"Themes such as Arcadia, the number 58, Black Madonnas
and Mary Magdalene are found in noticeable profusion where the
Priory is supposed to have had influence, and in the works of
artists, writers and poets who are said to be connected with
that organization. These recurring themes would seem to
indicated an 'underground stream' of esoteric belief." -
Lynn Picknett & Clive Prince, Turin Shroud - In Whose
Image? The Shocking Truth Unveiled
"...This mysterious secret society brought itself to
light in 1956, and is listed with the French directory of
organizations under the subtitle 'Chivalry of Catholic Rules
and Institutions of the Independent and Traditionalist Union',
which in French abbreviates to CIRCUIT - the name of the
magazine distributed internally among members. Depending on
what statutes one considers, Sion either has 9,841 members in
nine grades, or 1,093 members in seven, with the supreme
member, the 'Nautonnier' or Grand Master of the Order being,
till 1963, Jean Cocteau. While it is believed the head has
been Pierre Plantard de St.-Clair up until recent times, he
claims to have left that post in 1984, so it is not clear who
runs the organization at this time." - Steve
Mizrach, "The Mysteries of Rennes-le-Chateau and the
Prieure du Sion"
The members of the Order of the Priory of Sion is divided
into two effective groups: a The Legion, charged with the
apostolate. b The Phalange, guardian of the tradition
The hierarchy of nine grades consists of: a in the 729
provinces 1 Novices:6,561 members 2 Croices:2,187 members in
the 27 commanderies 3 Preux:729 members 4 Ecuyers:243 members
5 Chevaliers:81 members 6 Commandeurs:27 members in the Arch
'Kyria' 7 Connetables:9 members 8 Senechaux:3 members 9
Nautonier:1 member
The office of Nautonnier or
Navigator, is symbolized by the
boat of
Isis.
"Isis holds in her right hand a small sailing ship
with the spindle of a spinning wheel for its mast. From the
top of the mast projects a water jug, its handle shaped like a
serpent swelled with venom. This indicates that
Isis
steers
the bark of life, full of troubles and miseries, on the stormy
ocean of Time. The spindle symbolizes the fact that she spins
and cuts the thread of life." - Manly P. Hall, Masonic,
Hermetic, Quabbalistic & Rosicrucian Symbolical Philosophy
The boat of Isis "was positioned in the constellation of Argo. Specifically, in
Egypt this constellation was named Sothis or Soth-Isis, the Star of
Isis.
Furthermore, in the Egyptian legends this vessel represented the female organ of
generation." - David Wood, Genesis
The Ark of the Covenant of the ancient Israelites is
believed to have been modelled after the ceremonial ark of
Isis.
