Magus Of Strovolos Essay, Research Paper
The neophyte stood in front of the altar with a large divine imagine facing her. On the
alter was a folded white robe with a sword upon it. A initiated member of the inner circle
lit white candles and incense while another switched on a powerful twin light to
illuminate the divinely image. The highest member of the inner circle then took the
sword, and preceded with the ritual initiation of the neophyte into the inner circle of the
ancient mysteries.(Markides 124) This scene invokes the imagination to think of
Freemasonry, fraternal organizations and even Witchcraft. This is a ritual steeped in the
esoteric world of mysteries, but yet it is seemingly Christian! This is the world of Spyros
Sathi, the Magus of Strovolos. A man of great spirituality and wisdom. He is known in
his region as a great healer, and is highly revered for his gift. Today he coexists with the
Christian church who would have most definitely sent the inquisitioner after him in the
past. Although Spyros Sathi is a Christian holy man, is teachings are a swirl of Gnostic
and alchemical mysticism.
Mysticism is a spiritual discipline aiming at a union with the divine through
meditation and contemplation. (Webster?s 466) It has long played apart in religious
traditions in every part of the world. ?Those who claim to have actually experienced this
direct revelation constitutes an elite tradition which transcends the boundary lines of
individual religions, cultures and languages.? (Adhayananda 1) There are many Mystic
Schools of thought, but some of the more well known are; Ancient Egyptian, Cabalistic,
Tantric, Yogic, Sufism, Alchemy and Gnostic. Spyros Sathi, also known as Daskalos,
seems to work with all these traditions, especially Gnosticism. Of course I must add that
there?s always blurred boundaries between these traditions because they all inter link in
various aspects. Daskalos transcends these boundaries, and uses these traditions as an
artists would a palette.
Daskalos is greatly influenced by the Gnostic-Christian legacy. His teachings
mirror that of the Gnostic gospels. It was Simon Magus who first brought Gnosticism to
light in the apostolic era. (Picknett & Prince 316) The first clue to Gnostic thought in
Daskalos? teachings is his invisible master, Yohannan. ?Daskalos went on to explain that
Yohannan was none other than Jesus? disciple, John the evangelist, who spoke through
Daskalos? body.? (Maekides 6) The fact that John the evangelist is Daskalos? invisible
master is very significant because John the evangelist was supposedly recipient of Jesus?
secret teachings. (Pickett & Price 333) These teachings are what have come to light in
the ?Gnostic Gospels?, found in the Egyptian desert, and date back to the fourth
century.(Pagels xvi-xvii) These versions of the canonical gospels are very Gnostic in
verse, and it is well known that the New Testament was not complied until 325 CE at the
council of Nicaea by bias Catholic priest. Daskalos seems to be teaching those secret
teachings of Jesus, which greatly differ from the current popular Christian doctrines.
Another apparent correlation between gnosticism and Daskalos? teachings is the
way each views the role of Judas Iscariot?s betrayal of Jesus. In a Gnostic writing, Judas
was held to be a man far advanced in the gnosis. ?Judas?s ?betrayal? was in fact an act of
complicity with Christ?s purpose, and he thus contributed to the scheme of salvation.?
(Holroyd 48) Daskalos has some very similar words about Judas; ?The role of Judas is
something within the Divine Plan because it facilitates its unfolding.? (Markides 115)
Although not as pronounced, but still worth mentioning is how the apostle Peter is
portrayed.
?I remember Peter was rough-looking, blondish, with heavy arms. He always
held a stick, chasing people away from Jesus. Peter was envious of Yohannan
because of his education. He apparently had an inferiority complex because
he was illiterate. I remember that Yahannan would smile and shake his head
whenever he would see Peter with the stick in his hand driving people and
children away from master.? (Markides 120)
Although Daskalos is not informing us of some great new revelation in the personality of
Peter , he has always been viewed as , for lack of better words, the ?macho man? of the
disciples, the fact that Daskalos makes this statement in reference to John the evangelist
is! Lynn Pickett and Clive Prince write about the great occult scholar A.E. Waite, in their
book, The Templar Revelation:
?The presence of a secret tradition within Christianity that was behind the
whole concept of legends also recognize the alchemical, hermetic and
Gnostic elements in the stories.? Although he [Waite] was certain that there
are strong hints about the existence of such a ?hidden church? in the Grail
legends, he does not come to any firm conclusion about its nature, but he
does give a prominent place to what he called the ?Johannine Tradition?. He
refers to a long-held idea in esoteric circles of a mystical school of
Christianity that was founded by John the Evangelist, based on the secret
teachings he had been given by Jesus. This arcane knowledge did nor appear
in the outward or exoteric Christianity that came down through the teachings
of Peter.? (Picknett & Prince122)
Could Daskalos be of this same school of thought? I think there is some indications of
this subtly hidden in Daskalos? teachings.
Daskalos also uses alchemical symbolism in his teachings. He talks about
transmuting silver into gold and vice-versa. He seems to be explaining a universal,
metaphysical law on personal transformation. He tells a story of someone he knew that
heard he was able to make gold. ?After learning of the experiment,[this person] knocked
at his door carrying along several bars of lead. He wanted Daskalos to transform them
into gold. Daskalos got angry and sent him away.? (Markides 194) Being that Daskalos
got angry at this person shows that there is a underlying message of alchemy. More than
just simply creating gold out of lead. This has always been the lore of the Alchemist; to
transmute lead into gold, but there?s an underlying message here. ?It was made very plain
that alchemy was just as much to do with self-mastery as with mastery of the physical
laws of nature, and that neither could be achieved without patience, observation and
devotion.? (Gilchrist 7) Although Daskalos can actually transmute metals into gold, that
is not is point. His point is that he uses the analogy of transforming something into gold
as a metaphor for self transformation or enlightenment.
Daskalos, the Magus of Strovolos carried on an age-old tradition of esoteric
Christian mysteries, and his teachings are still being taught by faithful followers. His
teachings were most likely in the esoteric tradition for a reason. Could it have posed a
direct threat to the Catholic and Orthodox Churches? Gnosticism, along with other
traditions like alchemy have long been deemed to be heresies to the church. Daskalos
carried on this Gnostic message in the esoteric art in order that the truth remained
obtainable for those who seek it! As Jesus himself put it so elegantly; ?and you will
know the truth, and the truth will make you free.? (John 8:32)
Abhayananda, S. History of Mysticism: The unchanging Testament. Olympia: Atma Books, 1937.
Gilchrist, Cherry. The Elements of Alchemy. Rockport: Element Books, Inc., 1991
Holroyd, Stuart. The Elements of Gnosticism. Rockport: Element Books, Inc., 1994..
Pagels, Elaine. The Gnostic Gospels. New York: Vintage Books , 1979
Markides, Kyriacos C. The Magus of Strovolos. London: Penguin Books Ltd., 1985
Picknett, Lynn., and Clive Prince. The Templar Revelation: Secret Guardians of the Indentity of
Christ. New York: Touchstone, 1998.
?Mysticism.? Webster?s New World College Dictionary. 1997 ed.
The Holy Bible. Revised Standard Version. New York: Thomas Nelson & Sons, 1952.