WANDERING BISHOPS 8
WANDERING BISHOPS 9 PREFACE Mar Yeshua, the Master Jesus, initiated his Mebasrim or <strong>Apostles</strong> into various levels and degrees <strong>of</strong> spiritual power and knowledge. This has always been done by Masters <strong>of</strong> all traditions, who tailored their teachings to the needs <strong>of</strong> each student. Thus it seems that there was not one original and monolithic “Apostolic Gnosis” given to any specific number <strong>of</strong> chelas or closest disciples, but several different kinds and levels <strong>of</strong> spiritual work done according to need and ability. Evidence from the <strong>New</strong> Testament and other early Christian writings like the gospels <strong>of</strong> Thomas, Mary, and Secret Mark indicate that Jesus transmitted high Messianic and Merkabah Gnosis to his most advanced disciples through techniques similar to those used in the contemporary Egyptian Mysteries <strong>of</strong> Hermes Trismegistus. Mary, for example, was raised through the Seven Heavens into the Eighth, like the Brothers <strong>of</strong> the Hermetic Ogdoad, while James, Peter, and John were taught how to do an all-night vigil on a hilltop to enter into visions and communion with great Jewish Masters like Moses and Elijah. Others, like the young man in Secret Mark, were initiated one at a time into the Mysteries <strong>of</strong> the Messianic Malkuth by means <strong>of</strong> a dynamic ritual that lasted from sunset to sunrise. To a larger circle <strong>of</strong> <strong>Apostles</strong> he explained the inner meanings <strong>of</strong> his parables, and to an even larger circle his transmitted the power <strong>of</strong> exorcism. Jesus initiated his closest disciples into <strong>Apostles</strong>hip through chrismation and laying-on <strong>of</strong> hands, which was the traditional Jewish anointing for Kingship or High Priesthood now translated into Messianic terms, and also by exsufflation or breathing Divine Spirit into the Crown <strong>of</strong> the head. Chrismation is the use <strong>of</strong> Consecrated olive or other oil that is either poured on the Crown or applied upon the hands before they are laid upon the Crown. <strong>The</strong> Greek title Christ is from the root chrism-, which means “oil.” Thus a Christ is “One who has been Anointed both Spiritual King and High Priest.” <strong>The</strong> High Priesthood was interpreted in the earliest Christian writings to be that <strong>of</strong> Melchizedek, the eternal High Priest <strong>of</strong> YHWH who served Abraham—Father and Patriarch <strong>of</strong> Israel--sacred Bread and Wine in the Judean desert long before Moses and Aaron were born. Thus he was considered to be the High Priest <strong>of</strong> God for Jews, gentiles, and all humanity. It was probably that High Priesthood that James, the Brother <strong>of</strong> Jesus, is said to have exercised in the Holy <strong>of</strong> Holies on the Day <strong>of</strong> Atonement. Historically, James the Just or Zaddik was the first collegially elected “Pope,” Primate, or Head Apostle. <strong>The</strong>re can be no doubt that the intention <strong>of</strong> the Apostolic Consecration was to initiate disciples into the Imitatio Christi or “Imitation <strong>of</strong> Christ.” <strong>The</strong>y were sent into the world “even as the Father has sent me.” However, recent scholarship shows that Messianic Priesthood was the other important aspect <strong>of</strong> the Episcopate or Office <strong>of</strong> Bishop. Even today all Apostolic Priests are ordained with the words, “Thou art a Priest forever, after the Order <strong>of</strong> Melchizedek.” Only <strong>Bishops</strong> can ordain Priests, Deacons, or members <strong>of</strong> lower Apostolic orders, which function only by virtue <strong>of</strong> the Apostolic authority <strong>of</strong> the Bishop and which can, at the Bishop’s discretion, be suspended or revoked. However, the Ordination itself cannot, by Western Catholic Augustinian rules, be undone. An ordinand can present him/herself to another Bishop for service. In this case he/she will request Letters Dimissory, which transfer Apostolic oversight to another Bishop who may restore the sacred functions <strong>of</strong> an <strong>of</strong>fice like that <strong>of</strong> Priest or Deacon.