A Christo-Irish Liturgy of Saint Basil, Redone (Incomplete)

This Ritual was originally drafted when I was a practicing Christo-Irish Reconstructionist. It was never completed, however.

The procession starts at a predetermined place, and proceeds to the ritual space- preferably an interior room with the procession beginning outside. But if outdoors, the procession begins indoors and proceeds to a space marked with stones.

The processional advance should be accompanied by a short [PRAYER], [CHANT], [POEM], or [HYMN], as determined by the Priest[ess] leading it.

At the entrance to the ritual space, the Priest[ess] should dip their hands into a bowl of water and oil, and anoint their foreheads and chest above the heart with whatever movement seems appropriate- passing the bowl to the person behind them when they're finished (if any others are present); before passing it the Priest[ess] should take their hands, cupped, and pour water onto the ground in front of both corners of the entry space- first left, then right.

Blessed spirits of the threshold, o' glorious guardians of the doorposts, judge me worthy to pass before you.

The Priest[ess] then enters the ritual space, approaches, and kisses the altar. The chalice of Wine (or Water) is uncovered, and is arranged together with the dish of bread and tallow, and the urn of honey and the spoon.

Glory and honor- honor and glory.

The ointment is opened, and any icons present on the Shrine are anointed on their foreheads while praying over each.

To the Trinity which surrounds me, the Gods and UnGods who guide me, the Fae who relinquish me, and the Ancestors who created me.

Finally, the Priest[ess] anoints their own lips, praying:

Let my mouth be opened, that I might sing thy praise.

Returning the ointment to the Altar, they circle-cross the box of incense, and put incense into the censer while saying the following:

A shibh beannaithe! Glory be to thee!

The Priest[ess] leaves the altar and offers incense before the entry to the ritual space in accordance with the Raising of the Incense Before the Sanctuary- offering the incense three times to the entryway, praying:

With the blessing of the incense, I bid you sanctify this now-holy space of yours, which I create this [day / night] to honor you in proper regard.

The Priest[ess] then offers the incense around the church in accordance with the Raising of the Incense in the Church- moving from the left of the ritual entrance around the circle, offering incense before each direction- repeating the prayer at each direction.

Returning to the ritual entry, the following prayer is said:

I worship you, who have come to me - and as you have come to me before, tonight it is I who step into your house in the hours and spaces inbetween, and greet you as yours, to honor you in this space.

The censer is returned to the Altar. The Priest[ess] then prostrates themself before the altar, forehead to the earth, and prays:

Your names are holy and full of glory- now and forever. Blessings, glory, and praise are due to you, who have been from the beginning, will continue to the end, and will be for now and forever more.

A shibh beannaithe! Glory be to thee!

Returning to a sitting position on the knees, the Priest[ess] lights the offertory fire and continues.

Hear me, and accept the prayers and supplications I offer. For I give the offerings and oblations, and my thanksgiving to you. For thou art the most gracious wellspring of Life, and have offered me honor and glory on every occasion, in every condition, and for all things.

Next they present the food offerings to the fire in order, according to the prayer- first with Bread.

O' bounteous givers of all good gifts, I bathe thy palms in flour and grain so that you might bless the land and its plantations, the crops and vines, the fruit-bearing trees, and all the bounties of the Earth... May the harvests be plentiful!

Then with Tallow.

O' bounteous givers of all good gifts, I bathe thy palms in whitest tallow so that you might bless the cattle and the swine, the ram and the goose, and all that they provide... May they be fat, and healthy, and fine!

Then with Wine (or Water).

O' bounteous givers of all good gifts, I bathe thy palms in showers of Wine so that you might bless the winds of the heavens, and the rains, and the fullness of the waters born by those rivers and lakes in our domain.... May the furrows be watered!

Lastly Honey is offered

O' bounteous givers of all good gifts, I bathe thy palms in golden honey so that you might bless those who have taken care of these offerings- the first harvests, oil, incense, coverings, books, and altar vessels, and all else that lies before you.

Reward them, though they may not know you. Protect them, though they may not see you. Fill their houses and their stores with all goodness, and surround them with your power... Accept them as your own, as their work is steady and good, and they have allowed me to show my thanksgiving.

The Priest[ess] (and any present) next sings [HYMN] or reads [POEM] as vocal offering. When it is complete, three candles- which have each been anointed with an oil of the three elements respectively- are lit from the offertory fire, and the fire is smothered.

The censer and a bough of Juniper are then presented to the Altar. The Priest[ess] circle-crosses it once more, and a prayer is then said as the incense is offered according to the Raising of Incense Around the Altar- moving from left to right, three times around the Altar, praying:

With grace and humility, to whom glory, honor, power and worship are due, I give thee praise.

The Priest[ess] returns the censer and bough to the Altar. The ointment is then poured on the ground in front of the Altar.

Oh those who are great and true, your names are anointed, and the ointment is poured forth. In every place, incense is offered before your holy names- a pure offering and symbol of my prayer. May you accept them... May they rise before you as this incense raised by my hands this [evening / morning], and may its aroma be pleasing to your senses. For blessed and glorious are your holy names, now and forever more.

The Priest[ess] kneels before the altar and supplicates themself, forehead to the earth, praying:

Now I ask and appeal to your goodness and glorious virtue... Grant me the endowments and benefactions, as you give me strength.

The Altar is then kissed and the Syncretic Healing Spell of Airmedh is performed. After completion, it is burnt while praying:

Let me entreat your goodness, that you remember those who are ill; that you grant them restoration and sustenance of their health, and accord them mercy and compassion, and grant health to them.

Remove from them all sickness and ailments and cast away its spirit so that no mark or blemish or tarnish shall. And for those who have long laid in sickness, raise them up. And for the souls of those so tormented, assist them and bestow upon them grace. For both the soul and the body may ail, but you are the refuge and the comfort.

The Altar is kissed again and the [SPELL] is performed. After completion, it is burnt while praying:

Let me entreat your goodness, that you remember the souls of those departed; that you grant mercy on each one by their rightful name.

Take them to your bosom at Tech Duinn, and feed them. Sustain them in green pastures of Mag Mell, and in waters of comfort Tír fo Thuinn. Repose their souls in Mag Cíuin, where all sadness and distress, and sighing, has fled in your glorious light.

The Altar is kissed a third time and the [SPELL] is performed. After completion, it is burnt while praying:

Let me entreat your goodness, that you remember your subjects; that you smile upon those who cry your name in ecstasy and bear your everlasting witness.

Fill them with thy beauty and grace, and remake them wholly in the image of your virtues. Make them worthy to hear you and act upon your petitions. Direct their hands according to your will, and lead them in the ways to do that which is pleasing to you- so that through them thy holy names may be glorified, and may continue in such glory forever.

Another [HYMN], [POEM], or [PRAYER] is said, as a vocal offering. When completes, the Priest[ess] supplicates themself before the Altar a final time, forehead to the earth, and prays the following:

You who have protected and assisted, preserved, and accepted me, had compassion upon me, supported me, and brought me to this hour... Keep me in peace this blessed [day / night], and all the days of my life; grant me to conclude this blessed day, and all the days of my life, in peace.

Once complete, the candles are snuffed and the icons covered once again with a cloth.

May all your blessings, and your grace, your strength, support, and love, help us and keep us forever. A shibh beannaithe!

Raze the Temple in the traditional manner.