Uriella
Encyclopedia
Uriella is the spiritual leader and founder of the neo-revelationist (Neuoffenbarer) religious movement known as Fiat Lux (Latin for "let there be light
").
In the past, Uriella had a “sanctum” in Egg ZH, Canton of Zürich, (Switzerland
), it served as a centre for the members to gather around her, and she was considered to be the direct “Sprachrohr” (speaking tube) of Jesus Christ. The archangel
Uriel
advised her as well.
The order “Fiat Lux“ was founded there January 12, 1980. According to the order's members, Jesus founded it using Uriella as a medium. Later, the sanctum, that was origin and centre of the movement, was moved to Ibach/Lindau in Schwarzwald.
The doctrine of Fiat Lux is based on relevations by Uriella, received from Jesus or Mary
, interpreted in first person. These announcings wanted to offer a deeper insight on God's plans and to help proselytizing the people before Judgement Day.
Despite the doctrine using many Christian terms and names, it does not contain many Christian aspects. The group's philosophy is a mixture syncretic Jewish-apocalyptic, gnostic, and eastern religious (Buddhist) beliefs as well as esotericism
, astrological Kabbala
, spiritualism
, Theory of Colours
, alternative medicine
, ecology
, archaic mysticism
and UFO related ideas.
The ideology of Fiat Lux concerns reincarnation
as well. Uriella claims to have been Mary Magdalene
and Icordo claims to have been Isaac
, Joseph of Egypt
, Huldrych Zwingli
and Johann Strauss
.
According to Uriella, the popes John XXIII
and John Paul I were poisoned, Paul VI was replaced by a doppelganger, and the whole Vatican
was ruled by freemasons
.
Positive and negative "radiation" plays an important role, as well as world's end. In 1991 Uriella prophesied the end, and the sect members being rescued by ET
s with UFOs (Reichsflugscheibe), brought to a „cleaned“ earth called „Amora“.
In 1997 the sect declared that "in August 1998, an important head of state will be murdered, there will be a worldwide stock market crash
followed by global economic meltdown, caused by computer virus
es, and the Russia
n army will march into Germany
. Three months later, a meteorite
will fall into the North Sea
. The affected coastal regions will disappear forever in the sea. The human strategy of diverting the meteorite from its path, using nuclear weapon
s, will fail, because angel
s will foil the plan, using magnetic power rays. A tsunami
several hundred metres high will spread at jet speed. California
and Los Angeles
and Hollywood will be swallowed by the Atlantic
[sic!] Ocean."
The sect is afraid of bar codes, they get pasted over with stickers. Uriella makes "Athrums-Wasser" ("Athrum water") in her sterile bath tub by stirring tap water. The water is filled into canisters and stored in the basement. The believers drink it, wash themselves with it, or heal wounds. According to www.relinfo.ch, the water is free, but most members (some drive 700 km) buy some "remedies" from "God's drugstore." Fiat Lux prophesied the world's end, but when it didn't happen, it was "postponed." While the members offer their money, Uriella is not poor at all. Some members wear very bright, white clothes, because dark clothing absorbed cosmic radiation. Furthermore, it holds off Lucifer
's radiation ("Schamanah"). There are rules concerning nutrition and meditation
. Watching TV or listening to the radio isn't allowed. Internet is forbidden, too, that's why the sect doesn't have a website (despite that, some domains are booked).
From 1984 to 1988 Uriella's husband Kurt Warter (called Uriello), who died 1988 in an accident, supported Uriella's activities and unified/standardized the doctrine.
Since 1992 there have several instances of legal action being taken against Erika Bertschinger-Eicke, because two members died after mysterious healing methods. She didn't want them to consult regular physicians. (In that case, "Fiat Lux" was compared to Ryke Geerd Hamer
's "Neue Germanische Medizin ,".
Today, Fiat Lux actually is administrated by Uriella's fourth husband, Eberhard Bertschinger-Eicke (called Icordo). Uriella has taken herself out of the public eye.
The centre today is in Ibach, Ortsteil Lindau. Other groups are located in Schwellbrunn
(Appenzell Ausserhoden, Schweiz), Egg, ZH Schweiz and Strittmatt (Deutschland
).
"Icordo" stated 723 members in October 1997. Since that it is supposed that membership has shrunk. 300-400 members are estimated.
