4.3. Evening Leitūrgia Script⁑

4.3.1. Prologue⁑

4.3.1.1. Lighting the Lykhnon⁑

If the Leitūrgia is being done with a lykhnon which is to be lit for the Leitūrgia and is to be extinguished afterwards, light it and recite (leader only):

I call upon you, o living God, radiant with illuminating fire,
o unseen parent of the Sun, o invisible begetter of light!
Give your strength to this fire,
pour forth your light-giving power into this fire,
and set to work your divine spark within this fire.
Let it enter into this flame and fill it with your spirit,
moving it by your holy breath and presence!

O sacred fire, o light that shines with the light of God!
Manifest your power for my knowledge, and let there be the light of knowing!
Manifest your power for my rebirth, and let there be the light of life!
Let the holy temple of almighty God within you open for me,
let there be breadth, depth, length, height, fullness, and brightness,
let the crown of your Sun-like radiance appear!
May God shine forth through your flame and within your light,
and may your light remain by me here in this place and now at this time!

4.3.1.2. Call to the Way⁑

Tip

Optional, but encouraged if done with other people, whether as a group or open to the public.

Standing by the doorway to the euktērion facing outwards, recite (leader only):

O all you children of mankind, o all you born of the Earth,
o all who you have given yourselves over to drink and sleep in your ignorance of God!
Make yourselves sober, cease your drunken sickness,
end your bewitchment by unreasoning sleep!
Why have you given yourselves over to death,
when you have the power to claim immortality?
You who have wandered with Error, you who have partnered with Ignorance:
think again, think anew!
Free yourselves from the darkness, take hold of the Light,
take part in divine immortality, leave behind your corrupt destruction!
Do not surrender to the way of death by your mockery or distance,
but come, rise, and be guided on the way of life!

Close the door.

4.3.1.3. First Salutation⁑

4.3.1.3.1. On One’s Own⁑

Recite:

May I live in wholeness and health!

4.3.1.3.2. If Others are Present⁑

The leader announces:

Hail to those whom the greeting is given with blessing,
to my siblings, to holy children of God!

The leader recites:

May we live in wholeness and health!

All others present repeat the above as one.

4.3.1.4. Foundation — Opening⁑

Clap, extend the arms out, and recite (leader only):

The glory of the All is God, both Divinity and Nature,
for natural Divinity is renewed by Nature,
and divine Nature is founded in Divinity.

Prostrate silently, setting intentions silently if desired, then sit or kneel at the bōmos.

4.3.1.4.1. Opening the Doors of Divinity⁑

Attention

Only to be done if this is the first time praying the Leitūrgia at a new bōmos intended to become a permanent bōmos.

Make an opening gesture with the hands above the bōmos, and recite (leader only):

Open, Heavens and Earth! Open, Day and Night!
Open, East and West! Open, South and North!
Open, winds and waters! Open, fire and stone!
The two doors of the Earth are opened!
The two doors of the Heavens are opened!
The four doors of the horizon are opened!
The four doors of the world are opened!

The gods send forth their light through the doors;
exalted be all the gods upon their great thrones!
My face looks upon the gods on their thrones,
and the gods on their thrones look upon me.
I am about to sing the hymns of divinity;
may my hymns be heard and my praise be accepted!

4.3.1.5. Meditation⁑

If desired, spend time in meditation before proceeding.

4.3.1.6. Prologue of Aid and Seven Requests⁑

Recite:

Almighty God, Lord, King, Master, Helper, hear me!

Recite, bowing at each “O God”:

O God, hear me my prayers.
O God, save me from error.
O God, cleanse me from vice.
O God, protect me from danger.
O God, rescue me from torment.
O God, keep me from irreverence.
O God, free me from ignorance.

If desired, prostrate and recite the Supplication of the Holy:

Holy God, Holy Strong, Holy Immortal, be merciful to me.
Holy God, Holy Maker, Holy Forebear, be gracious to us.
Holy God, Holy One, Holy Source, be propitious to us all.

4.3.2. Former Personal Prayers⁑

If desired, recite whatever personal prayers as one might choose.

If desired, prostrate and recite the Supplication of the Holy:

Holy God, Holy Strong, Holy Immortal, be merciful to me.
Holy God, Holy Maker, Holy Forebear, be gracious to us.
Holy God, Holy One, Holy Source, be propitious to us all.

