The Service of Initiates The Ritual of the Initiates The Temple is decorated with rich garlands and bouquets of summer flowers. Candles and fires in the darkness herald the triumph of the sun at its zenith on the approaching longest day of the year. Near the altar is a table with bloodless offerings of summer fruit and flowers appropriate to the season. The faithful people of the city gather before the temple in the cool dark just before dawn on the longest day of the year. The High Initiate and his Second Initiate are dressed in their finest ceremonial robes and wear flower garlands to celebrate the festival. The choir await within the temple. The HIGH INITIATE turns to the people gathered for the ritual and says to them: "On this longest day of the year, the triumph of the Light of Priest-Kings, let us gather here to honor the Holy Ones and thank them for their protection against all the evils of the world." BOTH INITIATES face the people standing in front of the temple.The HIGH INITIATE gestures to the slave standing beside it, and the bar at the foot of the temple steps rings out. Tariq ibn Joshao al Samini raises his Voice."Rejoice all you people, for today Lar-Torvis triumphs on the longest day of the year! Let us give thanks to Priest-Kings, the Holy Ones!" "Rejoice all you people, for today Lar-Torvis triumphs on the longest day of the year! Let us give thanks to Priest-Kings, the Holy Ones!" "Rejoice all you people, for the power of Priest-Kings, our sure defense and shield, shows itself forth today in the victory of the Tor-Tu-Gor! May the strength of Priest-Kings bring us the victory against every threat!" "Rejoice all you people, for the beneficent glory of Priest-Kings shines forth like the sun, bestowing their gifts to all their people.""Be reverent before Priest-Kings, and honor them in the temple." The choir chants from the interior of the temple.."For it is good to pray to the Immortal Ones at the Festival of En'Var." The HIGH INITIATE picks up the golden bowl of sacred chrism and steps over to where the SACRISTAN Slave kneels at the base of the steps. The SACRISTAN Slave rises to his feet. The HIGH INITIATE traces a circle on the slave's forehead, saying, "Priest-Kings, holy and mighty, purify this slave's mind and will to your service, and that of your Blessed Caste, so that this slave may be perfect before you, and worthy to enter into Your sacred temple The SACRISTAN Slave holds out his hands, palms upward, and the HIGH INITIATE traces another circle with the consecrated oil on each of the slave's palms, saying, "Priest-Kings, holy and mighty, purify this slave's body to your service, and that of your Blessed Caste, so that this slave may be made perfect before you and worthy to enter into Your sacred temple." He sets down the chrism bowl and signs the slave with the Circle of Priest-Kings, then steps back up next to the temple door on the side opposite the SECOND INITIATE. Ehsan,the Kajirus rises steadily to his feet, heart rapidly beating in his chest, his hands extend outwards palms up. Eyes glass with pride at the gesture and honor. He holds out his hands, palms upward, and the SECOND INITIATE traces another circle with the consecrated oil on each of the slave's palms, saying, "Priest-Kings, holy and mighty, purify this slave's body to your service, and that of your Blessed Caste, so that this slave may be made perfect before you and worthy to enter into Your sacred temple." He sets down the chrism bowl and signs the slave with the Circle of Priest-Kings, then steps back up next to the temple door on the side opposite the High Initiate. The SACRISTAN Slave picks up the thurible and walks into the temple. He circles the outer section, swinging the smoking incense burner, then goes up to the white railing and censes the altar through it, bowing before the golden circle before continuing. He then walks over o take his place as leader of the choir. Ehsan turns to the High Initiate standing at the entrance and censes him, then the Second Initiate. He censes the people before the temple. As soon as the thurifer has completed his censing of the temple, and Ehsan, the Free waiting outside, the voices of the Temple singing slaves begin a joyful chant calling out to Priest-Kings to attend the celebration. The HIGH INITIATE bows before the golden Circle over the altar, then raises his hands in adoration to the Eternal Circle. He then turns to the lavabo bowl by the entrance, rinses his hands in the water of purification and dries them by passing them over the flame of sanctification as he chants: "Priest-Kings, Immortal Ones, purify me, I pray you so