Anthesteria 2009: Pithoigia
by Foxglove

Roles:
Priest of Dionysos / Priestess of Hestia / Cup/Wine bearer		

Set-up

Altar is decorated with statues of Dionysos, Artemis and Athena.  There are also flowers and Jugs of wine. Participants will need to also bring a chalice with them!

Ritual

Priest of Dionysos: Come ye gathered friends let us make our way to the Anthesteria!

All: To the Anthesteria

Priest leads the way to the main ritual site followed the rest of the group.  He will playing tunes on the recorder whilst others play drums and other percussion instruments. 

Once the procession reaches the main ritual site, each person will wash their hands in Khenips with the words:

Hekos O hekos este bebeloi!

They then enter the ritual space and form a circle around the altar and fire pit.

Priest of Dionysos: let us prepare our temple!

He takes the salt water and walks the perimeter of the space with the words:

Hekos O hekos este bebeloi!

He then lights the incense and takes it around the perimeter of the circle with the words;

Hekos O hekos este bebeloi!

He takes up the wheat and scatters it around perimeter with the words

Hekos O hekos este bebeloi!

Priestess of Hestia moves to altar and lights the Hestia flame.  She then takes a candle and lights it and moves to the fire pit and ignites it as she does so she says:

Priestess of Hestia: Fire the sacred gift from the Gods above!!! Hail Mighty Immortals

All:  Hail Mighty Immortals!

Priestess of Hestia reads the hymn to Hestia.

Priestess of Hestia:
Daughter of Kronos, venerable dame,
the seat containing of unweary'd flame; 
In sacred rites these ministers are thine,
Mystics much-blessed, holy and divine
In thee, the Gods have fix'd a place, 
strong, stable, basis of the mortal race:
Eternal, much-form'd ever-florid queen,
laughing and blessed, and of lovely mien; 
Accept these rites, accord each just desire, 
and gentle health, and needful good inspire.

Priest of Dionysos throws an offering of incense into the flame saying:

Priest of Dionysos: Hail Hestia, the first and the last!

All: Hail Hestia

Priest of Dionysos reads the hymn to Dionysos

Priest of Dionysos: 
Terrestrial Dionysos hear my prayer, 
Awakened rise; with nymphs of lovely hair:
Great Bacchus, annual God, 
who laid asleep in Persephone's abode,
Did'st lull to drowsy and oblivious rest,
 the rites triennial, and the sacred feast;
Which roused again by thee, in graceful ring, 
thy nurses round thee mystic anthems sing;
When briskly dancing with rejoicing powers, 
thou move’s in concert with the circling hours.
Come, blessed, fruitful, horned, and divine, 
and on these rites with joyful aspect shine;
Accept the general incense and the prayer, 
and make prolific holy fruits thy care.

Priest of Dionysos throws incense into the fire saying:

Priest of Dionysos: Hail Dionysos!

All: Hail Dionysos!

Priest of Dionysos: Hail Mighty Olympians, if it be so in your hearts, come and bear witness to the anthesteria!! 

Pours libation

Priest of Dionysos: Sponde Olympians!

All: Sponde Olympians

He picks up wine vessel and raises it above his head saying:

Priest of Dionysos: O Great Dionysos, Bless this wine, your sacred gift! May it fill us with wonder and reveal to us the mysteries of life!
Thou who is thrice born, nestled in the bosom of the realms of death, Here we give thee homage!

Sponde Dionysos! (Pours libation onto fire)

All: Sponde Dionysos!

The cup bearer takes the jug and moves around the circle and fills each person’s cup. He then returns the jug to the PoD.

Priest of Dionysos: We are here to celebrate the Anthesteria, a time when Great Dionysos blesses us with his gifts!  The gifts of life, the enjoyment of life and death!

For now, let us celebrate life and rebirth and the coming of age of our children!

Priest of Dionysos: will the children come forth!

The children and a parent move over to the altar.

The cup bearer moves to each person and asks them to pour a small amount of their wine into the jug with one word of offering to the children (love, luck, truth etc).  Once the cup bearer has completed his round he returns to the Priest and priestess.  They pour a small amount from the jug into a bowl and the rest into a new cup.

Priest of Dionysos: The well wishes of those gathered have been imbued with this wine; the sacred gift of Dionysos. May he bless, guard and protect each of you! 

He then dips his finger into the bowl and places some wine on the child’s forehead

Priest of Dionysos: Drink young one and take the power of Dionysos within you! 

Allows the child to take a small sip, this can be altered where parents choose not to allow the child any wine. When the child has had their sip, the participants shout out in excitement and approval and take a drink themselves.This happens for each child.  The children will then be given a basket which contains flower petals and they are told to toss some petals over the altar as they do so the participants shout out:  

All: Khaire!! (welcome).

Now the children have been accepted into the community and are protected by Dionysos!

The Priest of Dionysos: the rite of Khoes has ended, let us libate one last time to the holy Immortals!

Hail Holy Immortals of Earth, sea and sky! Hail the Immortals of Hades! Hail to our ancestors and hail to the Spirits of this place and this land! SPONDE ! 

(pours libation into fire)

All: SPONDE! 

(Pour libation and have a drink)

Priest of Dionysos: Hail Dionysos, God of the vine! SPONDE! 

(pours libation)

All: SPONDE! 

(Pour libation and have a drink)

Priest of Dionysos: Hail Hestia, the first and the last! SPONDE! 

(pours libation)

All: SPONDE! 

(Pour libation and have a drink)

The rite is ended and all process back to camp!!!