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Gamelía Ritual
We held our ritual on 30 Jan. 2006. Pictures are here.
To prepare for the ritual, all participants should be showered, wearing clean clothes, and free from míasma. They also should be wearing stephanoi. More information about how to prepare is available here.
Prior to the start of the ritual, the priest and/or priestess will purify the ritual area with sulfur. An altar is set up facing the East, with a sacred fire on it. (We are holding our ritual indoors, and will use sterno.) Cult-statues and other images of Zeus and Hera are set up on the altar. Other decorations, such as flowers, or things with a wedding theme, may be placed about the area or on the altar. A water bowl (perirrantéria) will also be set up beforehand, which contains khérnips (lustral water) in which participants will wash their hands upon entering the ritual space.
Participants assemble in a location away from the ritual space, and carrying all ritual items, they process to the location. Music will be played during the procession. Participants should be in the following order: the maiden carrying the barley and knife, the hydrophóros (water-carrier), thumiamaphóros (incense-carrier), participants carrying the sacrifices (meat), offerings (flowers, votive gifts, etc.), and food for the meal, and lastly the spondephóros (libation-carrier), who will carry the wine for the final libation. Any other participants not carrying anything will follow the spondephóros.
Just before coming to the ritual space, each person will stop to wash their hands in the khernips before entering the space. Anyone who is not ritually clean from miasma will not be permitted to enter.
Participants then enter the space, and “dance” around the ritual area a few times in a counter-clockwise direction. This serves as an additional purification of the space. All ritual items will then be placed on the altar and/or nearby table, and each person is then free to stand where ever they choose. It is not necessary to stand in a circular formation. [The music is now turned off, if it has not already been.]
The priest takes the khérnips and sprinkles the participants, sacrifice, offerings, and altar with the water. He says, “As the khérnips is pure, so you are pure. May you be cleansed of all míasma.”
The basket of barley is then passed to each participant so they can take a small amount of barley. (Be careful when reaching into the basket as the ritual knife is buried underneath the barley!) The priestess then steps to the altar and offers the following prayer.
[Note: One or both palms should be lifted toward the sky or toward the altar, as both Zeus & Hera are Olympian deities.]
“Hear me, Zeus and Hera, King and Queen of the Immortal gods! We come together today to celebrate your sacred marriage. The poets tell of your stories, that Zeus once saw the young Hera and wanted to be with her. He caused a frightful storm that caused Hera to climb up a mountain seeking shelter. Zeus changed himself into a cuckoo, and the soaked bird fell unto the goddess' lap. She pitied the bird, and covered it with her robe. Then, Zeus changed back into his usual form and seduced Hera. She resisted his advances until he promised to marry her. It is also said that the sacred marriage was a celebration beyond compare, lasting for 300 years. The marriage is a symbol for all humans, and we honor you on this day, the anniversary of your marriage. We ask that you bless our relationships and families always, that they be harmonious and give us great joy.”
She then steps back, and all participants throw a small amount of barley at the altar, sacrifices, and offerings. The priestess takes the ritual knife from the basket, cuts or scores some of the meat, and puts it in the bowl on the altar fire. That is allowed to burn for a moment. The fragrance and smoke should be allowed to rise freely. Then, a plate with the rest of the sacrifices/food offerings is lifted up for Zeus and Hera to see, and then it is put on the altar. [This will be deposited in a wooded area after the ritual.] The rest of the food is set aside as the human portion.
Next, the spondephóros step forward with the wine for the libation. Lifting the container up for the gods to see, he says, “Zeus & Hera, rulers of Olympos, we offer this spondé in your honor.” He then pours a little into the bowl on the altar fire.
As this point, the thumiamaphóros steps forward with the incense, and holds it up for the gods to see. He says, “Zeus & Hera, divine couple, we offer this incense in your honor.” The incense is then placed on the altar and allowed to burn.
Next, the priestess steps forward to offer hymns to each of the gods separately. Following each hymn, an offering is made to that deity. (Translation of both hymns is by A. Athanassakis)
The Orphic Hymn (#15) to Zeus is read:
“Much-honored Zeus, indestructible Zeus, we lay
before you this redeeming testimony and this prayer:
O King, you have brought to light divine works,
and earth, goddess and mother, the hills swept by the shrill winds,
the sea, and the host of stars marshaled by the sky.
Kronian Zeus, whose scepter is the thunderbolt, strong-spirited,
father of all, beginning and end of all,
earth-shaker, increaser and purifier; indeed, All-Shaker,
god of thunder and lightening, Zeus the planter.
Hear me, O many-faced one, and grant me unblemished
health,
divine peace, and riches and glory without blame.”
All: “Zeus, we honor you!” and a piece of meat is put into the bowl.
Then, the priestess reads The Orphic Hymn (#16) to Hera:
“You are ensconced in darksome hollows, and airy is your form,
O Hera, queen of all and blessed consort of Zeus.
You send soft breezes to mortals, such as nourish the soul,
and, mother of rains,
you nurture the winds and give birth to all.
Without you there is neither life nor growth;
and, mixed as you are in the air we venerate, you partake of all,
and of all you are queen and mistress.
You toss and turn with the rushing wind.
May you, O blessed goddess and many-named queen of all,
come with kindness and joy on your lovely face.”
All: “Hera, we honor you!” and a piece of meat is put into the bowl.
Participants may now step forward to make offerings, such as libations, incense, flowers, votives, etc. They may recite one of the following, or say something from the heart:
An offering in your honor, Zeus Gamelios, “of marriage”
An offering in your honor, Hera Gamelia, “of marriage”
An offering in your honor, Zeus Basileus, “King”
An offering in your honor,
Hera Teleia, “accomplished”
After everyone has had a chance to make an offering that wishes to, the spondephóros once again steps forward to make the final libation. “Hail to you Zeus and Hera, children of Kronos and Rhea. The world rejoices at your union!” He pours a wine libation.
She then explains that the ritual has ended, and invites everyone to the meal and games that will follow.
Thank you for participating! Be sure to sign the form allowing your picture to be taken!
Last updated: 01/30/2006