In 1999 there was an electoral list of Fiat Lux members campaigning for a mandate in "Gemeinderat" (district council). Icordo was successful. In 2004, there wasn't a list anymore. Icordo hoped for worldwide changes, and stated that he would be the earthly leader of a "cleaned mankind" afterwards.
and the U.S.
, relatively soon in her life. After a riding accident in 1973, in which she suffered head injuries, she claimed to be clairvoyant. On Christmas Day 1975, she allegedly had her first revelation at the "Lichtzentrum Bethanien". She first appeared as "Uriella" at worships in the Sanctum in Egg, Canton of Zurich. In December 1998, Uriella was given a suspended, 22-month prison sentence by a Mannheim
court for duty and tax evasion (import of various "remedies" from Switzerland). Furthermore, she was ordered to pay 100.000 Deutschemark to charitable
institutions.
Let there be light
"Let there be light" is an English translation of the Hebrew יְהִי אוֹר . Other translations of the same phrase include the Latin phrase fiat lux, and the Greek phrase γενηθήτω φῶς . The phrase is often used for its metaphorical meaning of dispelling ignorance.The phrase comes from the third verse...
").
Fiat Lux
The Order of Fiat Lux (Orden Fiat Lux) is the centre of Uriella's religious movement. There are several organizations which are affiliated with it: the relief organization "Adsum – ich bin bereit", the club "Internationaler gemeinnütziger Verein zur Erforschung und Förderung einer naturgemäßen Lebens-, Ernährungs- sowie Behandlungsweise" and the international research group "Internationale Forschungsgruppe für Bioenergetik e. V.".In the past, Uriella had a “sanctum” in Egg ZH, Canton of Zürich, (Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
), it served as a centre for the members to gather around her, and she was considered to be the direct “Sprachrohr” (speaking tube) of Jesus Christ. The archangel
Archangel
An archangel is an angel of high rank. Archangels are found in a number of religious traditions, including Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Michael and Gabriel are recognized as archangels in Judaism and by most Christians. Michael is the only archangel specifically named in the Protestant Bible...
Uriel
Uriel
Uriel is one of the archangels of post-Exilic Rabbinic tradition, and also of certain Christian traditions...
advised her as well.
The order “Fiat Lux“ was founded there January 12, 1980. According to the order's members, Jesus founded it using Uriella as a medium. Later, the sanctum, that was origin and centre of the movement, was moved to Ibach/Lindau in Schwarzwald.
The doctrine of Fiat Lux is based on relevations by Uriella, received from Jesus or Mary
Mary (mother of Jesus)
Mary , commonly referred to as "Saint Mary", "Mother Mary", the "Virgin Mary", the "Blessed Virgin Mary", or "Mary, Mother of God", was a Jewish woman of Nazareth in Galilee...
, interpreted in first person. These announcings wanted to offer a deeper insight on God's plans and to help proselytizing the people before Judgement Day.
Despite the doctrine using many Christian terms and names, it does not contain many Christian aspects. The group's philosophy is a mixture syncretic Jewish-apocalyptic, gnostic, and eastern religious (Buddhist) beliefs as well as esotericism
Esotericism
Esotericism or Esoterism signifies the holding of esoteric opinions or beliefs, that is, ideas preserved or understood by a small group or those specially initiated, or of rare or unusual interest. The term derives from the Greek , a compound of : "within", thus "pertaining to the more inward",...
, astrological Kabbala
Kabbalah
Kabbalah/Kabala is a discipline and school of thought concerned with the esoteric aspect of Rabbinic Judaism. It was systematized in 11th-13th century Hachmei Provence and Spain, and again after the Expulsion from Spain, in 16th century Ottoman Palestine...
, spiritualism
Spiritualism
Spiritualism is a belief system or religion, postulating the belief that spirits of the dead residing in the spirit world have both the ability and the inclination to communicate with the living...
, Theory of Colours
Theory of Colours
Theory of Colours is a work by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe about the poet's views on the nature of colours and how these are perceived by man, published in 1810...
, alternative medicine
Alternative medicine
Alternative medicine is any healing practice, "that does not fall within the realm of conventional medicine." It is based on historical or cultural traditions, rather than on scientific evidence....
