Who We Are

Vestiges of Christianity is a news blog maintained under the direction of Bishop Bryan D. Ouellette, Ph.D., SOSM. Our goal is to reconcile ancient Christian theology with contemporary orthodox Christian practices and understandings. Our praxis carries with it a strong eastern liturgical focus while maintaining a freedom of spirituality that is true to ancient Christian ideology. We welcome anyone who desires to discover gnosis through the expression of early Christianity. We use the word "gnosis" with the intention to reflect its original meaning of soteriological knowledge, mystical wisdom and spiritual realization. While we encourage a working philosophical comprehension of Classical Gnosticism from antiquity, we are not a Gnostic or reconstructionist church. Our theology is orthodox, our approach, furthermore, is mystically liberating.

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Demonology Series: Possession or Mental Illness?


The Holy Nicholean Catholic Church receives on average 4-6 cases of potential demonic possession a month. Its parent ministry, The Order of Exorcists, receives hundreds of cases each year. Yet, only a very few of these cases will result in a confirmed possession after they are investigated. The rest are usually the result of some other kind of problem.

Today, Bishop Bryan Ouellette is joined, once again, by co-host Deacon Thomas Moreland to talk about the assessment protocols of the Order of Exorcists. How does an exorcist determine if a possession is real or merely a psychological disorder? Find out on this edition of Vestiges of Christianity. 

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Closed or Open Communion?

Today, Deacon Thomas Moreland joins us once again to discuss the issue of a closed communion with Bishop Bryan Ouellette. Mainstream Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox systems have stood by a long history of maintaining a closed communion, but in recent times, some leaders in the Roman Catholic Church have questioned the policy and would like to see Roman Catholics eventually offering the Eucharist to their protestant, non-Catholic Christian brethren. 

Should all Catholic Churches (Roman and Independent) move to adopt a tradition of open communion? What would Jesus do? This and more on the next new edition of Vestiges of Christianity.