Notes and packing list are at the end of ritual.

 

The Pompe, or Procession

The Incense is lit, then, in the order dictated by the order of the Sacra, as listed above, the People are lead by the Priest or Priestess to the Temenos, or Sacred Precinct, containing the altar.

At the entrance to the Temenos, each person is sprinkled with pure spring water (note 1) then moves in a counterclockwise direction to form a circle around the bomos/altar.

After the khernips, everyone remains silent until the Priest or Priestess cries out:

 "Hekas, o hekas, este bebeloi!"

 The People Reply:

"Let All That Is Profane Be Far From Here!"

 

The Lighting

The Priestess cries out:

"Paresmen time, sonta tas theas kai tous theous."

 The People Reply:

"We Are Here To Honor the Gods and Goddesses."

 The Priestess then lights the fire on the altar, which should have been laid out beforehand.

 

The Scattering

Katie walks the barley counterclockwise and each person takes some and tosses it upon the altar. The remaining barley is placed nearby.

 “with this scattering, we are joined as community”

The Mixing

The Libation Bearers move to either side of the Priest or Priestess and the Wine and Water is mixed. (slight preference for a woman carrying water, man wine)

The Priest or Priestess says:

"Theasthe ta hudata biou."

The People Reply:

"Behold the Waters of Life."

 The First Libation

The Priestess says:

"Hestia, Thine is always the first and the last."

Some of the water/wine in the cup is poured out on the altar fire, then the cup is passed around counterclockwise, each person taking a sip in offering to Hestia, or touching a drop to his or her forhead in offering, and repeating the above formula of offering to Hestia. The Priestess takes a last sip, and the remaining part is poured out on the altar.

 

As it’s being passed around…

(note 4 for source of prayer)

Hestia,

Goddess of hearth and temple fire,

Of the spiritual center of our world,

And of all sacred places.

Hestia, beloved Goddess of the spiritual flame,

Come be honored at this place.

Bring to us the peace and sureness

Of that place which is home and hearth.

Please bring your purity and beauty to us,

As we honor you

Who are the center of the spiritual flame.

Hymnodia

 The Priestess cries out:

"Koimeson stoma!"

 The People Reply:

"We will be silent!"

 (The People then maintain silence through the Hymn.  Note xxx has the source.)

The Second Libation

The Libation Bearer fills the cup with wine mix. The Priestess offers up the cup and says:

Mighty Ares, hupermenes exceeding in strength, feraspis, shield-bearer, polissoe guardian of cities, obrime and karterocheir, strong of will and strong of arm. O defender of Olympus, father of warlike Nike, ally of Themis, tyrant to terrorists, leader of the just. Hear us, helper of men, giver of dauntless youth! Shed down a kindly ray from above that those who protect our new president may not waver in their mission.

 The Priestess pours some of the wine on the altar, then passes the cup counterclockwise. When the libation returns to the Priestess she takes a last sip, and the remaining part is poured out on the altar.

Offerings to Ares can be made at this time. Each one who is making an offering may say, as it is offered:

"Lambane kai heydou anathema mou,"

or simply: "Accept and Delight in my Offering."

Each one may also add any particulars he or she feels necessary, such as requests or thanksgivings.

When all offerings have been made, the Priestess says:

"Lambane kai heydou anathemata heymown."

Response: "Accept and Delight in Our Offerings."

The Third libation

The Libation Bearer fills the cup with wine mix. The Priestess offers up the cup and says:

Athena Polias, poluboula, exeeding wise, oxuderkes, bright-eyed, 
korufagenes, sprung forth from the head of Zeus, polioucha, 
protrectress of cities, wearing your terribe aigis, your arms flashing gold.  
You, with fierce-hearted Ares, gave to Kadmos the dragon’s teeth 
and helped him found Thebe.  You set Erichthonios, who began 
the Panathenaia in your honor, to rule Athens.  Guide our new president, 
help him to navigate the unruly sea of the present day.  
Guide his mind, Kaliniti, the bridler, that he may see with your keen vision 
the way to peace and good fortune for this nation.

 The Priestess pours some of the wine on the altar, then passes the cup counterclockwise. When the libation returns to the Priestess she takes a last sip, and the remaining part is poured out on the altar.

Offerings to Ares can be made at this time. Each one who is making an offering may say, as it is offered:

"Lambane kai heydou anathema mou,"

or simply: "Accept and Delight in my Offering."

Each one may also add any particulars he or she feels necessary, such as requests or thanksgivings.

When all offerings have been made, the Priestess says:

"Lambane kai heydou anathemata heymown."

Response: "Accept and Delight in Our Offerings."

Hymnodia

 The Priestess cries out:

"Koimeson stoma!"

 The People Reply:

"We will be silent!"

 (The People then maintain silence through the Hymn)

Great Zeus, Son of Kronos,

Most High, Father of Gods and Men,

Protector of Strangers, Good Counselor

μοιραγέτες, leader of the fates

σωτήρ, savior

συνετέ φαναῖέ, wise bringer of light

We called to you in our time of need and you answered.  We give thanks today for bringing us out of the reign of fear and ignorance and allowing intelligence and hope to win the day.

As we honor you, guide our nation, oh ἐξακεστήριέ, remedy of evil, and guide our leaders, and the world, into that more perfect union.

-

more poem here

-

”

Cup is passed, etc.

The Sacrifice/Offerings

The Sacred Victims of bread  are brought forward to the fire.

 

The Sacral Feast

Everybody eats.

 

The Libation of Thanks

The Libation Bearer pours wine again. The Priestess leads the people in giving thanks to the theoi, letting individuals speak at will. Then the Priestess offers up the cup, saying:

"Zeus, Hilathi!"   (Zeus Be Propitious!)

or

"Zeus, Sponde!"

or simply

"Zeus, we thank You."

 

The Final Libation

The Libation Bearer pours wine one final time. The Final Libation is offered to Hestia, with the words:

"Hestia, Thine is always the first and the last."

It is offered in the same manner as the first, but when the Priestess pours out the last of it upon the altar, she cries out:

"Houtos heksoi!"

The Response is:

"Houtos heksoi,"

or simply: " So Be It!"

This is the End of the Ritual.

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History geek footnotes:

Note 1 – We are trying out sprinkling with pure spring water,  as per page 45 of

Landscapes, Gender, and Ritual Space: The Ancient Greek Experience by Susan Guettel Cole

Since the gods inhabited space in the human realm, special care had to be taken to preserve the purity of sacred space. Special basins called perirrhanteria containing water from pure springs were placed at the entrance of many sacred precincts. When this water was sprinkled around those about to enter the sacred space, the ritual "demonstrated purity by an allopathic process that employed pure water to expel any trace of pollution" (45).

Note 2 – much of this ritual was borrowed from the Thiasos Olympikos website, and as always I owe many thanks to Pyrokanthos who has taught me much. And I have always enjoyed his hospitality in ritual.

Note 3 – poem by Nels Lindberg  found

http://www.hellenion.org/lindbergn/toZeus.html

Note 4 – Hestia prayer is s a modification of the one found in “Mysteries of Demeter” by Jennifer Reif.

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Packing list

 to be performed 11/8/2008

 Feast: