Grotto (Satanism)

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Within the Church of Satan, a Grotto (from Italian grotta, a type of cave) is a clandestine association or gathering of Satanists within geographical proximity for means of social, ritual, and special interest activities.[1] The Black House, the founding place and headquarters of the Church of Satan from 1966 to 1997, was effectively the first grotto, and was for a time referred to as the "Central Grotto".[2][3] Grottos existed for a time in various parts of the United States; these included the Babylon Grotto in Detroit, the Stygian Grotto in Dayton, and the Lilith Grotto in New York.[4] In 1975, LaVey disbanded all grottos,[5] then reinstated them in the 1980s.[6] The Church of Satan no longer formally recognizes or charters grottos.[7]

  1. ^ The Church of Satan Website Archived 2012-07-01 at the Wayback Machine, under Affiliation: The Grotto System Retrieved December 3, 2010
  2. ^ Religious Requirements and Practices 1978.
  3. ^ Matthews 2007, p. 380.
  4. ^ Baddeley 2010, p. 74.
  5. ^ Lewis 2002, p. 7; Lap 2013, p. 84.
  6. ^ Martin et al. 2008, p. 421.
  7. ^ High Priest, Magus Peter H. Gilmore. "The Grotto System". churchofsatan.com.