Prayers:

To Artemis:

Hail, Artemis, Arrow-Pourer, Ever-Virgin, Sentry of the Wild, on this the day of Thy heavenly birth, I give tribute to Thee and seek Thy favor with my song.

I thank Thee — let it be thus!

To Apollo:

Hail, Apollo, Paean, Agrie, Phosphore, on this the day of Thy heavenly birth, I honor Thee and seek Thy favor with my song.

I thank Thee — let it be thus! 

Hymns:

Homeric Hymns #3 and 21, to Apollo

Homeric Hymns #9 and 27, to Artemis

Orphic Hymn #34, to Apollo

Orphic Hymn #35, to Leto

Orphic Hymn #36, to Artemis 

Recommendations for Observance:

Thargelia commemorates, over two days, the births of Apollo and Artemis, the holy children of Leto by Zeus. It is also a time, per the festival’s ancient association with the pharmakoi expulsion, of lustration and purification. Faithful might, alongside giving special worship to Apollo and Artemis, and the traditional immolation of the year’s eiresione (constructed during the previous Pyanepsia), asperse their homes and property with khernips. Décor for the altar might feature bay laurel (especially sacred to Apollo), and cypress (sacred to Artemis).

(Dates, per usual, reflect the Attic calendar. I.e. the Thargelia of Artemis begins at sunset on the 26th of May, and continues through sunset on the 27th) 

May:

26-27: Thargelia (Nativity of Artemis) / Holy Day of Artemis

27-28: Thargelia (Nativity of Apollon) / Holy Day of Apollon

28-29: Holy Day of Poseidon

June:

14-15: Plynteria

19-20: Henē-kai-Néa / Hekatēs Deípnon

A blessed Noumenia of Thargelion, 3:697 to all of Eusebeis’ readers. 

A schedule of holy days for the month to come shortly; per usual, my suggestions and musings on particular festivals will show up on the site as the respective dates approach. 

Blessings,

-Erôdios

My home altar. 

a visual depiction of the hierarchy of existence as it applies to Earth and those upon it. The Five Generations of Earth, described in Hesiod’s Works and Days, were all fashioned by the hand of Zeus, and, in their progression, I believe reflect a gradation of divine understanding. The incorporeal Agathodaimones stand closest to the Gods in wisdom and knowledge, with humanity and earthly, bodily beings, the Fifth Generation, that of iron, sits at the lowest level. 

April:

22(evening)-3: Noumenia of Mounychion

23-4: Holy Day of Agathodaemon

24-5: Holy Day of Athena

25-6: Holy Day of Aphrodite, Heracles, Hermes and Eros

26-7: caesura

27-8: Holy Day of Artemis

28-9: Holy Day of Apollo

29-30: Holy Day of Poseidon 

May:

11: Olympieia

20-1: Hekates-Deipnon 

A narrative reflection on piety — my own writing, with apologetic citations from scripture

Pietas

* * *

            At Eos’ coming, I arise to wash, that the Gods may look kindly on my prayers — for the Muses, Inspirers of Man, have spoken us by the Bard of Helicon’s pen.[1] This time, wherein the holy light returns,[2] belongs to the Gods, and I go unto the altar to worship Them purely and cleanly[3] — to seek Their gracious gaze with honeyed wine and sweet incense[4], for they are hard-hearted and bound for an awful fate who do not know the fear of the Gods.[5] I sing to Hestia, She who tends all sacred hearths,[6] both first and last, for it is by Her grace that mortals do enjoy the banquets[7] of inviolable home and family. Then do I sing to Heracles, tamer of evil things, for He is much the greatest of mortals,[8] and upon Him do mortals call for safety, and to keep others safe. Next, I sing to Father Zeus, for He is the Best and Greatest of All Gods, most glorious and great,[9] whose favor I seek, for by His will does He bring wealth, and in turn, take it away.[10] I sing again to Hestia, and pour again in Her name, because that is right and good.[11]

I arise from the Gods’ table and break my nighttime fast, as I do any meal, giving thanks to the Gods and to Lady Demeter, whose grace has filled my shelf with food.[12] Having nourished my body; that which carries the godly Soul, I go forth to attend to my day’s work, for Gods and men alike despise the one who lays idle like the sting-less drones who waste the bees’ labor,[13] and too is the road to Badness smooth and enticing, while to Goodness, arduous and rough.[14]

Out among my neighbors and brothers with whom I share this world, I strive to abide in generosity, for the one who gives willingly is glad in heart, for a man gives to the generous, but does not unto the stingy.[15] My eyes and heart I gird and keep chaste, because the one who falls to lust does also unto deception,[16] and I keep care of my tongue and words, for those who speak spiteful things will themselves receive the same.[17]

At the waning of the day, I return to my home — unto Hestia’s holy ground. Again, to be pure, I wash, and, before retiring to bed, propitiate the Gods with incense and wine,[18] and on those holy days of the month, I give to the Gods special honor and banquet, for these days are so holy by the decree of Zeus.[19] In Helios’ setting amber, I sing again to the Almighty Gods, in joy and in thanks for the fragile abundance bestowed me, for whatever noble virtue may abide in my heart, and for such sublime wisdom gifted me, by which I may know of the Gods.

