Jules Doinel
Encyclopedia
Jules-Benoît Stanislas Doinel du Val-Michel (December 8, 1842, Moulins, Allier
— March 16 or 17, 1903), also simply Jules Doinel, was an archivist and the founder of the first Gnostic church
in modern times.
: Gnostic Church), taking the ecclesiastical name of Tau Valentin II, after Valentinius, the second century Christian Gnostic teacher.
The doctrinal orientation of the church was based on extant Cathar documents, with the Gospel of John, and strong influence of Simonian
and Valentinian
cosmology
, the church was officially established in the autumn
of 1890 in Paris, France. Liturgical services were based on Cathar rituals. Clergy were both male and female, having male bishops and female "sophias."
Doinel was "spiritually consecrated" in a spiritual experience in 1888 and not into a line of Apostolic Succession
. Doinel subsequently consecrated a number of bishops for the Eglise Gnostique, notable among these was Gérard Encausse
founder of the closely allied Martinist Order.
, one of many taken in by Taxil's anti-masonic hoax
. Doinel wrote a book entitled Lucifer Unmasked, a book attacking freemasonry, under the name Jean Kostka, in which he associated many of his prior activities with the diabolic. A. E. Waite described Lucifer Unmasked and revealed the real identity of its author in Devil Worship in France his exposé of the anti-masonic movement Taxil inspired. Taxil unveiled his hoax in 1897.
Moulins, Allier
Moulins is a commune in central France, capital of the Allier department.Among its many tourist attractions are the Maison Mantin the Anne de Beaujeu Museum.-History:...
— March 16 or 17, 1903), also simply Jules Doinel, was an archivist and the founder of the first Gnostic church
Gnostic church
Gnostic church may refer to a variety of religious organizations which identify themselves with Gnosticism. Various Gnostic religious organizations include:*Ecclesia Gnostica*Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica*Society of Novus Spiritus...
in modern times.
Gnostic Church Revival
After spiritual experiences in 1888-89, he proclaimed 1890 the beginning of "the era of Gnosis restored." Doinel assumed the office of Patriach of the Eglise Gnostique (FrenchFrench language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
: Gnostic Church), taking the ecclesiastical name of Tau Valentin II, after Valentinius, the second century Christian Gnostic teacher.
The doctrinal orientation of the church was based on extant Cathar documents, with the Gospel of John, and strong influence of Simonian
Simon Magus
Simon the Sorcerer or Simon the Magician, in Latin Simon Magus, was a Samaritan magus or religious figure and a convert to Christianity, baptised by Philip the Apostle, whose later confrontation with Peter is recorded in . The sin of simony, or paying for position and influence in the church, is...
and Valentinian
Valentinus
Valentinus is a Roman masculine given name. It is derived from the Latin word "valens" meaning "healthy, strong". Valentinus may refer to:*Pope Valentine , pope for thirty or forty days in 827...
cosmology
Cosmology
Cosmology is the discipline that deals with the nature of the Universe as a whole. Cosmologists seek to understand the origin, evolution, structure, and ultimate fate of the Universe at large, as well as the natural laws that keep it in order...
, the church was officially established in the autumn
Autumn
Autumn is one of the four temperate seasons. Autumn marks the transition from summer into winter usually in September or March when the arrival of night becomes noticeably earlier....
of 1890 in Paris, France. Liturgical services were based on Cathar rituals. Clergy were both male and female, having male bishops and female "sophias."
Doinel was "spiritually consecrated" in a spiritual experience in 1888 and not into a line of Apostolic Succession
Apostolic Succession
Apostolic succession is a doctrine, held by some Christian denominations, which asserts that the chosen successors of the Twelve Apostles, from the first century to the present day, have inherited the spiritual, ecclesiastical and sacramental authority, power, and responsibility that were...
. Doinel subsequently consecrated a number of bishops for the Eglise Gnostique, notable among these was Gérard Encausse
Gerard Encausse
thumb|Papus in a Martinist Lodge from la [[Belle époque]]Gerard Encausse , whose esoteric pseudonym was Papus, was the Spanish-born French physician, hypnotist, and popularizer of occultism, who founded the modern Martinist Order.- Overview :Gerard Encausse was born at Corunna in Spain on July 13,...
founder of the closely allied Martinist Order.
Anti-Masonic Period (1895-1897)
In 1895, Doinel resigned from the Eglise Gnostique, leaving the leadership of the church to a council of bishops. Doinel then converted to Roman Catholicism and began a collaboration with Léo TaxilLéo Taxil
Léo Taxil, originally Marie Joseph Gabriel Antoine Jogand-Pagès , was a French writer and journalist who became known for his strong anti-Catholic and anti-clerical views....
, one of many taken in by Taxil's anti-masonic hoax
Taxil hoax
The Taxil hoax was an 1890s hoax of exposure by Léo Taxil intended to mock not only Freemasonry, but also the Roman Catholic Church's opposition to it.-Taxil and Freemasonry:...
. Doinel wrote a book entitled Lucifer Unmasked, a book attacking freemasonry, under the name Jean Kostka, in which he associated many of his prior activities with the diabolic. A. E. Waite described Lucifer Unmasked and revealed the real identity of its author in Devil Worship in France his exposé of the anti-masonic movement Taxil inspired. Taxil unveiled his hoax in 1897.