, ecology
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
, archaic mysticism
Mysticism
Mysticism is the knowledge of, and especially the personal experience of, states of consciousness, i.e. levels of being, beyond normal human perception, including experience and even communion with a supreme being.-Classical origins:...
and UFO related ideas.
The ideology of Fiat Lux concerns reincarnation
Reincarnation
Reincarnation best describes the concept where the soul or spirit, after the death of the body, is believed to return to live in a new human body, or, in some traditions, either as a human being, animal or plant...
as well. Uriella claims to have been Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene was one of Jesus' most celebrated disciples, and the most important woman disciple in the movement of Jesus. Jesus cleansed her of "seven demons", conventionally interpreted as referring to complex illnesses...
and Icordo claims to have been Isaac
Isaac
Isaac as described in the Hebrew Bible, was the only son Abraham had with his wife Sarah, and was the father of Jacob and Esau. Isaac was one of the three patriarchs of the Israelites...
, Joseph of Egypt
Joseph (Hebrew Bible)
Joseph is an important character in the Hebrew bible, where he connects the story of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in Canaan to the subsequent story of the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt....
, Huldrych Zwingli
Huldrych Zwingli
Ulrich Zwingli was a leader of the Reformation in Switzerland. Born during a time of emerging Swiss patriotism and increasing criticism of the Swiss mercenary system, he attended the University of Vienna and the University of Basel, a scholarly centre of humanism...
and Johann Strauss
Johann Strauss II
Johann Strauss II , also known as Johann Baptist Strauss or Johann Strauss, Jr., the Younger, or the Son , was an Austrian composer of light music, particularly dance music and operettas. He composed over 500 waltzes, polkas, quadrilles, and other types of dance music, as well as several operettas...
.
According to Uriella, the popes John XXIII
Pope John XXIII
-Papal election:Following the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958, Roncalli was elected Pope, to his great surprise. He had even arrived in the Vatican with a return train ticket to Venice. Many had considered Giovanni Battista Montini, Archbishop of Milan, a possible candidate, but, although archbishop...
and John Paul I were poisoned, Paul VI was replaced by a doppelganger, and the whole Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
was ruled by freemasons
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
.
Positive and negative "radiation" plays an important role, as well as world's end. In 1991 Uriella prophesied the end, and the sect members being rescued by ET
Extraterrestrial life
Extraterrestrial life is defined as life that does not originate from Earth...
s with UFOs (Reichsflugscheibe), brought to a „cleaned“ earth called „Amora“.
In 1997 the sect declared that "in August 1998, an important head of state will be murdered, there will be a worldwide stock market crash
Stock market crash
A stock market crash is a sudden dramatic decline of stock prices across a significant cross-section of a stock market, resulting in a significant loss of paper wealth. Crashes are driven by panic as much as by underlying economic factors...
followed by global economic meltdown, caused by computer virus
Computer virus
A computer virus is a computer program that can replicate itself and spread from one computer to another. The term "virus" is also commonly but erroneously used to refer to other types of malware, including but not limited to adware and spyware programs that do not have the reproductive ability...
es, and the Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n army will march into Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Three months later, a meteorite
Meteorite
A meteorite is a natural object originating in outer space that survives impact with the Earth's surface. Meteorites can be big or small. Most meteorites derive from small astronomical objects called meteoroids, but they are also sometimes produced by impacts of asteroids...
will fall into the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
. The affected coastal regions will disappear forever in the sea. The human strategy of diverting the meteorite from its path, using nuclear weapon
Nuclear weapon
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. Both reactions release vast quantities of energy from relatively small amounts of matter. The first fission bomb test released the same amount...
s, will fail, because angel
Angel
Angels are mythical beings often depicted as messengers of God in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles along with the Quran. The English word angel is derived from the Greek ἄγγελος, a translation of in the Hebrew Bible ; a similar term, ملائكة , is used in the Qur'an...
s will foil the plan, using magnetic power rays. A tsunami
Tsunami
A tsunami is a series of water waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water, typically an ocean or a large lake...
several hundred metres high will spread at jet speed. California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and Hollywood will be swallowed by the Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
[sic!] Ocean."
