Ritual of Thanksgiving to Asclepius
by Timotheos
(This is a ritual devised for giving thanks to Asklepios for his assistance in healing. Offerings for this ritual that are appropriate are orange juice, Green Tea, multivitamins and anything that will keep you healthy and/or help you heal from your ailment.)
PREPARATION:
A bowl of water and a hand cloth should be placed away from the altar for the participants to purify themselves. A bowl of khernips is already sitting next to the Icon of Apollo.
Procession:
The participants process to the altar after washing their hands thoroughly, carrying the offerings. When the altar is reached, the sacred candle of Hestia is lit, while reciting the following hymn:
Hestia, you who tend the sacred dwelling
Of the far-shooting Lord, Apollon, at holy Pytho,
From your tresses flowing oil ever drips down.
Come to this house! Come in gentle spirit
With resourceful Zeus and grant grace to my song!
(Homeric Hymn #24)
Purification:
The priest dips the sacred knife into the khernips and sprinkles it around the altar while reciting:
Ekas, Ekas! este bebeloi!
Oh Great Lord Apollon the Purifier! Let your waters cleanse
And consecrate this sacred space, making it pure and free
Of all the profane!
Statement of Purpose:
I come now before the God Asklepios
To sing praises to Him and to be merry
To be thankful for the gifts He has brought me
And to honor Him with joy, prayers and libations!
Hymnodia:
I begin to sing of Asklepios, healer of diseases
And son of Apollon. Noble Koronis, daughter of
King Phlegyas bore him on the plain of Dotion,
To be a great joy for men and charm evil pains away.
And so hail to you oh Lord! I pray to you in my song.
(Homeric Hymn #29)
Prayers:
Gracious Asklepios, you who are He with the great knowledge of healing
And the soother of our every ache and pain,
Son of my Patron, Apollon; and made God after thy death.
I give thee praise and thanks for your help to me
In the healing of ____________________.
I herby bless and dedicate this medicine to you.
Let your power be magnified by it and its power by your own.
Bless me with the knowledge to keep myself healthy and strong.
Great and wise Asklepios,
I give thee thanks and honor!
o makar genoito! Let it be thus!
Thusia:
Priest unsheathes the sacred knife and points to the offerings.
Immortal One,
I bring you gifts!
See these things!
And Partake of them through my use of them!
Participants eat of the food. Or if other offerings, it is placed close to or on the sacred Icon of the Gods, Goddesses, and alike.
Libations:
Priest fills the libation cup with the libation water. Drinks half and then pours the rest into the main offering bowl. He/she does this six times, speaking the following things in order for each one.
With you, Lady Hestia, I share the first!
With you, Immortal ones of Olympos, I share the second!
With you, Lord Apollon and Lord Hermes, My patrons, I share the third!
With you, Immortal ones of Gaia, I share the fourth!
With you, Loving Ancestors and those who have departed, I share the fifth!
With you, Lady Hestia, first and last, I share the last!
Closing:
Holy Immortals, My Rite has ended. If it be your will, I shall come again To your altars, bearing offerings, and singing hymns of praise and Thanksgiving!
Khairete! I rejoice!