Ritual template

A flexible contemporary ritual outline adapted from the Pithos template by Thrasys. Replace the bracketed prompts with your own choices. Use “Use this template” below to save an editable personal copy.

Festival overview / intention

[Name the occasion, the deity or deities, their epithets, and your intention. Add calendar notes and sources where relevant.]

Materials and preparation

[Choose your offerings, a bowl of clean water, and any images or tools you wish to use. A candle or electric light is optional.]

Procession

Carry your offerings into the ritual space. At home this can be a short walk, or a pause before entering the space.

We bring our offerings and praise for the deathless gods and enter this sacred space.

Purification / Khernips

Prepare clean water and ask for a blessing. Wash your hands and sprinkle a little water around the altar.

[Speak a purification prayer of your own, or use the prayer to Apollon below.]

Prayer to Apollon for Khernips — Thrasys

Apollon, Phoebus, light bringer, giver of healing and plague, we call to you to purify this water, Katharsios so that we may clean and bless this place.

With this water I purify this space and this altar so I may give offerings and praise to the deathless Gods.

Opening with Hestia

Arrange the offerings and light a candle if you are using one.

Read Homeric Hymn 24 to Hestia, translated by Hugh G. Evelyn-White. Pour an opening libation to Hestia.

Invocation

[Name the deity, include any relevant epithets, and invite their presence. For a festival, name the occasion.]

Prayer and hymns

[Choose a hymn or prayer. Include the translator and source. Add personal or community intentions if desired.]

Offerings and libations

[Deity’s name], we offer this libation to you.

Accept this offering of incense, that it may carry our prayers, hopes, and praises and be pleasing to you.

Accept this offering on behalf of my household and the community, a share in the blessings the gods have given us this season.

[Present any creative or community offerings. Decide beforehand which portions are offered and which are shared. Keep offerings intended for the dead separate according to your practice.]

Silence and reflection

Pause in silence. Reflect on your intentions, the gods you have honored, and the occasion.

Closing

[Offer a farewell prayer or hymn to the deity or deities honored.]

We thank you for your blessings and many gifts.

[Pour a closing libation to the deity or deities.]

Prayer to Hestia — Thrasys

Hestia prytaneia, lady of eternal flame, center of the communal fire - accept these offerings and prayers on behalf of our community, that it may be pleasing and bring honor to the gods of Olympus. As the gods will it so it shall be.

Pour a final libation to Hestia. Close the ritual and put away your materials.