Hellenotamiai: Frame Rituals.

Description

We agreed as of 03-Nov-01 that all festivals and religious rituals shall have the same general structure, the same opening procedures and the same closing procedures as detailed below.

χερνιπς (chernips)

Equipment

περιρραντηριον (perirranterion - large stone bowl for lustral water.)
clean towel
pitcher to hold lustral water
lustral water (sea salt and spring water)
Note: Lustral water is created by using spring water from a special source, or mixing sea salt and spring water, then blessing it with a consecration similar to "I do now consecrate this water to the service of holy μαγεια. [may EE a] ('magic') It is now set apart from other profane things and has power over them, as the Olympians rule over things of the earth!"

Procedure

As each person enters the τεμενος (temenos - sacred space), they stop at the entrance for the chernips. They place their hands over the bowl while the υδροφορος (hydrophoros - water bearer) pours lustral water over their hands. As they wash their hands, they say in a firm voice, "Ηεκας! Ηεκας! Εστε βεβηλος!" [E kas! E kas! ES te ve VEE los!] (Far off! Far off! Even to the impure!), commanding any evil spirits to leave the area. While it is acceptable for the hydrophoros to prompt them, people should say this themselves to ward off their own κηρς, (evil spirits).

After everyone has performed the chernips, the impure water is poured on the ground, in a place where it is out of sight, as an offering to the Chthonic deities. Afterwards, no one is to look at this spot for the rest of the day. (until sunset)

Purification of the τεμενος (sacred area) and Lighting the ιστια (hearth fire)

Equipment

Natron (salt and baking soda)
Alcohol lamp, oil lantern, candle, or other symbolic / actual hearth fire
Matches

Procedure

The temenos is a piece of land marked off from common uses and dedicated to a god or goddess. It should be one where you can have an open flame burning throughout the ritual. (Please, observe all rules of fire safety and ensure there is a means to put out the fire in case of an emergency.) If it isn't practical to have a full hearth fire burning during the whole festival, a symbolic hearth fire (such as a candle) can be substituted. Once all the people are gathered around the hestia, the ιερεια, (iereia - priestess) / ιερευς (iereus - priest) says, "ευφημια 'στω!" [ee FEEM eea STO!] (Let there be solemn silence!), and then sprinkles natron in a circle around the area. The δαδοφορος (torch bearer) ignites the prepared hearth fire and says, "I conjure you sacred fire whose mother is Ιστια [EES tee a], and whose father is Ηφαιστος" [EE fes tos]. (During the rest of the ritual, it is the responsibility of the dadouchos to tend the hearth fire so it doesn't go out or get out of control.)

Opening Libations

Equipment

Wine (or grape juice, if alcohol is a concern)
Sparkling water or spring water
κρατηρ (urn with two handles for mixing wine and water.)
Serving ladle
Drinking bowl for each participant
Libation Bowl (to receive the libations if the ritual is held indoors)

Procedure

The σπονδφοροι ((spondphoroi) - libation bearer) mixes the wine or grape juice and water, about the same amount each, in a krater then ladles an equal amount into each person's drinking bowl.

For each libation, the participants repeat what the ιερος κηρυξ (hieros keryx - sacred messenger) says and pours a small amount of the libation on the side of the altar, on the ground or into the libation bowl. (In the latter case, the libations are poured on the ground after the ritual.) After the final libation, each participant drinks the rest of the libation as a sharing with the Immortals.

Σπονδη [SPOND ee] Ιστια [EES tee a], guardian of hearth's fire,
Yours is always the first and the last.
Σπονδη [SPOND ee] Ερμης Ξθονιος [Erm ees H thon ee os] and Εκατη Ξθονια [Ek a tee H thon ee a],
Ψυχοπομπος [psee ho pomp e] since times past.
Σπονδη [SPOND ee] Απολλον Αλεξικακος [Ap ol lon Alek seek a kos] and Διωνυσοςια [Deeo nees os] the γοης [GO ees],
Averter of evil and speaker to ghosts.
Σπονδη [SPOND ee] Immortal Olympians,
Come join our host.

NOTE: While the procedure of the libations will remain the same from one festival to the next, the wording and the Immortals being honored will be different. The above example is from the Anthesteria. A complete set of libations include: the first to Hestia, the second to the currently honored Immortal(s) and the last to the Olympians in general.