Verily, I would say this quotation from Epictetus sums up my own personal philosophy gloriously, and is something I think all religious Hellenists ought to take to heart. 

* * * * * * 

“If we desire nothing but what the Gods will, we shall truly be free, and all will come to pass with us according to that desire; and we shall be as little subject to bondage as Zeus Himself.” -Epictetus, Discourses 

Pompe

Bearing censer, water vessel, oblations, barley and any other appointments, process in a circle about the altar — ideally to musical or lyrical accompaniment. Stop in front of the altar

Archesthai

Khernips is consecrated with fire and the words:

“In the name of the Eternal Gods, be all unholy things cast out!”

It is used to wash the hands of the sacrificer(s), and then is sprinkled over the oblations, altar, and participants, with the words:

“O Gods, cast out all evils!”

Officiant pauses, raises hands to the Heavens, and says:

“Let now silence descend, that no blasphemous word ariseth, and that the Gods might be present to the rite.”

Epiclesis/Hymnodia

Light further incense/coals in the censer. Cense the altar and oblations

“Now I pray to the Gods: Hear, come now, O Blessed Ones! Receiving such gifts as offered Ye, and delighting in the holy rite, by which man may honor Ye.”

Set down censer

“O Gods Who reign eternal from Shining Olympus! Pray, bestow now such voice sublime as may sing Your deeds and praises.”

Recite the proper hymn for the occasion, clearly, slowly, and reverently. For general sacrifice, recite “Orpheus to Musaeus.”

Prayer

“Now I pray before Ye, O Gods. Hear my voice, O ___, look on me with gracious gaze, and delight in my friendly prayers.”

Offer prayer(s), and conclude them, saying:

“Είθε— Let it be thus!”

Thysia

Blow a kiss toward the altar

“O Father Zeu, Thou Best and Greatest, and All Ye Undying Gods — come now, and look upon this holy sacrifice!”

Sprinkle barley onto the prosphores

“Before Ye, O Gods, and to Thee, O ___, I bear libation and sacrifice. I pray: accept from me this sacrifice of finest fruits, poured out abundantly, that I may in turn enjoy Thy graces.”

Make offerings to the Gods, using the formula:

“Hear, ___, I give a gift of ___ — see this!

Immolate sacrifices

“I pray, O Blessed Gods, Ye may too gladden Your hearts in such splendid and holy nectar of the vine as I pour out to Ye.”

Pour out libations, declaring: “σπονδή” Take a sip of the wine. The remainder is poured out.

Closing

When all sacrifices and libations have been offered, the officiant closes the rite, saying:

“Hail! Let the grace of the Gods be upon us, and let all rejoice therein!”

“The rite is ended, go in peace.”

Light the lamp, purify the khernips — declaring:

“In the name of the Almighty Gods — be this water made pure by holy fire.”

Wash hands and asperse altar with khernips, saying:

“Hear! — Come now, O Gods! Bear witness to my prayers, and cast away every evil.”

Offer Homeric Hymn to Hestia #XXIV

(Evening, following hymn) Eucharistia Prayer to Hestia:

“Hear, Hestia, Keeper of the Holy Hearth,

For Thy grace upon my home and household,

To Thee, I offer up my thanks.”

Offer incense to Hestia, saying:

“Hear, Hestia, I give that I may in turn receive Thy graces.”

Pour first libation to Hestia, saying:

“O Keeper of the Holy Hearth, to Thee do I pour out this wine.”

Offer adoration to image of Hestia

Offer Homeric Hymn to Lion-hearted Heracles

(Evening, following hymn) Eucharistia Prayer to Heracles:

“Hear, Heracles, Guardian of Mortal Men,

For the virtue and felicity I enjoy

To Thee, I offer up my thanks.” 

Offer incense to Heracles, saying:

“Hear, Heracles, I give that I may in turn receive Thy graces.”

Pour libation to Heracles, saying:

“O Guardian of Mortal Men, to Thee do I pour out this wine.” 

Offer adoration to image of Heracles 

Offer Homeric Hymn to Zeus

(Evening, following hymn) Eucharistia Prayer to Zeus:

“Hear, Father Zeu, Kronios, Ouranios, Phaneios,

For Thy mercy — the abundance I enjoy,

To Thee, I offer up my thanks.”

Offer incense to Zeus, saying:

“Hear, Lord of All — I give that I may in turn receive Thy graces.”

Pour libation to Zeus, saying:

“O Father Zeu, Almighty King of Gods and Men, unto Thee I pour this wine.”

Offer adoration to image of Zeus 

Offer daily hymnody(s), incense offerings, and libations to Divinities of choice 

End with Homeric Hymn to Hestia #XXIX

Pour concluding libation to Hestia, saying:

“Hail, Hestia, so do I honor Thee.”

Or, say:

“Hail, Hestia, in this way do I rightly sing to Thee.”

Conclude the rite, saying:

“Hail, Olympus! Hail, Ye Almighty Gods! I go, O Gods, in peace and in blessings. The rite is ended! Let all be well this day/night.”

Extinguish the lamp; allow incense and coals to burn out.