Ecclesia Gnostica Alba
The Ecclesia Gnostica Alba (White Gnostic Church) had its
beginning in the mid-1970s in Chicago, Illinois, where Michael
Bertiaux claimed to have made contact with a number of
higher spiritual intelligences, among them an entity named
AIVAS (the same name of the entity contacted by Aleister
Crowley when he channeled The Book of the Law early in the
twentieth century). Bertiaux had become a thelemic magician
and the leader of a collection of magical and Gnostic organizations,
including a branch of the Ecclesia Gnostica Cattolicae.
The Gnostic Catholic Church had its origins in the visionary
experiences of Jules-Benoit Doinel, its first bishop, and one
line of apostolic succession passed to Bertiaux through Haiti.
From AIVAS Bertiaux received knowledge of occult methods
that were claimed to be the deepest Gnostic initiations and
was told to prepare a set of adepts to spread the new Gnostic
awareness. Among the people he began to train was Zivorad
Mihaijlovic-Slavinski, a Yugoslavian psychologist and writer on
occult topics. Bertiaux invited Mihaijlovic-Slavinski to Chicago
and for a month in early 1978 Mihaijlovic-Slavinski underwent
the new training. He emerged ready to return to Yugoslavia as
a prophet of Gnosticism. He was also consecrated as the patriarch
of the new Ecclesia Gnostica Alba. Two years later, while
in California, Mihaijlovic-Slavinski experienced his own personal
enlightenment.
Following his experience, Mihaijlovic-Slavinski returned to
Yugoslavia and began to teach a method of group enlightenment.
He initiated a number of people, among whom were several
masters designated to continue the dissemination of Gnosticism
in Yugoslavia and Italy. As these people followed the
spiritual practices being taught to them, they experienced a
new level of fellowship and moved to create a visible community.
The White Gnostic Church came to exist beyond the person
of its bishop.
The Ecclesia Gnostica Alba has members in contemporary
Serbia, the other countries of the former Yugoslavia, Italy, and
the United States. It may be contacted through its website at
httpwww.newciv.orgncnega.html.
Sources
Ecclesia Gnostica Alba. httpwww.newciv.orgncnega.html.
January 11, 2000.