Presentation and Activities

This varies for each ritual but should be appropriate to the theme of the ritual and something that most of the people can participate in. There is one or more games, contests or activities for practically every ritual and, we have found, the participants like to have something to take with them when they leave.

Announcement of Feast

When the feast is ready, the sacred herald announces it by saying, "When mirth reigns throughout the town and feasters about the house, sitting in order, listen to a minstrel; when the tables beside them are laden with bread and meat and a wine bearer draws sweet drink from the mixing bowl and fills cups; this I think in my heart to be the most delightsome."

Feast and Sacrifice

This varies for each ritual but should be appropriate to the theme of the ritual, somewhat historically or culturally accurate and something that most of the participants can partake of. During the feast, one portion equal to what each person is having, is laid out for the Immortals (which includes skin, bones and other uneatable parts). Afterwards, this portion is completely burned or, if that isn't practical, disposed of in some other manner.

Closing Libations

After the feast, closing libations are performed the same as the opening libations only in reverse order:

Σπονδη [SPOND ee] Immortal Olympians,
We thank you for joining our host.
Σπονδη [SPOND ee] Απολλον Αλεξικακος [Ap ol lon Alek seek a kos] and Διωνυσοςια [Deeo nees os] the γοης [go ees],
Averter of evil and speaker to ghosts.
Σπονδη [SPOND ee] Ερμης Ξθονιος [Erm ees H thon ee os] and Εκατη Ξθονια [Ek ee tee H thon ee a],
Ψυχοπομπος [psee ho pomp e] since times past.
Σπονδη [SPOND ee] Ιστια [EES tee a], guardian of hearth's fire,
Yours is always the first and the last.

Closing

After the closing libations, all participants help clean the festival area to be the same as it was when they arrived. After the cleanup, when everyone is ready to leave, the sacred herald leads everyone in saying, "Θαρσεω πανταγαθα πεπραγαμεν. [thar EE PANT AGA tha PEP ra GAM en], (take courage for good times have come to pass)

Glossary

Απολλον Αλεξικακος [Ap ol lon Alek seek a kos]: Apollon who wards off evil.
γοης [GO es]: one who howls out enchantments or one who speaks with spirits.
δαδοφορος [DA doe FOR os]: torch bearer.
Διωνυσος [Deeo NEE sos]: Dionysos, god of wine, masks and chaos.
Εκητι Ξθονια [Ek ee tee H thon ee a]: Hekate of the earth, guide of spirits on the earth.
Ερμης Ξθονιος [Erm ees H thon ee os]: Hermes of the earth, guide of spirits in the underworld.
ευφημια 'στω! [ee FEEM eea STO!]: Let there be solemn silence!, a proclamation of silence before a prayer.
Ηεκας! Ηεκας! Εστε βεβηλος! [E kas! E kas! ES te ve VEE los!]: Far off! Far off! Even to the impure!, commanding any evil spirits to leave the area.
Ηφαιστοσ [Ee fes tos]: Hephistos, God of forge and industry.
Θαρσεω πανταγαθα πεπραγαμεν [thar EE PANT AGA tha PEP ra GAM en]: take courage for good times have come to pass.
ιερεια [EE reea]: priestess, keeper of the sacred items.
ιερευς [EE rees]: priest, in charge of the sacrifices to some special god.
ιερος κηρυξ [EE ros kee REEKS]: sacred messenger, person that leads the participants in any verbal parts of the ritual.
ιστια [EES tee a]: hearth fire, hearth.
κηρς [keers]: evil spirits, doom, bane, ruin, calamity.
κρατηρ [kra teer]: mixing bowl for wine, urn with two handles.
μαγεια [may EE a]: magic.
μαγειρος [may eer os]: cook, sacrificing priest.
περιρραντηριον [per eer rant EER ee on]: vessel for lustral water, large stone bowl.
ψυχοπομπος [psee ho pomp e]: conductor of souls.
σπονδη [SPOND ee]: drink-offering, of wine poured out to the gods before drinking.
σπονδφοροι [SPOND fore]: libation bearer.
τεμενος [TEM en os]: a piece of land marked off from common uses and dedicated to a god.
χερνιπς [hern EEPS]: holy water, water for washing the hands, purification with lustral water.
υδροφορος [EEDRO foros]: water bearer.