A Companion is someone who is a spiritual friend and student of a Gnostic Priest, Priestess, Elder or Tau.  A Tzaddik (Spiritual Teacher) does not ask the student to become a Companion, but instead the student must come to their teacher and request to become a Companion.  It is not the way of the Tradition to coerce or even influence a potential student to our spiritual path.  It is totally the choice of the student and it is required that they own their own path.  Thus it is their responsibility to seek out the teacher.  This is one of the first practices of the student as they explore their intention and desire for the spiritual life.

 

Once a Companion is accepted by his or her Tzaddik, over time the student will receive Initiation and then Right of Reception.  These are outer and inner forms of initiation within the tradition that is both to recognize the student's ongoing journey toward enlightenment and a vehicle of light transmission.

Mark Williams has had a long standing interest in spirituality, especially within the Christian stream, and has aspired to ordination for many years. His spiritual inclination has taken him on an adventure through many different streams of wisdom, and even lead to acquiring his Master’s Degree in Theology, following a Bachelor’s in Computer Science. In 2003 Mark stumbled upon the Sophian Gnostic lineage and began the Magdalene Circle of Ecclesia Pistis Sophia shortly thereafter; now, having received his ordination as a Gnostic and Apostolic Priest, he has relocated to Austin Texas and has began a new branch of Magdalene Circle there.  Mark is currently pursuing a PhD in Theology from Sancta Sophia Seminary in Oklahoma.
 

Magdalene Circle is an affiliate of Ecclesia Pistis Sophia.   Ecclesia Pistis Sophia (Body of Faith Wisdom) is the Church arm of the Sophian Gnostic Tradition.  Tau Malachi is the lineage holder of the Tradition and the Bishop presiding over Ecclesia Pistis Sophia.  The lineage can be reached at the following site:

http://www.sophian.org - Sophia Fellowship and Ecclesia Pistis Sophia Website

The Sophian lineage of Gnostic Christianity is composed of various “orders,” which are something like Tantra Yogas one might find in Vajrayana (Esoteric Buddhism) – hence, the orders are composed of a view, along with teachings and practices that form a vehicle through which something of the enlightenment experience or gnostic experience might transpire.
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