4.3.3. Hermetic Prayers⁑

4.3.3.1. Opening Prelude Supplication⁑

Recite:

Sow in me the words of wisdom, and nourish me with the water of immortality.
By this, for this, and for everything, I give unto you my thanks.

4.3.3.2. Prayer of Thanksgiving⁑

Silently recite:

We give thanks to you!
Every soul and heart reaches up to you,
o ineffable Name honored as “God” and praised as “Forebear”,
for to everyone and everything you have shown
tender kindness, affection, love, and sweetest activity,
granting to us mind, word, and knowledge:
mind, that we may understand you;
word, that we may call upon you;
knowledge, that we may know you.
We rejoice, for we have been enlightened by your knowledge.
We rejoice, for you have revealed yourself to us.
We rejoice, for you have made us incarnate divine by your knowledge.

The thanksgiving of humanity to you is this alone:
that we may know you.
O Light of Mind, we know you.
O Life of Life, we know you.
O Womb of every creature, we know you.
O Mother pregnant with the nature of the Father, we know you.
O eternal permanence of the begetting Source, we know you.

Thus do we worship your goodness.
Thus do we ask for one favor:
that we be preserved in your knowledge.
Thus do we ask for one protection:
that we not fall away from this sort of life. ※

4.3.3.3. Evening Prelude Supplication⁑

Recite:

May the sleep of my body become the sobriety of my soul.
May the closing of my eyes become true vision of Truth.
May my silence become pregnant with the Supreme Good.
May my birthing of the Word become the generation of true wealth.

4.3.3.4. Closing Prelude Supplication⁑

Recite:

Let me be receptive to Holy Mind and Sovereign Reason,
that I may be inspired by the divine breath of Truth,
that I may praise God with all my soul and all my strength.

4.3.3.5. Triple Trisagion⁑

Recite:

Holy is God, the Begetter of All.
Holy is God, whose will is done by your own powers.
Holy is God, who wishes to be known and is known by your own.

Holy are you, by whose Word all things are joined.
Holy are you, in whose image all Nature arose.
Holy are you, of whom Nature has not formed a like figure.

Holy are you, stronger than all power.
Holy are you, grander than all excellence.
Holy are you, mightier than all praise.

O you who are unsayable,
o you who are unspeakable,
o you who are called in silence,
accept pure speech offerings from a soul and heart stretched out to you.

Grant my request not to fall from the knowledge that befits my essence.
Accept me and strengthen me, and with this grace,
I shall enlighten those who are in ignorance of their race:
my siblings, your children.
Thus do I believe and bear witness;
I go forth to Life and Light.

Blessed are you, my Forebear!
I who am yours wish to be holy as you are holy,
for you have given to me all authority. ※

4.3.3.6. Sigōdia⁑

Engage in sigōdia, dwelling in thanks and awe and contemplation of the Godhead.

If others are present, the leader judges how long to spend in sigōdia. At their discretion, they should gently ring the bell once to let others know to continue.

4.3.3.7. Abbreviated Repentances⁑

Take some time to silently recollect your actions of the day in silence, to consider any issues or problems or struggles, and to reflect on yourself and your spiritual state and progress on the Way of Hermēs.

Recite:

Without giving thought to what I have said or done,
I have acted as one without mind.
Without mind have I acted with irreverence,
and in irreverence have I journeyed in error,
and in error have I partnered with ignorance.

In my irreverence, error, and ignorance
I have transgressed the laws of Heaven and Earth
by means of my thoughts, speech, and deeds,
by doing that which I should not have done,
by not doing that which I should have done.

For all that I have done openly or secretly,
for all that I have committed against divinity and nature,
for all that I have done wrong or wrongly done,
that I might be held to account to level the balance,
I confess myself to all who hear and see me.

With raised hands and lowered head
do I throw myself before all and the All,
and seek forgiveness for my irreverence, error, and ignorance
that I might escape suffering, corruption, and vice
and walk with mercy, wisdom, and assistance.

I confess my irreverence, error, and ignorance;
may I be forgiven, all who hear and see me!
With love and thanks and praise do I worship the One;
so too do I pray that I might always have understanding
and strive for reverence, attainment, and knowledge.

