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.
On this brand new edition of Vestiges of Christianity, Bishop Bryan Ouellette will revisit the authentic metaphysical properties of the subject of reincarnation and explore its compatibility with Christianity. Is reincarnation an erroneous myth spawned out from eastern religion or can it be reconciled with Christian soteriological dependence upon having one life and one life only?
One of the most frequently asked questions we get involves how to protect against spiritual attachment and demonic attack. On this brand new episode, Bishop Bryan Ouellette discusses how to successfully protect yourself while also warning against paranormal investigation frauds that claim to offer such protection.
In 1954, a Republican Congress, along with a Republican president, Dwight D. Eisenhower, passed a piece of legislation that prohibits federally tax-exempt 501(c)(3)'s from participating in a political campaign [either in support of or opposition to any candidate]. In particular, if ministers were to endorse or oppose a candidate from the pulpit, they would put at risk their tax-exempt status. It would be called the Johnson Amendment and it is still in force to this day.
With the now dramatic shift in political perspective, these old conservative values no longer hold true, as many Republicans want the Johnson Amendment repealed. If they succeed, the line between Church and State will blur.
Is the Amendment a bad thing for Christianity or does it protect Christianity from inching back ever closer into the realm of theocracy? Find out what Bishop Bryan Ouellette and Deacon Thomas Moreland have to say about it on this edition of Vestiges of Christianity.
Last week, Bishop Bryan Ouellette and Deacon Thomas Moreland outlined the evils inherent within the Women's March movement and explained how closely it relates to the atrocity of abortion. This week they discuss how the Church attempts to help those who have had an abortion reconcile themselves to God on both an emotional and spiritual level.
If you or anyone you know has participated in an abortion, you will not want to miss this show.
This past inauguration of the President of the United States spawned protests of various sorts against what is essentially seen by its supporters to be a fight against "conservative values." Women's March was perhaps the most prolific, bringing out thousands of people in dozens of cities across the United States. On the surface, they have claimed that this March represents a protest in favor of human rights, but what is not being recognized is the strong hypocrisy at the root of the movement.
On this episode of Vestiges of Christianity, Bishop Bryan Ouellette is joined by Deacon Thomas Moreland as they discuss the moral and ethical problems associated with Women's March and everything it apparently stands for. Should Catholics and Christians join in the movement? Or is this activity just another deception of extremist Progressive Liberalism. This and more! Tune in!
Bishop Bryan Ouellette discusses the four primary types of "demons" that an exorcist will encounter in his ministry. Contrary to popular belief, not all demons are "Satanic." In fact, in most cases, they will be something entirely different and thus will require a completely different solution for those they are attacking. Find out what they are on the next edition of Vestiges of Christianity.
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.
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.
Today, on this special two-segment episode of Vestiges of Christianity, Bishop Bryan Ouellette welcomes Deacon Thomas Moreland to the show to discuss the results of the presidential election. It has certainly been one of the most controversial elections in U.S. history. How should the world respond now that the results are in?
During the second segment, they will discuss the controversial new Louisiana law that protects priests from being mandatory reporters for child abuse, thus protecting the sanctity of the Seal of Confession. They will talk in detail about the nature of the Seal of Confession and the Sacrament of Reconciliation in general. Should priests be manditory reporters? Why is the Seal of Confession such a big deal? Find out today!
Today, Bishop Bryan Ouellette offers some insight into what a Christian's role should be regarding the upcoming, and very controversial, presidential election. He will look at the primary issues involved (abortion and health care) and discuss how Christians should approach them. He will also discuss what role prayer plays in this process, including how much God involves himself in the affairs of men.
On this new series of Vestiges of Christianity, Bishop Bryan Ouellette takes questions he receives from the audience through email/social media and answers them on the air. Using both a theological and mystical framework, Bishop Bryan provides compelling answers to your challenging inquiries.
This edition will be be tackling the following two questions:
1. Will the Devil ever be completely destroyed?
2. Should Christian teenagers have boyfriends/girlfriends?
Exorcist Bishop Bryan D. Ouellette of the Sacred Order of St. Michael the Archangel (Order of Exorcists) and Presiding Bishop of the autocephalous Holy Nicholean Catholic Church continues his previous lecture on Exorcism by breaking down the identity of Satan on a theological, mythological, and esoteric level. By building upon the mystical foundation of what he calls "archetypal patterns," Bishop Bryan will expose Satan for what he really is. Once the mask is off, will we discover Lucifer the Fallen Angel or ultimately come face to face with the darkness within ourselves?
