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Exegetai

Exegetai in ancient Greece were religious specialists who dispensed advice about carrying out cultus to different gods. They interpreted religious laws and customs and guided other people upon request.

Within the context of Neokoroi, this position of religious advisor is preferable to the idea of a "priest" - which is a confusing term at best. A hierus (priest) in ancient Greece was tied to one temple, one cult, and the position was often hereditary or even bought. Whereas in modern times, we pagans tend to think of priesthood as a sign of particular devotion to a god or gods, and one which is earned by a person through dedication. This latter idea is commendable, but fairly difficult to judge.

So we're leaving "priesthood" to other people to decide for themselves. And when we have open shrines and temples, we will be neokoroi of them. What is missing are people to guide and counsel us on religious matters when necessary. So we are instituting the role of exegetai within Neokoroi.

One can be an exegete of a specific god, or of general Hellenic ritual. People who wish to take on this role must be willing to be available to anyone who needs them, within reason. This includes the Hellenic pagan community beyond Neokoroi, potentially.

An exegete is NOT, however, a personal counselor or mouthpiece for the god. They are simply knowledgeable individuals who offer advice on how to recognize and interpret the actions of their deity, information on how to conduct rituals, and so forth. But always, they are simply an individual, someone whose opinion is to be respected because of their experience and contributions - but not an authority in the sense that they are above questioning and critique.

The process for becoming an exegete will follow this basic outline - The person will submit a profile, including their academic and personal experience, their reasons for wanting to be an exegete, and some other general information. Thista, with help from the exegetai management panel, will make sure the person meets the basic requirements before proceeding further. If so, that person will be asked to write some articles that will be posted to the website on the page for the god in question - these should be a mixture of historical information and personal knowledge, but do not have to meet academic standards (in other words, you don't have to have a degree to be an exegete, you just need to be able to convey your knowledge adequately). This will also indicate their willingness to assist the community and further the cultus of their god. Once the membership has the chance to read these materials, a live chat will be scheduled to which any interested member is invited, where they will have a chance to ask the candidate questions and evaluate them. Those who participated will then send feedback to the management panel, who will make a final decision.

If the candidate is not accepted, they may reapply in a year. If the candidate is confirmed, they will appear on this page along with a profile and links to their contributions on the site. Anyone may then contact them for help in relevant matters. Feedback may be left about them on their profile.

Exegetai may not charge for their services within this context, but they may accept donations - monetary or otherwise - if offered voluntarily.

Exegete Application (you must be at least 18 years old to apply, and must have been an active member of Neokoroi for at least six months)