The sect is afraid of bar codes, they get pasted over with stickers. Uriella makes "Athrums-Wasser" ("Athrum water") in her sterile bath tub by stirring tap water. The water is filled into canisters and stored in the basement. The believers drink it, wash themselves with it, or heal wounds. According to www.relinfo.ch, the water is free, but most members (some drive 700 km) buy some "remedies" from "God's drugstore." Fiat Lux prophesied the world's end, but when it didn't happen, it was "postponed." While the members offer their money, Uriella is not poor at all. Some members wear very bright, white clothes, because dark clothing absorbed cosmic radiation. Furthermore, it holds off Lucifer
Lucifer
Traditionally, Lucifer is a name that in English generally refers to the devil or Satan before being cast from Heaven, although this is not the original meaning of the term. In Latin, from which the English word is derived, Lucifer means "light-bearer"...
's radiation ("Schamanah"). There are rules concerning nutrition and meditation
Meditation
Meditation is any form of a family of practices in which practitioners train their minds or self-induce a mode of consciousness to realize some benefit....
. Watching TV or listening to the radio isn't allowed. Internet is forbidden, too, that's why the sect doesn't have a website (despite that, some domains are booked).
From 1984 to 1988 Uriella's husband Kurt Warter (called Uriello), who died 1988 in an accident, supported Uriella's activities and unified/standardized the doctrine.
Since 1992 there have several instances of legal action being taken against Erika Bertschinger-Eicke, because two members died after mysterious healing methods. She didn't want them to consult regular physicians. (In that case, "Fiat Lux" was compared to Ryke Geerd Hamer
Ryke Geerd Hamer
Ryke Geerd Hamer , a former German physician, is the originator of Germanic New Medicine, also formerly known as German New Medicine and New Medicine,...
's "Neue Germanische Medizin ,".
Today, Fiat Lux actually is administrated by Uriella's fourth husband, Eberhard Bertschinger-Eicke (called Icordo). Uriella has taken herself out of the public eye.
The centre today is in Ibach, Ortsteil Lindau. Other groups are located in Schwellbrunn
Schwellbrunn
Schwellbrunn is a municipality in the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden in Switzerland.-Geography:Schwellbrunn has an area, , of . Of this area, 61.5% is used for agricultural purposes, while 33.3% is forested...
(Appenzell Ausserhoden, Schweiz), Egg, ZH Schweiz and Strittmatt (Deutschland
Deutschland
Deutschland is the German language word for Germany.Deutschland may also refer to:, a blockade-breaking German cargo submarine used during World War I, first of the 1930s Panzerschiffe , later renamed Lützow; involved in the 1937 Deutschland incident, a steamship wrecked in 1875 and commemorated in...
).
"Icordo" stated 723 members in October 1997. Since that it is supposed that membership has shrunk. 300-400 members are estimated.
In 1999 there was an electoral list of Fiat Lux members campaigning for a mandate in "Gemeinderat" (district council). Icordo was successful. In 2004, there wasn't a list anymore. Icordo hoped for worldwide changes, and stated that he would be the earthly leader of a "cleaned mankind" afterwards.
Erika Bertschinger-Eicke (Uriella)
Bertschinger had contacts to the Geistige Loge Zürich (Literally: Spiritual Loge Zürich) and to various sects in EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, relatively soon in her life. After a riding accident in 1973, in which she suffered head injuries, she claimed to be clairvoyant. On Christmas Day 1975, she allegedly had her first revelation at the "Lichtzentrum Bethanien". She first appeared as "Uriella" at worships in the Sanctum in Egg, Canton of Zurich. In December 1998, Uriella was given a suspended, 22-month prison sentence by a Mannheim
Mannheim
Mannheim is a city in southwestern Germany. With about 315,000 inhabitants, Mannheim is the second-largest city in the Bundesland of Baden-Württemberg, following the capital city of Stuttgart....
court for duty and tax evasion (import of various "remedies" from Switzerland). Furthermore, she was ordered to pay 100.000 Deutschemark to charitable
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
institutions.
Literature
- Gasper, Müller, Friederike Valentin: Lexikon der Sekten, Sondergruppen und Weltanschauungen. Herder 2001. ISBN 3-451-05528-7
- Barbara Büchner: Irrlicht; Im Bannkreis der Sekte. St. Gabriel 1993. ISBN 3-401-02551-1 (A novel loosely based on Fiat Lux.)