This ritual is in honor of Zeus the Kindly.
Preparations:
The altar is decorated with an image of the God. A bowl of khernips is placed in front of it on the altar for the purification.
Procession:
Participants and Hier of Zeus process to the altar carrying their offerings. The sacred candle is lit:
Hestia, you who tend the sacred dwelling
Of the far-shooting lord Apollon at holy Pytho
From your tresses flowing oil ever drips down.
Come to this house! Come in gentle spirit
With resourceful Zeus, and grant grace to my song!
(Homeric Hymn to Hestia)
Purification:
Oh Great Lord Apollon who makes all things pure! Let Your waters cleanse
And consecrate this sacred space, making it pure and free of all the profane!
`Ekas, Ekas! Este bebeloi!
Hiereus sprinkles khernips over the altar. The bowl is then placed outside of the ritual space as it is now impure.
Statement of Purpose:
I come now before the God Zeus Meilikhios!
To sing praises to Him and be merry!
To be thankful for all the gifts He has brought me
To be thankful for his kindness and justness
To ask that He hear and direct my prayers to my ancestors
To ask his protection of me, my family, my friends, my lover,
And my guest friends.
And to honor him with joy, prayers and sacrifice.
Hymnodia:
Great Zeus, you bind all beings together, from the Immortals
On Olympos to the shades in the halls of your brother Haides.
Protect our families, especially our children, and receive our prayers
For our ancestors. As those now departed honored you in days past, so we honor you now, and pray that
our descendants may honor you always!
(Drew Campbell’s Prayer to Zeus)
I shall sing of Zeus, the best and the greatest of Gods,
Far-seeing, mighty, fulfiller of designs who confides
His tight-knit schemes to Themis as she sits leaning upon Him.
Have mercy, far-seeing Kronides, most glorious and great!
(Homeric Hymn to Zeus)
Prayers:
Great Zeus, King of the Gods,
You who are just and kind,
You who are the protector of all who follow You.
You who oversee all that is on Olympos, Gaia and Haides,
I ask that you bestow your kindness and protection upon me
And all whom I love.
Thusia:
Immortal One!
I bring you gifts!
See these things
And partake of them as you will!
Hiereus makes the invoking pentagram above the offerings.
Libations:
An offering of barley is sprinkled into the incense burner:
Sponde! Estias!
The libation cup is raised:
Sponde! Dios Meilikhios!
The participants take a sip of the cup and pour the rest into the libation dish.
Closing:
Holy Immortals, my rite has ended. If it be your will, I shall come
Again to your altars, bearing offerings and singing hymns of praise
And thanksgiving!
Khairete! Rejoice!