Ellinais
Ellinais (
Greek gods
. Ellinais was founded in 2005 and has over 30 official members; including academics, lawyers and other professionals. The group has received state recognition of the religion. It is demanding that its offices be registered as places of worship, which could allow the group to perform weddings and other rites. The group believes in world peace, ecological awareness, and the right to education. The group has three high priests, one of whom is Kostas Stathopoulos.
2007 Temple of Olympian Zeus rite
On 22 January 2007 Ellinais held the first known ceremony of its kind at the 1,800-year-old
Corinthian-style
columns in the city centre.
A herald holding a metal staff, topped with two snake heads, proclaimed the beginning of the ceremony before priests in blue and red chitons, or robes, released two white doves, symbols of peace. A priest then poured libations of wine and incense burned on a tiny copper tripod while a choir of men and women chanted ancient hymns under the watchful eye of "guards", dressed as ancient Greek
hoplites, or soldiers.[2]
See also
- Hellenistic religion
- Persecution of ancient Greek religion
- Religion in ancient Greece
- Supreme Council of Ethnikoi Hellenes
References
- ^ Associated Press, Zeus Worshippers Demand Access to Temple. The New York Times, January 19, 2007
- Guardian Unlimited, February 1, 2007
External links
- Official international chapter site Archived 2007-06-10 at the Wayback Machine (in Greek)