Albigensian Gnostic Catholic Church

The Albigensian Gnostic Catholic Church, in both theory and practice began, in the 1970s as a result of a meeting of a French Knights Templar named David DePaul and the Gnostic Primate and Bishop Michael Bertiaux in Chicago, Illinois. This interesting line is secretive in its connection with the original Cathar Gnosticism that has been called the Cathar Church. This is through both hereditary links as well as Apostolic Succession.

David had heard about Bishop Bertiaux from leading members of the Theosophical Society in Wheaton, Illinois, the town not far from where David DePaul grew up. At that time Bishop Bertiaux was the Bishop of the Ecclesia Gnostica Spiritualis and the Patriarch of the Rites of Memphis-Misraim. Bishop Bertiaux was connected with such European luminaries as Kenneth Grant OHO of the English Lodge of the O.T.O. (Ordo Templi Orientis), Robert Ambelain, and Albert Cools. He was was also associated with a great many other Gnostic and Freemasonic Orders and early Rosicrucian Societies. Bishop Bertiaux is a leading member of the Theosophical Society. David dePaul was, at that time, a member of the Old Catholic and Liberal Catholic Churches which had a number of Templar and Freemasonic members in its Clergy. David dePauls first meetings with Bishop Bertiaux took place at the Bishops high-rise apartment on Lake Shore Drive, in Chicago. Later, the Bishop suggested that he and another French Templar friend should enter the Diaconate of the Gnostic Church, which we did, with the Bishop Bertiaux officiating at the Mass in which this Rite took place.

Several years later David DePaul traveled to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in order to receive his ordination as a Gnostic priest and in the following year was consecrated as a Gnostic Bishop. This was in 1979 at the Chapel of St. Clair (Chapelle du St. Secaire) by Bishop Christopher Syn of the Collegium Ad Spiritum Sanctum. This Apostolic Succession was Old Catholic line and Jacobite Syrian Tradition through Bishop Vilatte originally. After David dePauls consecration as a Gnostic Bishop he chose, like Aleister Crowley, to be function as a “Wandering Bishop”; a Bishop with Apostolic Succession but having no actual church affiliation.

In the 1980s David dePaul studied the gnostic catholic current and decided to form his own church based upon his own ancestral lines to the original Cathar Church and its Prefects. He also had earlier connections with the Templar Catholic Church through his foster mother. His mother was a friend of the head of the Catholic Church in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, at the St. Petronille Roman Catholic Church who styled himself: “Priest of the Order of Melchizedek”. This priest only admitted this to certain hereditary Catholic families. The Albigensian Gnostic Catholic Church today is like the EGC Church in that it is independent of the O.T.O.

He continued in the status of “Wandering Bishop” and the AGCC remained inactive until 3 years ago because David did not want to be involved with the petty disagreements that rocked both the O.T.O. and the Gnostic traditions.

David dePauls full Bishop Entitlement Name today is Tau Vincent I de Gaul and has direct ancestry to the Druids, Cathars, and the Hereditary Orders of the Quest. He has lineage to Grand Duke Andre dePaul de Lamonon de Albi. We are all enlightened enough to know the Cathar links to Albi, France.

In Gnostic and Esoteric history, long before Bishop dePaul re-worked the structure and liturgy of the AGCC, it was said that the unspoken head of the Albigensian Gnostic Church was Jules Benoit Stanislas Doinel du Val Michel who, in 1888, became Bishop of Montsegur and Primate of the Albigenses after the Christ had visited him in a vision telling him to establish this Gnostic Church. He had many Theosophical and Spiritualist friends and connections especially in French Esoteric circles. Bishop David dePaul like Bishop Doinel sought to restore the Divine Feminine aspect of Divinity to its proper place within the church.

Today, the AGCC is presided over by Patriarch and Bishop dePaul, an ancestor of the Gnostic Saint and Alchemist St. Vincent DePaul. We ordain deacons, priests, and can consecrate into the Higher Gnostic Clergy to the rank of Bishop without regard to gender. The AGCC also performs Baptisms, Confirmations, and Officiates the Gnostic Catholic Mass and administers the Sacrament of Holy Gnostic Communion. There is no Act of Confession, as your shortcomings should be taken directly to the Master Jesus and to his Holy Lady only. No priest can stand between you and the Divine.

While the church is not affiliated with the O.T.O., we are part of the Gnostic Esoteric Branch of the Ordre du Temple (The French Hereditary Gnostic Knights Templar) through the Ancient Order of Knights of the Temple of Solomon. It is not a requirement of the church that one must be a member of the AGOKT, nor is it a requirement of AGOKT to become a member of the church.

The Albigensian Gnostic Catholic Church today believes in the Gnostic Saints and in presenting and explaining the esoteric beliefs of the Catholic church not normally taught by Roman Catholic Tradition.

If interested in the Albigensian Gnostic Catholic Church you may contact the Assistant to Bishop dePaul:

Rev. Deacon William H. Thomas, M.Div., Ph.D. at the following email - william.h.thomas@outlook.com

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