Daily Sacrifice Ritual

1. LIGHTING THE SACRED FLAME

Before the start of the ritual, light the incense and candle and recite Homeric Hymn #24:

“Hestia, you who tend the holy house of the lord Apollo, the Far-shooter at goodly Pytho, with soft oil dripping ever from your locks, come now into this house, come, having one mind with Zeus the all-wise — draw near, and withal bestow grace upon my song.”

2. PURIFICATION

Ritually declare that the space is pure for the festival and sacrifice to the gods by doing the following:

“hehKAHS, hehKAHS, ehSTAY bayBAYloy. Let the profane ones depart!”

Then take a sage stick, light it from the already blessed candle, and put it into the water, saying:

“kayr-NEEP-toe-may! Let this water be purified by the sacred fire!”

Circumambulate around the altar, stopping at the front of the altar. Then you sprinkle the altar, the offerings, and the people with khernips. As you sprinkle the water, say:

“O theoi genoisthe apotropoi kakon! O gods, turn away evils!”

The bowl is set away from the altar outside of the room, as it now ritually impure. The used water should be poured directly onto the earth outside the temenos after the ritual.

Another method of purification minus fire is to use bottled spring water. You can do the same ritual minus the fire from above using this type of water.

3. PRELIMINARY INVOCATION

“I first call to the gods to hear and attend my ritual. O Athanatoi (Deathless Ones), Gods of Starry Heaven, Broad Earth, And the Great Below, Khairete, Theoi! Hear, and attend. Bless me with your presence, as I would honor you.”

4. LIBATIONS

For the gods of the household, I pour out the following shares: First, to Hestia, who’s is always the first and the last, Zeus, Agathos Daimon, Apollon, Herakles, Hermes, Hekate, the Dioskouroi, (if there is a festival, libate to the deity(ies) here).

Pour a libation out after saying each deity’s name. Say Be Well Disposed after each libation.

Read Orphic Hymn to all the Gods.

5. OFFERING

“Elthete (Come) Theoi (gods), bless me with your presence, and partake of what I offer, in reverence of you. I offer (pure water/sweet wine/fruits of the earth/fragrant incense/cakes of grain and honey/bright flowers/a hymn of praise/other) as sustenance for your hearts. And with my prayers I entreat you: Watch over me and my family and sustain us. Look kindly on my efforts, for it is through you that I receive all blessings.”

6. HYMNS AND PRAYERS

Recite any appropriate hymns and say any prayers as needed.

7. FINAL LIBATIONS

“O Theoi (Gods), I offer thanks to you.”

(pour libation to all the gods into libation bowl)

“And for Hestia, as yours is always the first and last.”

(pour libation to Hestia into libation bowl).

8. FINAL NOTES

This is based primarily off of the Noumenia ritual found on the Neokoroi Web site and the purification ritual from Temenos Theon. The link to the original purification ritual is here. I know this is very generic, but I’m brand new to Hellenismos and had originally made it for my own personal devotions. I hope this helps other new comers. It’s also for a solitary worshiper, but can be adapted for a family’s use pretty easily. Suggestions are always welcome!