URS: December 10, 2025
Our dear friend Chantal Vogele, Theoclea, died peacefully two days ago. Some of you perhaps remember Theoclea. She had met Pir Vilayat in 1969. She created with Pir Vilayat and dear Nigel Huzur, the first statuts of The Universel in Suresnes. She was the one who made possible the first coming of his holiness the Dalai Lama in France in 1982, around Pir Vilayat and other people of other religions. She was responsable of many, many Interreligious Congress. General Secretary of The Universel from 1983 to 1985, 1990 to 2000. She organized the consecration of the Sanctuary of L’Universel-Memorial Noor (Suresnes. France) in 1990 with Pir Vilayat, Murshid Hidayat, Pir Zia and responsable of different traditions.
These last years, she was named as a Siraj in the Universal Worship and revivified the Universal Worship in France. She was one of our dear translater for the French translation of the Volumes of Pir o Murshid.
She was a “Grande Dame”. We shall have her in our hearts and in our prayers.
Tajalli
We share the sad news that our dear Theoclea has passed from this world.
For many decades she served our Sufi community (and beyond!) with extraordinary devotion, generosity, and quiet strength. As Tajalli has so beautifully named in innumerable ways, her service was not confined to one role or moment—it was woven into the very fabric of our shared life, often unseen, always faithful.
I am grateful that I recently had the chance to speak with her and to listen as she reflected on her life’s work in service of the Sufi Order and of Pir Vilayat. That sharing, offered so generously, now stands as part of her living legacy among us.
At this time our world feels a little more bereft of light. And yet, the legacy of Theoclea’s love, care, and steadfast presence remains with us, continuing to guide and bless our path.
May she be held in peace and radiance, and may we carry forward what she so generously gave.