The Ekklesia Neoplatonismos Theourgia is a modern Gathering in the spirit of the 21st century Neoplatonic restoration, inspired by, and in the spiritual lineage of, Pythagoras, Plato, Aristotle, Hermes Trismegistus, our patron Iamblichus of Chalcis, Dionysius the Areopagite, and Marsilio Ficino. Neo- or late Platonism, is a religious form of Platonism founded by the Egyptian Plotinus in in the early to mid-3rd century C.E. and exemplified by the divine Iamblichus in the late 4th and early 5th centuries. Iamblichean spirituality includes philosophy, religious devotion, and both contemplative and theurgic practices. It includes a rich interpretive tradition which reads philosophy, scripture, and sacred stories through multiple lenses beyond the literal.
The Ekklesia’s primary practice are its nine sacred Mysteries, rooted in the tradition of Dionysius the Areopagite and grounded in a community guided by the Divine Mind while seeking personal and experiential knowledge of the soul, experience of the divine, and union with the highest principles. As such, we encompass three important principles: gnosis, theosis, and henosis. Gnosis, knowledge, or noera gnosis, intuitive knowledge, is the complete, non-verbal, experiential knowing of eternal and divine principles. Theosis is divinization or, in the words of Socrates, becoming like God, so far as possible (Theatetus, 176b). Henosis is union with the divine, from the personal daimon to the highest principles. Our devotional practices also include contemplation and mediation and theurgic prayer.
Our spirituality embraces and encourages the exploration of different religious traditions. In keeping with the divine Iamblichus’ interpretatio Graeca, we are an ecumenical Neoplatonic Gathering, welcoming any who wish to engage with the divine through a lens influenced by late Neoplatonism. Membership in the Ekklesia is not required to attend our serves or participate in our primary Mystery, that of Synaxis. The Ekklesia does not require the renunciation of other religious affiliations or practices. Embracing diversity, we do not discriminate on the basis of race, sexual orientation, gender, ethnicity, or nationality, or creed.
For more information, see our Statement of Principles and Catechism.