4.3.3.8. Refranations⁑

Note

The Refranations are only recited at the evening Leitūrgia if they were not recited earlier in the day as part of the morning Leitūrgia.

Recite, wiping the body down with the hands starting from the head and away fully extending the arms with each refranation:

That I might flee death, darkness, and evil,
I will refrain from corruption.

That I might continue on the way of wisdom,
I will refrain from machination.

That I might avoid the errors of drive and desire,
I will refrain from lust.

That I might strive for life, light, and goodness,
I will refrain from arrogance.

That I might subdue my temperament and senses,
I will refrain from audacity.

That I might be saved from punishment and disgrace,
I will refrain from greed.

That I might not be heedless and not be evil,
I will refrain from falsehood.

4.3.3.9. Affirmation of the Way⁑

Recite:

The road to the Beautiful is one: reverence combined with knowledge.
I am thinking; I remember; I am thankful.
There is but one religion of God: to not be evil.

If desired, prostrate and recite the Supplication of the Holy:

Holy God, Holy Strong, Holy Immortal, be merciful to me.
Holy God, Holy Maker, Holy Forebear, be gracious to us.
Holy God, Holy One, Holy Source, be propitious to us all.

4.3.4. Studies⁑

If desired, engage in study of the Way of Hermēs. For the evening Leitūrgia, Anagnōsis is recommended.

If desired, prostrate and recite the Supplication of the Holy:

Holy God, Holy Strong, Holy Immortal, be merciful to me.
Holy God, Holy Maker, Holy Forebear, be gracious to us.
Holy God, Holy One, Holy Source, be propitious to us all.

4.3.5. Offerings⁑

Note

Not all offerings are permissible to be incorporated into the Leitūrgia.

If desired, make offerings to the planets, stars, gods, or other entities, depending on the day or on what celestial events have occurred (Moon reaching a new phase, Sun entering a new decan, etc.). Offerings based on celestial or astrological events should occur at the first non-additional Leitūrgia after the event has happened.

Between successive offerings as well as after the last one, if desired, prostrate and recite the Supplication of the Holy:

Holy God, Holy Strong, Holy Immortal, be merciful to me.
Holy God, Holy Maker, Holy Forebear, be gracious to us.
Holy God, Holy One, Holy Source, be propitious to us all.

4.3.6. Latter Personal Prayers⁑

If desired, recite whatever personal prayers as one might choose.

If desired, prostrate and recite the Supplication of the Holy:

Holy God, Holy Strong, Holy Immortal, be merciful to me.
Holy God, Holy Maker, Holy Forebear, be gracious to us.
Holy God, Holy One, Holy Source, be propitious to us all.

4.3.7. Epilogue⁑

4.3.7.1. Singing of the Child⁑

Recite:

To you, o God, the first author of all generation, do I send these offerings of speech.
O God, you are the Source, you are the Lord, you are the Mind!
Receive these words of mine as you will,
for by your will are all things accomplished through your Word. ※

Prostrate silently, then stand.

4.3.7.2. Foundation — Closing⁑

Extend the arms out, and recite (leader only):

The glory of the All is God, both Divinity and Nature,
for natural Divinity is renewed by Nature,
and divine Nature is founded in Divinity.

Clap once.

4.3.7.3. Final Salutation⁑

4.3.7.3.1. On One’s Own⁑

Recite:

May I walk in reverence and knowledge!

4.3.7.3.2. If Others are Present⁑

The leader recites to all:

May we walk in reverence and knowledge!

All others present repeat the above as one.

4.3.7.4. Extinguishing the Lykhnon⁑

If the Leitūrgia is being done with a lykhnon that was lit for the Leitūrgia and is to be extinguished afterwards, recite (leader only):

It is you who gives us fire, and through the fire light;
it is you who gives us light for our eyes and our hearts.
I put out this lamp that shines with your holy fire,
not to quench your light nor to stem your blessing,
but for the safety and preservation of my life.
As I put out this flame, grant me your Light forever,
for yours is the light that can never truly be extinguished.

Go forth from this lamp, o holy light of the highest God;
depart, holy brightness, and let your flame be scattered,
but let your light always dwell within me as a lamp in my soul,
that I too may always shine with the holy light of the highest God.

Extinguish the lykhnon.