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The Mysteries of Mithras (MOM) is an independent fraternal Initiatic Order which limits its membership to Master Masons who are members of (or recognised) by the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) and who are in good standing.

Similar to other Initiatic orders appendant to Freemasonry, such as the Masonic Order of Knights Templar who derive their name from the medieval Catholic military order Knights Templar, or the Masonic Red Cross of Constantine, who are inspired by the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George, The Mysteries of Mithras is likewise inspired by and takes inspiration from the lost and ancient Mysteries of the previously influential Roman Cult of the same name. However, the Mysteries of Mithras does not claim any direct lineal descent from the original Roman Mithraic Mystery Cult, instead taking inspiration from its teachings, symbols, and available evidence.

Members of the Order are known as a Frater, being Latin for Brother and meet in Legions presided over by a Pater or Father of the Legion who is responsible for the governing of the Legion and presides over the meetings, conferring the Grades of the Order upon the candidates.

After a meeting the Fratre retire to what is referred to as a Mensa, a ritual feast similar to what the ancient Mithraists would have done to dine together.

Grades of the Order

The ceremonies of the Mysteries of Mithras are designed to enlighten and compliment the Masonic journey Brethren are already on, but do not imitate the Craft or Royal Arch degrees. Instead providing a new story and structure, presented in a fraternal initiatic structure.

The ceremonies are delivered in the style of a Roman myth or legend, with the candidate representing Mithras at the centre of the trials, which are designed to be entertaining and enjoyable experiences, whilst being thought provoking, and powerful experiences at the same time.

The ceremonies of the Mysteries of Mithras are divided into the Terrestrial and the Celestial Grades and must be taken in sequence when a candidate is properly qualified.

The Terrestrial Grades

When members first join, they take the first Grade - The Trial of Corax, which is an introduction to the Mithraic Mysteries, the heritage of the ancient Order and a journey of self-discovery similar to what the ancient Roman Mithraists would have gone through.

The proceeding Grades are taken individually but form a trilogy, telling the symbolic journey of Mithras through many trials and tribulations.

The reigning Pater of each Legion is empowered to confer the first four Grades of the Order, with a minimum of six months required between the receipt of each Grade before a Frater can progress. Grade I - The Trial of Corax Grade II - The Trial of Nymphus Grade III - The Trial of Miles Grade IV - The Trial of Leo

The Celestial Grades

After a suitable period of time and when a Frater has participated and taken part in the ceremonies, he will be invited to join the Celestial Grades. Before he can take the first of these Celestial Grades - the Trial of Perses, he must first deliver a paper on the subject of the Order, it’s meaning, history and his interpretation of its symbols, meaning and history.

A minimum of one year must elapse between the receipt of these Grades and these ceremonies can only be conferred by the Pater Patrum, or by his representative by dispensation. Grade V - The Trial of Perses Grade VI - The Trial of Heliodromas Grade VII - The Trial of the Pater

The seventh grade, the Trial of the Pater (Master) is the final and most senior Grade which can be conferred on a member and can only be bestowed on those who preside over the governing of the Legion for the minimum of one year.

Structure of the Order

Local bodies of the Mysteries of Mithras are known as Legions and are presided over by the Pater (Master) of the Legion. When the final Grade of the Trial of the Pater is conferred on a member, he also takes on this office as well, and the responsibility of leading and governing his Legion.

Legions of the Mysteries of Mithras are presided over by the Legion’s Pater, who is assisted by three senior officers, namely; Cautes, Cautopates and the Herald of the Legion. Cautes & Cautopates assist the Pater and would be recognised by Freemasons as being similar to Lodge Wardens or Principles in a Holy Royal Arch Chapter.

The Herald assists the Candidate during the ceremony and would be described as being similar to a Deacon, whilst also taking on duties similar to a Lodge’s Senior Warden.

The Magister, which is Latin for Teacher, acts as the Director of Ceremonies. The Tabularius acts as the Treasurer of the Legion and the Scriba as the Legion’s Secretary.

All members are encouraged to participate in the ceremonies, with the Legion's officers being reserved for those who have attained the Celestial Grades. When a Frater has held these senior offices, he is then eligible for the highest office and Grade of Pater of the Legion.

The Legions of the Mysteries of Mithras do not come under a Provincial or Grand Lodge structure, but instead are supported by the Princeps Council, overseen by the Pater Patrum, meaning the Father of Fathers. This Council is made up of senior members of the Order and the Paters of the Legions for their year in office.

Officers of a Legion

The Pater – Head of the Legion

Pater Vicarium – The immediate Past Pater of the Legion and Chaplain.

Cautes - Senior Officer and assistant to the Pater

Cautopates - Senior Officer and assistant to the Pater

The Herald – Senior Officer and conductor of the candidates

Magister – Director of Ceremonies

Tabularius – Treasurer

Scriba – Secretary

Regalia

The regalia of the Order is a plain white gown worn by all members. When a Frater takes the Trial of Perses and joins the Celestial Grades, he is presented with a Celestial jewel, a five-pointed star with a tri-coloured (blue, white & red) ribbon.

When a member of the Celestial Grades takes on a senior office in his Legion, he is then entitled to wear a blue gown. Finally, when a Frater takes the Trial of the Pater and leads his Legion, he wears a crimson gown. When a Frater has been presented with a gown, he is entitled to wear this for his time in the Order.

Other regalia of the Order

Pater – ''A black collar with gold trim, decorated with celestial symbols, the symbol of the sun is also displayed. Attached to the collar is a jewel of the Order.''

Pater Vicarium - ''A black collar with gold trim, with the symbol of the sun displayed. Attached to the collar is a jewel of the Order.''

Cautes – A yellow sash with light blue trim, worn over the left shoulder and the symbol of Sulfur displayed.

Cautopates - A yellow sash with light blue trim, worn over the right shoulder and the symbol of Salt displayed.

Herald - ''A red collar with gold trim, with the symbol of Mercury displayed. Attached to the collar is a jewel of the Order.''

Membership

Membership to the Mysteries of Mithras is open only to regular Freemasons, who are also members of the Holy Royal Arch. They must belong to a Lodge under the United Grand Lodge of England or a Lodge in amity with UGLE.

Members pay an annual membership fee to their Legion, but as there are no Provincial or Grand Lodge fees, these are kept low and to a minimum.

History

The Mysteries of Mithras is a modern fraternal initiatic order open to Master Masons, being an alternative to their Masonic journey. The Mysteries of Mithras does not claim to have a direct link to the ancient Roman mystery cult, instead they take inspiration from the symbols and evidence left behind and have used this to rebuild a modern alternative. Neither is the Order a religious organisation, instead welcoming Brothers of all faiths to participate in the ceremonies.

Mithraism, also known as the Mithraic mysteries or the Cult of Mithras, was a Roman mystery religion centered on the God Mithras. The mysteries were popular among the Imperial Roman army from about the 1st to the 4th-century CE, who met in underground temples, now called mithraea (singular mithraeum), which survive in large numbers.

The cult appears to have had its centre in Rome and was popular throughout the western half of the empire, as far south as Roman Africa and Numidia, as far as Roman Dacia, as far north as Roman Britain, and to a lesser extent in Roman Syria in the east.

Worshippers of Mithras had a complex system of seven grades of initiation and communal ritual meals, still continued by the Mysteries of Mithras. Numerous archaeological finds, including meeting places, monuments, and artifacts, have contributed to modern knowledge about Mithraism throughout the Roman Empire