ABOUT US
ABOUT US
The Egyptian Rite of Memphis and Misraim
Sovereign Bulgarian Sanctuary
Our Worshipful Rite is a dual Masonic-Illuministic system that contains in itself various forms of the esoteric initiatic tradition.
In recent times we have continuation of this authentic initiatic transmission via Sovereign Italian Sanctuary.
History of the Rite in Bulgaria
The Ancient and Primitive Rite of Masonry, Disciples of Memphis, was founded as a Grand Lodge at Bulgaria, the 14.01.1884 year, by the three Illustrious Brothers, with help, authorization and consultation with mother lodge The Grand Orient of Portugal (Grande Oriente Lusitano).
First Grand Lodge in Bulgaria survive for a short period of time because was forced by civil politics to put all the Lodges in Bulgaria asleep. Totalitarian regimes in Bulgaria, both Nationalist and Communist, have treated Bulgarian Freemasonry as a potential source of opposition due to its secret nature and international connections. Freemasonry was suppressed throughout Eastern Europe, including in Bulgaria, during the Communist era.
The Egyptian Rite of Memphis and Misraim, after an long interval of sleep, recommenced work at Sofia, in 2007, when it is reactivated regulary with initiation of Grand Hierophant Bro. Mihail Georgiev, on 03.03.2007 by General Grand Hierophant of the Ancient and Primitive Rite of Memphis and Misraim of the Grand Orient of Italy, Giancarlo Seri 33:. 90:.97:.. In 2008 Our Worshipful Rite revived its work at the Orient of Sofia.
Bulgarian Freemasonry
Freemasonry has come to the lands of Bulgaria in the early 19 C A.D. Foreigners, initiated into Freemasonry and visiting the Bulgarian towns along the Danube River, have made attempts to organise Masonic centres and to involve in them Bulgarians, who had trading relations with some Central and Western European countries.
The first Bulgarian, initiated as a Free Mason, is deemed to be Archimandrite Efrem, who used to live in the Bessarabian town of Kishinev. After returning to Bulgaria he made attempts to establish a Lodge in the Bulgarian town of Rousse.
In recent times Freemasonry in Bulgaria function under two Grand Lodge structures, namely the United Grand Lodge of Bulgaria (UGLB) and the Grand Lodge AF&AM of Bulgaria (GLAFAMB) . The Commission on Information for Recognition encouraged the two Grand Lodges to meet and work toward the resolution of their differences.
© 2009 Ancient and Primitive Rite of Memphis Misraim, Sovereign Sanctuary for Bulgaria