When it comes to secret societies, most people think of Freemasons. But there is a more mysterious brotherhood - the "Knights of the Rose and the Cross" or otherwise, the Rosicrucians. All information about this secret society is associated with mysticism. Many experts are still lost in definitions of how Freemasonry differs from Rosicrucianism. Legends say that Christian Rosenkreutz became the founder of the brotherhood in the 17th century. But it is still unknown if this person is a real person or a fictional historical character.
Let's assume that Christian Rosicrucian really existed. Then let's dwell on the known information about him. Christian was born in 1378, in a German noble family. As a child, he was sent to be raised in a monastery. At the age of 16, he managed to go on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The road was long. On the way, he met with the followers of the teachings of the Caballa, who initiated him into the knowledge of the secret teachings. He went to Morocco, where for two years he mastered the mystical knowledge of the ancient East.
After returning to Europe, Christian tried to share his knowledge with theologians, but they refused to accept the teachings that Christian Rosenkreuz propagated. Returning to his monastery in Germany, Rosenkreutz founded the Brotherhood of the Rose and Cross in 1407. At first, Christian's closest friends became its participants. It is believed that Rosenkreutz died in 1484. The secret place of his burial was found only in 1604. The crypt contained several magical artifacts and written treatises. On the basis of these treatises, later, manifestos on the Rosicrucians were published. Immediately after the publication of these records, the mystical society became popular with influential people in Europe. The Church opposed the spread of the teachings of the Rosicrucians and, with the hands of the Jesuit order, began to persecute members of the Brotherhood of the Rose and Cross. Until the mid-17th century, the Rosicrucians were supported by Protestants, often hiding them in their midst.
Time passed. Rosicrucian organizations functioned in many countries of the world. Often the secret activities of the Rosicrucians were associated with various conspiracy theories: for example, the assassination of Emperor Peter III and the history of the transfer of the Russian throne to Catherine II or the events of the October Revolution of 1917. According to the teachings of the Rosicrucians, all the activities of the secret society were mystical, not practical. It is believed that the Rosicrucians became predecessors, mentors and even associates of the Illuminati, Freemasons and other secret movements with the goal of establishing a new world order.
In Russia, the 18th century was called the "German" century. This was facilitated by two empresses named Catherine, who ruled the Russian state at the beginning and end of the century. Another empress, Anna Ioanovna, who lived 20 years in a German environment, can also be considered German by nationality. And Peter III came from the Oldenburg branch, belonging to the German dynasty. During the “German” century, Germans came to Russia en masse, occupying key positions in the system of government. They brought "with them" to Russia and Freemasonry, including Rosicrucianism. It is believed that the first "branch" of the Rosicrucians began to function in Russia in 1782 and was led by the German Schwartz. The organization was based on the Germans, they were the teachers and spiritual mentors working with the Russian followers of Christian Rosicrucier. At first, the Russian Rosicrucians called their society the "Order of the Golden Rose Cross" and acted within the Masonic lodge. In a short time, Schwartz managed to select people capable and interested in working among the Rosicrucians. But the Russian Rosicrucians did not manage to take any serious steps: the death of Schwartz and the departure of all German instructors actually paralyzed the work of the Brotherhood.
After some time, Catherine II began to fight all secret societies, seeing in their activities a threat to her power. It so happened that the Rosicrucians suffered the most: their printing houses were destroyed, their literature was confiscated, the leader was imprisoned in the Schlisserburg fortress, and the members of the Brotherhood were expelled outside the capital. Throughout the 19th century, Russian, significantly thinned, Rosicrucian branches operated within numerous Masonic lodges. The brotherhood became active during the Russian revolutions, but the Russian members of the brotherhood of the Rose and Cross had practically nothing to do with the real Rosicrucians, moreover, they had no connection with the international Rosicrucian society. The Russian Rosicrucians were only theoreticians and made attempts to combine philosophical, mystical and Christian principles. Nevertheless,on the eve of World War II, the Rosicrucians were accused of spying for Germany, after which they were arrested, and their leader, Boris Zubakin, was shot.
And at this time in Germany, an operation was carried out under the code name "Rose and Cross". The Ahnenerbe Institute was looking for the ancient heritage of the Rosicrucian Order. The Germans knew that the members of the order were outstanding alchemists, knew how to control a person through the energy shell, and also possessed the ability to astral travel of a person's soul to other worlds. They conducted experiments on energy body control using prisoners from concentration camps. And although the Nazis achieved certain results, they failed to ensure eternal life for any of the leaders of the fascist Reich.
A report from the Ahnenerbe staff to Heinrich Himmler said that the results of the Rosicrucian program were encouraging, especially in the area of developing the ability to control the senses. Scientists claimed that they were developing methods that would improve the fighting efficiency of German soldiers. Despite such a victorious report, the Rosicrucian developments never reached the German soldiers. For the Germans, the attempt to repeat the successes of the Rosicrucian alchemists ended in failure. Germany needed gold to wage war, which they hoped to obtain by creating a substance with the properties of a "philosopher's stone", and also, using the experience of the Rosicrucians, by chemical reactions, the Germans wanted to obtain the metals necessary for the production of military equipment. Not all experiments were unsuccessful, and there were encouraging results. One thing is clear if the Ahnenerbe staff had been given more time for research - the result of the war could have been different.
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Today the question of whether the Rosicrucians in Russia are the heirs of the secret mystical Brotherhood of the Rose and the Cross remains open. There are currently 2 Rosicrucian organizations operating on Russian territory. The first is called - "The ancient mystical order of the Rose and the Cross", they define their main task with the following words - "The widest tolerance with the strictest independence." The second is the International School of the Golden Rosicrucian. Several hundred followers of the Rosicrucian are registered in it. The society carries out an enormous work in promoting the teachings among the young generation (allegorical fairy tales are used), and also conducts temple services using special rituals.
The Rosicrucians have their own legends. So they often refer to the allegedly available documents that the Rosicrucian order existed already in 1188. Then one of the groups of the Priory of Zion received the name "The Order of the True Cross and Rose". Moreover, the Rosicrucians claim that the history of the Rosicrucians goes back to the time of the construction of the great pyramids. The Master of the Priory of Zion himself suggested that Rosicrucianism is the most ancient, secret and mystical system, the roots of which go back to the time of ancient Egypt. For many centuries, the order remained completely unknown. And Christian Rosicrucier, in these legends, passes as a fictional historical figure.
The name "Rosicrucians" is highly controversial. According to one version, this name indicates the crucifixion of Christ. According to the other, it is associated with the red crosses depicted on the shields of the Knights Templar. According to Rosicrucian philosophy, the Cross means the thorns of the Rose. Together, the Cross and the Rose symbolize the perfect balance of masculine and feminine essence. But these are just assumptions, which means there is an opportunity to unravel this mystery.
Undoubtedly, the development of science and work in the name of the good of society, and even under the cover of modesty, is good. But if good deeds are surrounded by secrecy, then no one will believe that good intentions are hidden behind secrecy. Society has long learned to equate secrecy with malicious intent, therefore, most often, any secret activity arouses suspicion or active opposition.
So the history of the Rosicrucians, hidden from everyone, surrounded by secrets and mysticism, leads to the idea that behind all these attributes of mystery lies the simplest desire to hide information about the real affairs of this mysterious brotherhood.
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