Xairete!
Now, with some of the basic housekeeping setup done, here is our first news post at the new site.
This month started off with the first official Temple naming ceremony. It was a deeply moving experience, bearing witness as this person took vows to his Patrons. The basic ritual structure, for those who are curious, is outlined in Timotheos’ contribution to From Cave to Sky: A Devotional Anthology in Honor of Zeus.
After the ritual feasting was done (and given some time to settle) we unwound a bit by doing a bit of belly dance. Several members had expressed interest in learning this form, and so now we’re working on learning a choreography for the Philokhoria, our summer festival honoring the Twins through, among other things, dance.
On the 17th, we celebrated Delphinia with offerings of fish and seafood to honor Apollon as the God of dolphins who guide ships safely home. One Temple member brought lemon meringue pie as an offering, explaining that the meringue looks like waves, and sailors need lemons or other vitamin C sources to avoid scurvy. Another offered a “dolphin adoption” in the name of Apollon Delphinios. We also honored His love for Hyacinthos with offerings of hyacinth flowers and His return to Delphi from Hyperborea with divination.
For May, we’ll be celebrating the Twins’ birthday at Thargelia on the 15th, a festival that promises cleansing, purification, more cleansing, more purification, and a birthday party.
May the Gods’ blessings be with everyone!
Peace,
Diane
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