lyons; Joachim of Flora; Esclaremonde de Foix and the Cathar martyrs; and all the holy souls and wise sages who have in any way or form, under whatsoever guise and appearance attained to and taught the true and ancient Gnosis of God. Grant, O Boundless One, that inspired by and following their most noble example we also may see the light of Thy Gnosis and assist in liberating Thy sparks of light from the chains of darkness, ignorance and malice which afflict them in this aeon. Amen.

The Lesson and Gospel shall be those ordained for the Sixth Sunday after Trinity.

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The Day of the Martyrdom of the Holy Templars

October 13

Color: Red

The COLLECT

Remember them O Lord, in Thy kingdom, Thy faithful servants Jacques de Molay, Guy de Auvergne, and all the glorious martyrs of the Order of the Templars, who have shone as brilliant lights of the eternal Gnosis in their days. Thou who art ever the comforter of the oppressed and the repose of those who suffer for the sake of the truth, grant them peace, refreshment, glory and the splendor of Thy Gnosis. Grant that we, following the example of Thy Holy Martyrs, may with them bear witness to the Gnosis of Love, Liberty and Light forever. Not to us, not to us O Lord, but to Thy name be the Glory; now and for evermore. Amen.

The LESSON

The Lesson is taken from the writings of the Gnostic Fathers:
The seeds of God, ’tis true, are few, but vast and fair and good; virtue and self- control, and devotion. Devotion is God-Gnosis; and he who knoweth God, being filled with all good things, thinks only godly thoughts, and not thoughts like the many think. For this cause, they who Gnostic are, please not the many, nor the many them. They are thought mad and laughed at; they are hated and despised, and sometimes even put to death.

The GOSPEL

The Gospel is taken from the Gospel according to St. Thomas:
Jesus said: I have cast fire upon the world, and see, I guard it until the world is afire. Jesus said: Men possibly think that I have come to throw peace upon the world, and they do not know that I have come to throw divisions upon the earth, fire, sword, war. For there shall be five in a house: three shall be against two and two against three, the father against the son and the son against the father, and they will stand alone. Jesus said: Whoever does not hate his father and mother will not be able to be a disciple to me, and whoever does not hate his brethren and sisters and does not take up his cross in my way will not be worthy of me. Jesus said: Blessed are those who have been persecuted in their heart; these are they who have known the Father in truth.

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Homilies for the Day of the Martyrdom of the Holy Templars by Bishop Stephan Hoeller

A Homily for the Day of the Martyrdom of the Holy Templars by Bishop Steven Marshall