After having discovered that some Roman Catholic institutions are teaching that angels are without free will and by request from the audience, Bishop Bryan sheds light on the subject of angels. What is an angel exactly? Do they share our ability to make decisions or are they bound so closely to the Will of God that they are without freedom? On this episode of Vestiges of Christianity, we will not only discuss what the conventional theology teaches us about this subject, but we will also take it further into a metaphysical explanation for what angels are in truth and in nature.
On this final segment of this "Who is Satan" series, Bishop Bryan provides his final contention that ultimately answers this very question. We have seen how the conventional theology rectifies the many problems of Satan's fundamental identity. We have also explored the more enlightened esoteric/mystical considerations. Now we draft our response to the ancient question of Who Satan is and where he came from.
Last time Bishop Bryan introduced you to the problematic translations that gave rise to both Jesus and Satan being referred to under the same Biblical reference (i.e., satan {Hebrew for accuser} lucifer {Latin for Morning Star/Light-bearer} with the lower cases intentional). On Part 2, he will discuss the theological, esoteric, and mystical implications of this seemingly benign issue of semantics. Is the traditional interpretation correct? Is this just a play on Satan wanting to be worshiped like God? Is it simply an awkward translation problem? Or is there something deeper at work that only a reference to Hindu emanations can clarify? Find out!
Christians all over the world think they understand the concept of the devil. Modern theology seems to present a straightforward position on Satan, often represented as Lucifer, the fallen angel. Yet, few truly understand how the ancient Jewish world-view approached the concept of Satan. In fact, Orthodox Christian theology presents us with a disturbing notion, that Christ and Satan may very well be two sides of the same Divine emanation, not unlike the Hindu concept of Shiva and his consort Kali! Is this heresy? Or just an example of how little modern Christians understand about their own theology?
Prepare yourselves. Bishop Bryan is about to shake up your Christian paradigm forever.
Bishop Bryan discusses both the conventional and esoteric views on the nature of the Holy Trinity. Who is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? How do they relate to each other? Can Hinduism and Gnosticism shed some light on the nature of this Christian reality? Find out on this episode of Vestiges of Christianity.
It is unfortunate that so many Christians equate salvation with eternal life, paradise in heaven, and an end to suffering, but fail to see salvation's true purpose, which is absolute intimacy with God. On this edition of Vestiges of Christianity, Bishop Bryan Ouellette will discuss what salvation really means. Is Eternal Life a reward for a life well-lived or is it merely a consequence of entering into a perfect union with God?
+Bryan D. Ouellette, Ph.D., SOSM is a semi-retired bi-ritual autocephalous eastern Orthodox/western Catholic bishop and exorcist for the Order of St. Michael the Archangel also currently offering private instruction in Gedo Zen, meditation, mysticism, prayer, and Christian esotericism. Through his commitment to the clerical life, Bishop Ouellette has brought the theological diversity of the early Church to our contemporary world. Formulating a specific praxis, he has established programs for his monks, clergy, and students that offer a direct and tangible relationship with God, one that is based primarily on experience rather than on a faith in what is often left to unjustified speculation.
Bishop Ouellette is a modern, revolutionary Catholic bishop with an unyielding respect for ancient tradition; yet, he advocates strongly for the evolution of the Church and for that of spirituality itself. He presently holds the Office of Patriarch for the esoteric religious organizations: the Holy Nicholean Catholic and the Holy Imperial Russian Orthodox Churches. These Churches function internally, behind the Christian cloister, hidden far away within the heart of contemplative monasticism.
We are an autocephalous Patriarchate operating under the pastoral apostolic care of Sovereign Patriarch Nicholas III. Our tradition exists to heal the wounds of division so prevalent today within the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. Our special charism is to inspire a revival of ecumenism that respects all individual traditions of the Body of Christ, the Church.
Holy Imperial Russian Orthodox Church
The Holy Imperial Russian Orthodox Church is an autocephalous reestablishment of the true Imperial Church of Rusland that existed before the fall of the Russian Tsars in 1917. Based on more than 1,000 years of tradition, our church wishes to reawaken the image of Russian Christianity founded upon the inspirations of Tsar Peter the Great, whose current heir, Mikhail Ivan Freyovich Yngling-Romanov {Tsar Peter Alexander Mikhailovich Romanov}, is the first to appoint a Patriarch to the Imperial Church since the 18th Century.
Posts
