Joseph Di Mambro biography

Synopsis

Cult Founder

Co-founder of the Order of the Solar Temple Joseph Di Mambro was born on August 19, 1924, in Pont-Saint-Esprit, France. As the founders of what became known as the Order of the Solar Temple, Joseph Di Mambro, along with Belgian homeopathic doctor Luc Jouret, led scores of their followers to their deaths—and likely ordered the killings of others—in October 1994.

Like many cult leaders, much of Di Mambro’s life remains a mystery. He had been involved with the Rosicrucian Order AMORC, from 1956 to the late 1960s. This international spiritual group was founded in 1910s by H. Spencer Lewis and it encourages people to find themselves, drawing from centuries of metaphysical and mystic knowledge. After leaving the organization, Di Mambro experienced some legal troubles in France because of some of his financial misdealings.

In 1978, Di Mambro established the Golden Way in Geneva, Switzerland. Basing his group in part on the mythology and beliefs of Templar knights, he attracted some affluent followers. They lived communally in a house in France. Di Mambro wanted to expand his group, but knew that he needed a more inspirational leader to do that. He met Luc Jouret, a reportedly charming doctor, who had led a group called the Arch. Together they formed the Order of the Solar Temple (OST) in 1984. Jouret gave lectures and talks in Switzerland, France and Canada, to attract new members while Di Mambro ran the group and managed the organization’s finances, although he claimed to be working under the direction of never seen “Masters.” So strong was his authority over the group’s members that, according to an article in The New York Times, Di Mambro even decided when female cult members could have children and what their children’s names would be.

Growing Power

In the mid-1980s, he moved to Quebec, Canada, and established a new headquarters for OST in a former monastery there. Along with its interest in the Knights Templar, the group incorporated astrology, medieval legend and Christianity into its beliefs. It was largely comprised of upper and middle class people, primarily from Canada and Switzerland. At its peak in the late 1980s, it was believed to have more than 400 members. With money from his followers, Di Mambro bought real estate countries around the world, including Australia, France, Switzerland and Canada.

While Jouret talked publicly about environmental issues and the end of the world, Di Mambro led their followers through elaborate ceremonies, which included guided meditations and prayer.