PAT rituals

The internet—and especially e-mail, forums, and social media—has made it possible to connect to anyone, anywhere, anytime. There are forums, groups, and lists aplenty where one can find modern practitioners. Elaion, is a good example. Yet, talking with someone is not the same as worshipping with someone, even if the discussions you are having are very in-depth and religious. Elaion’s standpoint on Hellenistic religious discussion is that it should be part of communal worship, and that communal worship needs something more: shared ritual. That is the basic foundation of group worship, and also of PAT—Practicing Apart Together.

Practicing Apart Together is based on the premise of ‘Living Apart Together’ relationships, where partners keep their own home but still form a household; PAT ritual is performed at your own home, but aligned with others around the globe. There are, of course, various ways to go about this. The simplest way is to decide on a date, a time, and a purpose and to honour in your own way. It is also possible to match time tables so all participants are executing the libation or ritual at the exact same time. Elaion organises several PAT rituals a year, for which we provide a date, a time, and a ritual outline anyone joining can follow. On the Facebook group, experiences and images are shared in order to bring the community closer. Below, you will be able to download the rituals we have up so far:

Hekatombaion
4 – Aphrodisia
12 – Kronia
16 / 15-16 – Sunoikia
21 – Kourotrophos, (Hekate &) Artemis at Erchia
23-30 – Panathanaia

Metageitnion
4 – Herakleia
12 – Sacrifice to Demeter at the Attic deme of Erchia
12 – Sacrifice to Zeus Polieus, Athena Polias, and Apollon Lykeios in Athens
15-18 – Eleusinia
16 – Sacrifice to Kourotrophos, Hekate & Artemis at Erchia
19 – Sacrifice to The Heroines at Erchia
20 – Sacrifice to Hera ‘Telkhinia’ at Erchia
25 – Sacrifice to Zeus Epoptes at Erchia

Boedromion
2 – Niketeria
3 – Plataia
4 – Sacrifice to Basile in Erchia
5 – Genesia
5 – Sacrifice to Epops at Erchia
6 – Kharisteria
7 – Boedromia
12 – Democratia
13-23 – Eleusinian Greater Mysteries
17 – Epidauria
27 – Sacrifice to the Nymphs, Achelous, Alochus, Hermes & Gaea at Erchia + Sacrifice to Athena at Atic deme of Teithras

Pyanepsion
6 – Proerosia
7 – Pyanepsia
8 – Theseia
8 – Oskhophoria
9 – Stenia
11-13 – Thesmophoria
14 – Sacrifice to The Heroines at Erchia
16 – Apatouria
30 – Khalkeia

Maimakterion
16 – Maimakteria
20 – Pompaia

Poseideon
5 – Plerosia
8 (or equinox) – Poseidea
10 – Rustic or Lesser Dionysia
16 – Sacrifice to Zeus Horios at Erchia
26 – Haloa

Gamelion
8 – Sacrifice to Apollon Apotropaius, Apollon Nymphegetes, & the Nymphs at Erchia
9 – Sacrifice to Athena at Erchia
12-15 – Lenaia
27 – Theogamia/Gamelia
27 – Sacrifice to Kourotrophos, Hera, Zeus Teleius, and Poseidon at Erchia

Anthesterion
2 – Sacrifice to Dionysus at Erchia
11-13 – Anthesteria
20-26 – Lesser Mysteries
23 – Diasia

Elaphebolion
6 – Elaphebolia
8 – Asklepieia
9 – Galaxia
10-14/10-17 – Greater (City) Dionysia
17 – Pandia

Mounichion
6 – Delphinia
16 – Mounikhia
19 – Olympieia
20 – Sacrifice to Leucaspis at Erchia
21 – Sacrifice to Tritopatores at Erchia

Thargelion
4 – Sacrifice to Leto, Pythian Apollon, Zeus, Hermes & Dioskuri at Erchia
6-7 – Thargelia
16 – Sacrifice to Zeus Epakrios at Erchia
19 – Bendideia
19 – Sacrifice to Menedeius at Erchia
Between 20 and 25 – Kallunteria
25 – Plynteria

Skirophorion
3 – Sacrifice to Kourotrophos, Athena Polias, Aglaurus, Zeus Polieus, Poseidon & possibly Pandrosos at Erchia
12 – Skira – Female – Male
14 – Dipolieia/Bouphonia
28/29 (last day) – Diisoteria