The Cross Twined with Roses. The History, Symbols, and Traditions of the Rosicrucian Order

The Rosicrucian Order is one of the most mysterious initiatory orders. Who are the Rosicrucians? What do the symbols of the cross and the rose signify? Where do the origins of this phenomenon lie, and is it connected to Freemasonry?... Christian Rebis discusses the secrets of the order's origin and places it in a historical context for the first time: from the era of bloody religious wars of the Middle Ages and the devastating epidemics of the 17th century to the emergence of the Ancient Mystical Order of the Rose and Cross (AMORC), from Paracelsus's prophecies and alchemy to the 'rosary of the magicians.' 'In trying to marry the Rose and the Cross, some got hurt by the thorns that protect the flower of the soul because all the people in question were not mythical sages, but men and women just like us, with their positive qualities and shortcomings. However, each of them contributed to the elevation of humanity, urging their contemporaries to look beyond the visible world to try to touch the Divine.' (Christian Rebis)