SITTING OFF THE BASQUE COAST of Spain, the tiny island of Gaztelugatxe would probably just be another tiny isle left off of maps and all but forgotten, were it not for the fantastical stone bridge and famed steps that connect its single hermitage to the mainland. Today, the crooked stone bridge that connects Gaztelugatxe to the shore […]
What does the homicides and suicides tell us about which among thousands of pacific new religious and esoteric movements may turn violent? by Massimo Introvigne Article 9 of 9 In the latest article, we insisted that external as well as internal factors contribute to explain the tragedy of the Order of the Solar Temple (OTS). […]
Few days after the 1994 tragedy, Swiss media had already to deal with the problem that it did not look like the average “cult.” by Massimo Introvigne Article 8 of 9. Was the Order of the Solar Temple (OTS) a stereotypical “cult”? Many of those who made this diagnosis did not know anything about the […]
The Swiss tragedy of 1994 was repeated in 1995 in France and in 1997 in Quebec. by Massimo Introvigne Article 7 of 9 As we saw in the previous articles of this series, the leadership and the core membership of the Order of the Solar Temple self-destroyed themselves through the homicides and suicides in Quebec […]
A Real Associação da Beira Interior, no dia 04 de Abril, organizou uma palestra comapoio da União de Freguesias de Póvoa de Rio de Moinhos e Caféde, no edifício daJunta de Freguesia de Caféde. O tema da palestra foi “A Ordem dos Templários –Caféde Terra Templária”, os oradores convidados foram o professor, historiador AndréGonçalves e […]
On October 5, 1994, the police found 48 dead bodies in the villages of Cheiry and Salvan. by Massimo Introvigne Article 6 of 9 In the previous article, we saw how internal dissent started manifesting itself in the Order of the Solar Temple (OTS) in 1993, the same year the Canadian police arrested some members […]
A procedure of elections was announced for the OSMTJ, that will take place this month of April. Since the procedure comes as a consequence of an illegitimate attempt made in 2020, if you wish to understand the details and how normalcy is restored, please do read the ANNOUNCEMENT made by the Independent Auditor that was […]
During his official March 2022 visit to Lisbon, Portugal, His Excellency Jorge Bom Jesus, Prime Minister of São Tomé e Príncipe, met in audience with Frei Fernando Ventura (Franciscan Capuchin friar) and a delegation of the Templar Corps International with TCI lawyer Marcelo Katter and TCI CEO Luis de Matos. São Tomé e Príncipe is […]
In 1993, the Solar Templars had to confront both a persisting disgruntled ex-member and suspicious Canadian police officers. by Massimo Introvigne Article 5 of 9 In the previous article, we discussed the foundation in 1984 of what would later be called the Order of the Solar Temple (OTS) and its relationships with Jacques Breyer, whom […]
By the late 1980s, the Solar Templars’ message was becoming increasingly apocalyptic. by Massimo Introvigne Article 4 of 9 In the previous installment of this series, we discussed the emergence of the French former jeweler and esoteric teacher Joseph Di Mambro within the milieu of neo-Templar organizations, and his encounter with the Belgian homeopathic doctor […]