You should know that our order is the fraternal section of the International College of Esoteric Studies (ICES), which was formerly known as the International College of Martinist Studies (ICOMS). The ICES curriculum is the basic educational substance of our work. 

Beyond this each Commandery may draw from the vast wealth of material disseminated through what has become known as the western mystery tradition, although the majority of our members concentrate their studies in the areas of Gnosticism, Martinism, Rosicrucianism, the Grail and General Hermetica. I would also highly recommend two relatively modern commentators of the ancient wisdom, Joseph Campbell, and Dr. C.G. Jung.

Our particular work for the most part is dedicated (but not limited to) the study of the Grail tradition in relation to the esoteric Christian Initiatic Stream. This stream is of course a continuation of the Gnostic Mysteries of the first centuries of our era, or perhaps could be thought of as one of many branches of the Tree of Gnosis. As the earlier Gnostics were persecuted and driven into hiding and near extinction their work would tend to emerge in another time and place under a new name and persona possessing literature and/or symbols having similar archetypal significance and meaning.  All of mankind inherently possess the same potential access to these archetypes, however it seems that they lie closer to the surface in some people than in others.

We may even think of the Grail as a Cup of Gnosis. We may find hints of this in the writings of the Gnostic Ophites, an early School of Gnosticism, who possessed a bowl with a coiled and winged serpent, which was the Ophite symbol of the Redeemer and Son of God. The Gnostic Naassenes also possessed a cup known as the Anecreon having much the same meaning.  

The closest connection that will be found between the Grail and the Gnostics however, will be that with the Cathars. The most common connection made between these two is the allusion to the possibility that the Cathars might have possible possessed the physical Grail Cup, which for our purposes might better be left to archeologists, historians and conspiracy enthusiasts in general. There are much deeper similarities of the Grail literature with the Cathars that we do take especial notice of and will integrate into our work.

The Holy Grail may also be found hidden within the realms of the mystery schools. In the legends and symbolism from the rituals of Masonry, Rosicrucianism and Templarism we discover that they all had one quest in common and that being the quest for the return of that which had been taken away. There is no sufficient space in this introduction to properly detail the similarities of each of these initiatic societies and will have to be taken up further at a future time, however this line of study should be at the very core of our work. View our Statement and Aim of the Order.

In conclusion there is one matter that cannot be overstressed. When looking in particular at the earlier Grail texts (especially that of Chrétien De Troyes) we find that the Grail Mysteries as well as the Christian Mystery Teachings consist of a series of initiations into the life of Christ himself. Christ thus becomes the Divine Archetype (or the Supreme Commander as he is called in the OTG) of the Grail Initiate. To take this a step further, the Grail Knights were far more than characters in a cycle of literature. They represent a series of Primary Archetypes that display the whole spectrum of human experience, aspiration, failure to overcome the many perils along the path, and ultimately reintegration with the Divine.

So when we as Grail Knights ourselves put on our armor, it is a Spiritual armor that we don. Not armor worn externally on our mundane bodies, rather an interior armor to protect us from our internal foes, the archons, and the emissaries of the Demiurge.

 I will close with a quote from The Gospel of Thomas that has become for many of us an affirmation of the OTG.

  “Let not him who seeks cease until he finds

 and when he finds he is astonished.”

  Bishop John Cole, OTG Past Grand Master (1992-1999)