Btw., the Peter Anson book recommended below, is, I believe, called “Bishops at Large”. It was republished a few years ago, and should be widely available.
Arild
From: Society for The Academic Study of Magic [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Caroline Tully
Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2011 12:33 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [ACADEMIC-STUDY-MAGIC] Titles
Thanks! Interesting.
From: Society for The Academic Study of Magic [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of David Robertson
Sent: Monday, 10 January 2011 7:24 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [ACADEMIC-STUDY-MAGIC] Titles
Hi Caroline,
Episcopi Vagantes refers to bishops who have a (supposedly) valid Catholic consecration but no chair. Most of these lines of succession come from the Old Catholic movement, which originates in the Breakaway Dutch Old Church in 1724. Jean Bricaud was consecrated in 1913 into the succession of Old Catholic Bishop Joseph René Vilatte, granting the Ecclessia Gnostica Universal valid apostolic succession. He, in turn, consecrated Theodor Reuss in 1919, who drew the EGU into the OTO. The OTO today largely feels this succession is irrelevant for a body devoted to Thelema, not Christianity, yet OTO bishops remain technically Episcopi Vagantes.
Good sources on these subjects:
Pearson, J. (2007) Wicca and the Christian Heritage: Ritual, Sex and Magic.
Anson (1961) Wandering Bishops.
Urban, H. B. (2006). Magia Sexualis: Sex, Magic, and Liberation in Modern Western Esotericism.
König, P-R (1994) "Stranded Bishops." http://user.cyberlink.ch/~koenig/bishops.htm
Cheers, David Robertson
----- Original Message -----
From: [log in to unmask]">Caroline Tully
Sent: Sunday, January 09, 2011 11:23 PM
Subject: Re: [ACADEMIC-STUDY-MAGIC] Titles
I know a few people (OTO members) claiming to be episcopi vagantes which means ‘Wandering Bishops’ doesn’t it…. I don’t know if an OTO Bishop, which they do have as a title, is meant to be the same thing as a Wandering Bishop,… probably not, I can’t keep up with all these (crazy) lineages!
~Caroline.
From: Society for The Academic Study of Magic [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Sue/Shya
Sent: Monday, 10 January 2011 8:47 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [ACADEMIC-STUDY-MAGIC] Titles
Joanne Pearson's book, Wicca and the Christian Heritage, contains a raft of absolutely delightful titles used by various Christian heterodox bishops (episcopi vagantes): Prince-Patriarch, Catholicos, Primate, Hierarch, Pontifex etc. Gardner was ordained into one of these churches (most without a congregation.)
Plain old Shya
----- Original Message -----
From: [log in to unmask]">Pearce, Michael
Sent: Saturday, January 08, 2011 10:39 PM
Subject: Re: [ACADEMIC-STUDY-MAGIC] ACADEMIC-STUDY-MAGIC Digest - 7 Jan 2011 to 8 Jan 2011 (#2011-7)
I'm pretty sure that contemporary neo-pagan title-mongering originates from
nineteenth century Freemasonry, which in the American system was (and is)
replete with Grand poo-bah's of this and that, equaled only in grandeur by
their female counterparts in the Order of the Eastern Star. Since the Golden
Dawn ritual comes straight out of Freemasonry, and many magical groups
descend from Golden Dawn, it seems reasonable to think that the fancy titles
followed the pedigree of the organizations and expanded accordingly.