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Libation to Demeter and Persephone
Members of Hellenion offer libations to certain gods in specific months. September is the month to honor Demeter and Persephone.
You can view photos of the event here.
All participating will come to the ritual clean and pure from miasma. (See here for how to prepare.) Each stops to wash their hands in the khérnips before entering the ritual area. However, there will be no further purifications for this short ritual.
The priestess (or priest or other participant) says the following prayer to Demeter and Persephone, while all lift their hands upward:
“Hear me, Demeter and Persephone, the Two Goddesses of Eleusis. You bring the seasons and the crops; you protect the children; you avenge the unjust. Accept the offerings we are about to make. Give us prosperity, and bring peace into our hearts.”
At this point participants come forth with various libations of water, milk, honey, olive oil, etc. As they pour their libation, they recite one of the following lines:
A libation in your honor, Demeter Kourotróphos, “protector of youth”
A libation in your honor, Persephone Khthonia, “of the Underworld”
A libation in your honor, Demeter Lousia, “the mild”
A libation in your honor, Persephone Praxidikê, “the avenger”
A libation in your honor, Demeter Karpophoros, “bringing fruit”
A libation in your honor, Persephone Hagne, “the pure”
A libation in your honor, Demeter Erinus, “raging”
A libation in your honor, Persephone Sôteira, “the savior”
The Orphic Hymn (#40) to Demeter Eleusinia is read:
“Deo, divine mother of all, goddess of many names,
august Demeter, nurturer of youths and giver of prosperity
and wealth. You nourish the ears of corn, O giver of all,
and you delight in peace and in toilsome labor.
Present at sowing, heaping and threshing, O spirit of the unripe fruit,
you dwell in the sacred valley of Eleusis.
Charming and lovely, you give sustenance to all mortals,
and you were the first to yoke the ploughing ox
and to send up from below a rich and lovely harvest for mortals.
Through you there is growth and blooming, O illustrious companion of Bromios
and, torch-bearing and pure one, you delight in the summer's yield.
From beneath the earth you appear and to all you are gentle,
O holy and youth-nurturing lover of children and of fair offspring.
You yoke your chariot to bridled dragons,
and round your throne you whirl and howl in ecstasy.
Only daughter with many children and many powers over mortals,
you manifest your myriad faces to the variety of flowers and sacred blossoms;
come, blessed and pure one, and laden with the fruits of summer,
bring peace together with the welcome rule of law,
riches, too, and prosperity, and health that governs all.”
The Orphic Hymn (#29) to Persephone is read:
“Persephone, blessed daughter of great Zeus, sole offspring
of Demeter, come and accept this gracious sacrifice.
Much honored spouse of Plouton, discreet and life-giving,
you command the gates of Haides in the bowels of the earth,
Lovely-tressed Praxidike, pure bloom of Deo,
mother of the Furies, queen of the nether world,
whom Zeus sired in clandestine union.
Mother of loud-roaring and many-shaped Eubouleus,
radiant and luminous playmate of the Seasons,
august, almighty, maiden rich in fruits,
brilliant and horned, you alone are beloved of mortals.
In spring you rejoice in the meadow breezes
and you show your holy figure in shoots and green fruits.
You were made a kidnapper’s bride in the fall,
and you alone are life and death to toiling mortals,
O Persephone, for you always nourish all and kill them, too.
Hearken, O blessed goddess, and send forth the earth’s fruits.
You who blossoms in peace, in soft-handed health,
and in a life of plenty that ferries old age in comfort
to your realm, O queen, and to that of mighty Plouton.”
Any special requests or personal devotions are made at this time. As a group we ask Demeter to take special care of the children who are suffering due to hurricane Katrina, and asked Persephone to comfort those who died in that disaster..
To conclude the ritual, a final libation is poured, while saying “Khairete to you, the Two Goddesses. We shall assemble in your honor again.”