Foreword
New Acropolis officially states that it is a “classical philosophical school” without its own teaching or religion. But the organization’s internal materials paint a very different picture: New Acropolis is a deeply religious organization with a specific occult dogma based on Blavatsky’s theosophy, belief in a special mission of the “chosen,” in the Great White Hierarchy of superhuman beings, in a Black hierarchy of dark forces, in reincarnation, and in the idea that New Acropolis is the only channel of spiritual evolution for all humanity.
This religious content is carefully concealed from new attendees and is disclosed only to those who undergo “initiation” into the organization’s inner core — the Living Forces (LF).
1. Blavatsky’s theosophy — the basis of the teaching
New Acropolis’s teaching directly derives from the occult doctrine of Helena Petrovna Blavatsky (HPB) and the Theosophical Society of the 19th century. Olena Sikirich — head of New Acropolis in Russia — explicitly says in closed classes:
“Just as in the 19th century there was the Theosophical Society. It is our ‘family.’ The only channel and the only ones who were given the right to undergo the trial to deserve an esoteric school — that is Acropolis.”
— Olena Sikirich, “Summer internship of the Living Forces”, 1999. (джерело)
The founder H.A.L. himself described the theosophists as “our family” — a kindred spiritual movement whose work New Acropolis continues:
“Then the figure of HPB emerges, surrounded by a pleiad of ‘old’ souls who respond to the call of the Hierarchy, and the Theosophical Society is founded... the theosophists, our brothers, our family, actually prepared the work for us.”
— Jorge Ángel Livraga, “Almena”, based on Sikirich’s lecture materials (джерело)
2. The Great White Hierarchy — superhuman “Teachers”
A central element of New Acropolis’s belief is the existence of the Great White Lodge — a hierarchy of evolutionarily advanced superhuman beings (“Teachers,” “Lords,” “Masters of Wisdom”) who govern humanity’s spiritual development.
The founder H.A.L. claimed to have personally contacted these Teachers from an early age:
“The first two years in the Crypt led me to the development of the ability to contact more directly with my unknown Masters... From Master K.H. (indirectly) — to understand the mission of the New Man and the sixth subrace.”
— Jorge Ángel Livraga, “Almena” № 16: My youth (джерело)
This “Hierarchy” also practically directs New Acropolis — it even issues “Decrees” regarding the organization’s growth:
“I want to clarify first that there are Decrees that force all National Structures to minimal growth... but there was NEVER a decree of maximum growth.”
— Jorge Ángel Livraga, Mando № 8: Growth (джерело)
“The so-called ‘Yogis of the White Mountains’: they are the very essence of the Inner Activity and with their superhuman minds they direct Humanity toward all forms of progress, fighting in ultra-psychological states of consciousness against the pernicious mental forms that collectively generate embittered peoples and that are cultivated by the Dark Lords or the Black hierarchy.”
— Jorge Ángel Livraga, “Introduction to Eastern Wisdom” (ISO), Topic 6 (джерело)
3. The Black hierarchy and “brothers of darkness”
Parallel to the White Hierarchy, acropolitans believe in the existence of a Black hierarchy — an opposing superhuman force that actively resists the organization and humanity. Delia Steinberg — H.A.L.’s successor at the head of global New Acropolis — teaches:
“And believe me on one thing: those who reach the top of the Black hierarchy have personal and individual preparation and undergo the same sacrifices, the same works and the same trials as those who are in the White hierarchy. Hence their capacity for domination and hence that they can fight as fiercely as they do.”
— Delia Steinberg, ISO instructors class, 1991. “Reflection of the Great White Brotherhood over humanity” (джерело)
H.A.L. himself called his members to “fight against the Dark Forces,” a theme that permeates the organization’s ideology:
“Amid the fierce battle that we wage against the Dark Forces...”
— Jorge Ángel Livraga, Bastion № 70-1 (джерело)
4. The sixth subrace of the fifth race — doctrine of chosenness
One of New Acropolis’s key dogmas is the theosophical concept of races and subraces: current humanity is the fifth race, and the time of the sixth subrace — the “New Man” — is approaching. Acropolitans believe their organization is an instrument for the “birth” of this new race.
The founder H.A.L. wrote in his internal directives (“Bastion”):
“I want all acropolitans of the world to be aware that we carry the Message of the Sixth subrace, which precedes the Sixth race, the Message of the New Man.”
— Jorge Ángel Livraga, Bastion № 60-1: New Year’s message, January 1982 (джерело)
“Within the acropolitan worldview there exists a philosophical-political ideology. Its foundations are integrated into the 1st and 2nd levels of our Study Program. The development of these foundations will make possible the creation of the New Man, bearer of the Star of the 6th subrace.”
— Jorge Ángel Livraga, Bastion № 55-6: Does the political ideal fit within the acropolitan ideal?, August 1981 (джерело)
In closed classes for Living Forces members, Sikirich clarifies:
“H.A.L. clearly states that Acropolis’s task, in fact, is a renewed attempt to give an impulse to the sixth subrace of the fifth race. Our task through everything we do is to give an impulse to the sixth subrace of the fifth race.”
