Ordre Reaux Croix is a Martinist order established in 2002, on the 250th anniversary of the founding of the Elus Cohens of Martinez de Pasqually. ORC is an international Order, with its Grand Lodge in Norway, and jurisdictions in Sweden, United States, Canada, Argentina, Spain, Greece, Brazil and England.
Organisation
Ordre Reaux Croix distinguishes itself from other contemporary Martinist orders, in two ways: firstly, in that it is specifically dedicated to research, implementation and publication of Martinist literature, also of historical relevance in academic circles; secondly in that it operates all three previous forms of Martinism under one banner, an approach to the tradition previously unknown by esoteric scholars.
ORC's historical research
Attention is paid to translating and making public the hitherto forgotten works of the Russian Martinists, such as the printer and statesman Ivan Vladimirovich Lopukhin and the philanthropist Nikolay Novikov, who introduced the age of Enlightenment to Russia. Apart from being prolific writers and reformers of the late Tsarist regime, their contributions to literary, scholarly and social developments, with the establishment of printing presses, public schools and hospitals for the poor. These authors' works are not readily available in English, but have been placed in the public domain on the order's webpage.
Codependency of the Martinist traditions within the ORC
Since the conception of what is commonly referred to as Martinism, all the original ways that the tradition has been operated have been gathered and reworked into a single initiatic body where every branch is codependent on the others.
The mysticism of Saint-Martins, as organized by Papus
– 'The Way of the Heart' – is the mystical and contemplative branch of the ORC, from whose roots the two other branches of the order spring. This is the inner path, working toward the universal reintegration of mankind.
The teachings of the V.C. are Christian in nature and based directly upon the works of Louis Claude de Saint-Martin, who wrote under the name the Unknown Philosopher. Saint-Martin was born in a noble family in Amboise, France, on 18 January 1743. He became one of Martinez de Pasqually's students in the Elus Cohen and also his close friend and secretary. St Martin was a Freemason and an Elus Cohen for many years. He decided to leave both these Orders and the praxis of theurgy in order to work in a purely mystical way. He began to instruct students in his own teachings, which were mainly influenced by Pasqually's doctrine, but later on also inspired by the writings of the Christian mystic Jakob Böhme. Saint-Martin died on 13 October 1803, leaving behind a great number of students spread across Europe, passing on the teachings through the centuries.
The Summit of these teachings is the initiation Saint-Martin describes in this way:
The pathway to this state of mind is given to the aspirant through a series of degrees in the manner adopted by Papus at the end of the 19th century. The ORC scale of the rituals, has however been reformed, to first purge them of most of the Masonic style, and has incorporated more Christian elements, and older teachings, more specifically from the original doctrine of St Martin, and the Russian legacy he left behind him. The inner circle of ORC is continuously writing new material based upon their studies and experience of attainment. It is loyal to the teachings and symbolic language of its founding fathers and the past masters, and does not incorporate other branches of esotericism not related to Martinism.
Elus Cohens
Pasqually's system, the oldest magical order in history
Elus Cohen is the theurgical branch of the order, working with magical ceremonies and doctrines deriving from the founder of the tradition, Martinez de Pasqually.
The aim of the order is to mend the wounds that mankind brought upon himself after falling from grace. Mankind will retake his former and right position in the celestial hierarchies by the aid of Christ the repairer and redeemer, and the work of theurgical operations. The work is further to reintegrate everything into its former virtues and powers, to the greater glory of the Lord God.
The initiate learns many techniques and methods in this work: among the most important is prayer, invocations of God and his agents and angels, and exorcisms and banishing of the Adversary and his agents.