Temple of Athena the Savior

Cleansing the Sacred Space

Carrying the khernips, the Priest/ess walks around the ritual area, sprinkling everything with the water. Recite the following as you make your circuit:

“You are washed clean by the life-giving waters of the Nile! You are pure! No man has set foot on you, for you are the primordial mound rising from the broad depths of the Ocean at the First Time. You are pure!”

Carry the bowl to each participant and let them wash their hands and face. Say:

“You are washed clean by the life-giving waters of the Nile! You are pure!”

Take up the aparkhai (barley offering) and proceed to the shrine. Scatter the aparkhai and say:

“To the givers of life, Life!”

Intro

Today we gather to worship Isis, Great Mother of Egypt, in Her form as Tykhe-Fortuna, the syncretized Hellenistic Goddess of Good Fortune. Who would not want the Goddess of Good Fortune is their lives? And we thank Isis also as the discoverer of grain, with which this bread is made, which feeds our bodies and our souls. Today we offer back to the Goddess that which She gives to us, the abundance She shares with us so freely. Thus do we give to Isis that which is Hers.

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Hymn to Isis (read by one of the worshipers)

O Isis of the Many Names

Mother of Aieygptos, Great in Magic

You are the nurturer and defender of the world

Who enfolds all of mankind in Your wings

Wife of Osiris, You shed many tears for Him

In mourning You wandered the world

Loyally searching for the pieces of His body

Scattered by the vengeful Set

O Isis, You gave birth to a magnificent son,

Bright Horus the strong-armed

And adopted a darker son, just as magnificent

Mighty Anubis, the hound-formed son of Your sister

Isis, it is You Who makes Upper and Lower Egypt fertile and green

Who causes sweet myrrh and useful papyrus to sprout and grow tall

Lady of the Sycamore Tree,

Who rules over life and death

She Who knows the secret name of Ra

Lady of Magic Who brings forth whatever Her heart conceives

Through words of power and the magic of Her tongue

Truly You are the greatest of all Gods and Goddesses,

For You name is known in all lands!

Your Mysteries spread far from Aiegyptos

Far from Your native land

And all Who heard Your name

Fell under Your spell

Even as we worshipers who, Two millennium later

gather to pay Your homage.

The magic of Your name lives on

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Hymn to Tykhe (read by one of the worshipers)

Turret-crowned Queen, I sing

Immortal Agathe Tykhe, Fortuna to the Romans,

Elder sister of the Moiroi

Goddesses Three, Who weave the threads of mortal lives

Friend of all mankind

Who bears the cornucopia,

And metes out good and evil.

Rich and poor alike must deal with Your decrees,

O Goddess.

O Primal One without parent, I pray

Allow me to accept

The twists and turns that Fate deals

To see the opportunity in the tragedy

And to understand what I am meant to do.

Help me to make the right choices,

Where my Fate depends on it,

And to accept my lack of control,

Where it does not.

Let me always act with honor

Whatever you set before me.

Send me only hardships I can endure,

And that will make a better person.

This I pray, O Glorious Tykhe.

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Offerings:

Great Isis-Agathe Tykhe, whether You be one Goddess or two, we offer You this sustenance, sweet bread, salad greens, and rice, the staples of life. May You join us in our feast, but know You are always welcome in our homes or in our hearts.