— Olena Sikirich, “Summer internship of the Living Forces”, 1999. (джерело)
5. Reincarnation and the “chosen family” of souls
Acropolitans believe in reincarnation in the theosophical sense. Moreover, they believe they themselves are the reincarnation of a special “spiritual family” of chosen souls that passes the “torch” through millennia — from Egypt, through Greece, the Renaissance, up to the present:
“One could say that New Acropolis, over many thousands of years, has actually reincarnated with the same high souls, great lords, the same H.A.L. who was called by another name, Delia, and that this is one of our reincarnations.”
— Olena Sikirich, “Summer internship of the Living Forces”, 1999. (джерело)
“We are Thebans [...] All our teachings, all our knowledge, all our memories, all our protection and patronage of the great entities H.A.L. and through H.A.L. we brought into this world, into this era from Thebes, from Egypt.”
— Olena Sikirich, ibid. (джерело)
Thus, when reading Plato or Marcus Aurelius, an acropolitan actually “remembers” a previous life — after all, all ancient philosophers were “their people”:
“Doesn’t it amaze you why their teaching is close to us? Why, when we read the Stoics, it is as if we listen to H.A.L.? [...] It all lives in us, we do not read it, we recall it.”
— Olena Sikirich, ibid. (джерело)
6. Acropolis as the only path to spiritual evolution
A logical consequence of these beliefs is the conviction that anyone who wants to spiritually evolve must be in New Acropolis. This exclusivist, soteriological position is a classic mark of a religion:
“And if any of the 4–5 billion people who live on Earth want to enter the mysteries, they must enter Acropolis. And go through all the steps, starting with the white program, the first cycle, and reach the Living Forces. Because in order for someone in the next life even to dream about the mysteries, the first step he must deserve is the Living Forces.”
— Olena Sikirich, “Summer internship of the Living Forces”, 1999. (джерело)
7. Acropolis as a School of Mysteries
New Acropolis in its internal documents directly calls itself a School of Mysteries — just like the ancient esoteric schools. This is not a philosophical metaphor but a literal self-definition:
“New Acropolis is a School of Mysteries or a Theosophical School, if these two words are given their original and authentic meaning.”
— Jorge Ángel Livraga, “Guide for the Conductor”, 1976 (джерело)
“The Mysterious Root of the Living Forces defines their goals, which, in essence, can be reduced to a single Aim... The Small Mysteries gradually lead to the Great Mysteries, to the culmination of Discipleship in all its Degrees, until Initiations are achieved that encompass Universal and Divine Reality.”
— “Guide of the Living Forces (FFVV)”, Chapter 14: Aims of the Living Forces (джерело)
8. Cult of the Teacher: the student’s prayer
Acropolitans’ attitude toward their “Teacher” (H.A.L., and after his death — Delia) is not academic respect but religious worship. The organization has its own “student’s prayer” — a text strikingly candid in its religiosity:
“Teacher! Give me an Ideal to fight for...
Teacher! Grant me a new name, and I will carry it through life.
Dispose of me, Teacher, in all that You consider worthy.
I will not retreat. I will not fear dangers. I will always hear Your voice.
I will not distort Your teaching, I will be obedient in heart...
It is not I who chose You, but You chose me — so become my Lord.
I do not see shame in this humiliation for myself, I sincerely need it...”— “Student’s prayer to the Teacher”, New Acropolis (джерело)
This “prayer” contains all the attributes of a religious text: an appeal to an authority, a pledge of unconditional obedience, recognition of the Teacher as “Lord,” and the idea of sacrifice. It differs from a typical prayer only in that it is addressed not to God but to a living person.
Conclusions
New Acropolis’s beliefs form a full-fledged religious system:
- Theology: the existence of the Great White Hierarchy of superhuman “Teachers” and an opposing Black hierarchy of “dark forces.”
- Cosmology: the theosophical doctrine of races — current humanity is preparing for the arrival of the “sixth subrace,” and Acropolis is the conductor of this process.
- Soteriology: the only path to spiritual evolution is through New Acropolis and initiation into the Living Forces.
- Eschatology: acropolitans believe in an imminent crisis/transition where only the “strong” — i.e., members of the organization — will survive.
- Reincarnation: members of the organization are a “chosen family” of souls reincarnating together across millennia.
- Cult of the leader: the founder H.A.L. is sacralized as a messenger of the Hierarchy, his words are unquestionable truth, and the attitude toward the Teacher is expressed in the language of prayer and worship.
- Mysteries and initiation: the organization explicitly calls itself a “School of Mysteries” with gradual disclosure of secret teaching.
All of this is concealed from new attendees. Publicly, NA is a “philosophical school.” Internally — it is a religion with dogma, priesthood, rituals, and a chosen people.