"The principle of a Gnostic Church is to be undogmatic, because a Church of Gnosis, that is of Wisdom, by its very nature, is one of constant evolution." – Robert Ambelain, in a letter dated 30 May 1966.

When it comes to religious or spiritual principles, it is important to begin by clarifying a few definitions. Firstly, what follows are a series of "Doctrines" as presented by the Gnostic Church from its renaissance in 1890. What we mean by the term doctrine is "a body of principles presented for consideration." Doctrine is not to be confused with "dogma", since "dogmatic" connotes "an authoritative or arrogant assertion of unproved principles." The principles presented here have been generally accepted by the various Synods of Bishops presiding over the various churches issuing forth from the original Église Gnostique of Doinel. These principles are not asserted to the exclusion or extinction of individual Gnosis, but they allow us to operate from a common basis of understanding, reinforcing the egregore of our heritage.

It is our hope that by presenting this information, you will be able to see the evolution of our Church in recent years – particularly in light of our coming into possession of the Apostolic Succession and the re-affirmation of our Church as one whose orientation is toward Christian Gnosis.

At its origin, the renaissance of our Church was based upon a spiritual contact from a Cathar/Albigensian Synod who authorized Jules Doinel, in ecclesia Tau Valentin II, to re-establish the Church of the Paraclete. This Church would be Gnostic in nature, using the teachings of three great doctors of the Gnosis, Simon Magus, Basilides and Valentinus. We have provided for you here, the original Catechism of Jules Doinel for comparison and study.

The early development of the Gnostic Church in its present incarnation changed both scope and focus as of 1895 when Doinel abdicated as Patriarch. And when, in 1913 upon the consecration of Jean Bricaud, our Church received the Apostolic Succession of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch, the focus became explicitly one of Christian Gnosis, but not to the exclusion of extra-canonical, apocryphal or "Gnostic" texts from other sources. This change in focus is evident when one reads the Esoteric Christian Doctrine as prepared by Jean Bricaud for the Gnostic Church.

The document is preceded by a Declaration of Principles outlining the purpose and orientation of the Church, immediately followed by the Gnostic and Christian Doctrine. We pray to the Christos Sother Logos that this presentation may be of use and interest to you on your way until the consummation of all consummations takes place. Amen.

- prepared by T. Vincent II in the 112th year of the Gnosis Restored