Temple of Athena the Savior

Barley Offering

Sprinkle barley on the altar, SAYING:

“To the givers of life, Life.”

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Purify the Circle

walk around the ritual space with the khernips bowl, sprinkling the water around the perimeter. Say:

You are pure! You are pure! By this holy water, this ground is made pure. In the name of Apollo the Purifier this place is cleansed, and is now a holy sanctuary.

Walk in another circle, taking the bowl to each of the worshipers, so they can wash their face and hands. As they are doing so, say:

By this holy water, you are made pure. In the name the Apollo the Purifier, you are holy and fit to enter the Temple.

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Intro

Today we gather to celebrate the Kriophoria, the Ram-Bearing Festival, in honor of the Great God Hermes. Today our ancestors honored Him as the guardian of flocks and fields, the shepherd’s God. We are not shepherds anymore, but the sheep stand for all our wealth, both literal and metaphorical. We appeal to Hermes today as the God of all economies, of everything that has value.

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Orphic Hymn To Hermes

Hermes, draw near, and to my prayer incline,

messenger of Zeus, and Maia’s son divine;

prefect of contests, ruler of mankind,

with heart almighty, and a prudent mind.

Celestial messenger of various skill,

whose powerful arts could watchful Argos kill.

With winged feet ’tis thine through air to course,

O friend of man, and prophet of discourse;

great life-supporter, to rejoice is thine

in arts gymnastic, and in fraud divine.

With power endued all language to explain,

of care the loosener, and the source of gain.

Whose hand contains of blameless peace the rod,

Caduceus, blessed, profitable God.

Of various speech, whose aid in works we find,

and in necessities to mortal kind.

Dire weapon of the tongue, which men revere,

be present, Hermes, and thy suppliant hear;

assist my works, conclude my life with peace,

give graceful speech, and memory’s increase.”

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ALL: Hail Hermes!

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To Hermes

Of Hermes I sing, crafty Son of Zeus

The Trickster from Kyllene

Who wears the traveler’s cloak

With wings at His feet

And mischief in His eyes

The wheels of His mind are ever turning

The swift-footed One, herald of the Gods

He rules over the forum, and all commerce

The God of thieves and honest businessmen alike

He is the God of boundaries – though no boundary can hold him

Shepherd God, lover of many nymphs

Father of Eternal Pan, Goat-Footed,

Who plays His pipes in the Arcadian woods

And Hermes Hypnos I sing, as well

Who shuts our eyes at night

And brings sweet sleep.

With Hekate, Khthonic Hermes rules over the art of magic

Sorcereous God, I praise You too.

All these aspects and more, I invoke.

Let there always be song and wine for the Great God Hermes.

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ALL: Hail Hermes!

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Offerings

Great Hermes, we bring You offerings of delicious food, of life-giving bread and the fruit of the fields. We welcome You to feast with us tonight. May it please You, as You bring joy to our hearts.

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Make a procession through the house carrying an image of Hermes.