that I may rightly enter into your sacred Temple for this holy ritual on the day of En'Var." : The HIGH INITIATE returns to face the water bowl, and chants: "This holy dawn, purify my mind, that I may know your Truth and proclaim it. This holy dawn, purify my heart, that I may show your love and mercy to all. This holy dawn, purify my hands, that I may help and heal all who are in any need. This holy dawn, purify my ears, that I may hear your voice and obey This holy dawn, purify my feet, that I may walk in the way you have set for me to follow. This holy day of En'Var, purify my whole being from any uncleanness in the blinding radiance of your Victory of Light." The HIGH INITIATE bows, and dips his fingertips once more into the blessed water in the bowl. He touches his lips so that his mouth may be purified to speak the words at the altar of the Holy Ones, saying, HIGH INITIATE "Priest-Kings most holy, most mighty, most glorious, make me clean before you, so that no profane thoughts may turn me from the flawless contemplation of your Will. and no impure act defile my complete obedience to the sacred laws under which you have set me. This sacred Day and always, accept my service before your altar, and make me truly your blessed one, that I may perfectly serve your Will. Hear me, Priest-Kings!" He steps to the other side of the temple door and waits. Kailek, the second Initiate,bows to the Circle, dips his fingers in the Lavabo bowl and touches his lips so that his mouth may be purified to speak the words at the altar of the Holy Ones, saying,"Priest-Kings most holy, most mighty, most glorious, make me clean before you, so that no profane thoughts may turn me from the flawless contemplation of your Will. and no impure act defile my complete obedience to the sacred laws under which you have set me. This sacred Day and always, accept my service before your altar, and make me truly your blessed one, that I may perfectly serve your Will. Hear me, Priest-Kings!" The SECOND INITIATE steps to the side of the temple door opposite where the High Initiate is standing. Tariq .the High Initiate, turns once more toward the plaza in front of the temple, and makes a gesture of warding. He says, "May nothing unworthy of you, O Holy Ones, enter into this, your sacred space. Kailek turns to the gathered people once more and raises his voice. "Come with their favor, as their people, into the Temple of Priest-Kings, to do them honor this holy day." The TWO INITIATES walk into the temple, the High Initiate first, followed by the Second Initiate and then by Ehsan, who kneels at the left of the temple in front of the white railing.. The two initiates walk through the gate in the Railing, and stand side by side facing the altar and the Sardar Mountains, home of Priest-Kings. Kailek: "Waxing and waning, living and dying, all things are yours, Priest-Kings, and obey you, You sustain them within the Eternal Circle that makes your Wholeness and completes it." Tariq ibn Joshao al Samini: "All things are born out of darkness: darkness of the womb, darkness of Midwinter. They circle to darkness again, as the day gives way to night, As men go at last to darkness in the Cities of Dust, and as the year turns, All things, emerging out of darkness, grow upward toward the light of the Central Fire. All are part of your universal Circle, holy Priest-Kings. You hold us all in your hands." Kailek: "Now, at Midsummer, against all darkness, we celebrate the victory of your Light Triumphant." Tariq ibn Joshao al Samini: "Now, when life leaps, in the green lands, most lushly toward its climax, Now, when Lar-Torvis's rays, on this longest day of the year, Are so strong and fierce in our Tahari that they lie on us like a crushing weight; Now, when the very air glows incandescent with your Light at midday -- "Kailek: "With all living things, the work of your invisible power and skill, We offer before you in this great Festival, the praise and honor due your name. With the raised arms and adoring voices of your anointed ones, your Initiates, Sworn spokesmen and interpreters of your commands, holy Priest-Kings, as you have ordained it." Tariq:"Now we offer you these gifts, holy Priest-Kings, asking that you will guard us with your invincible power and grant us our necessities. Send us success in all our proper endeavors." BOTH INITIATES turn to face the offering table. The HIGH INITIATE presents the offerings to Priest-Kings for the people. As the temple choir raise their voices in a hymn of appeal to Priest-Kings, the High Initiate casts a measure of incense into the brazier on the altar, and as the flame flares up in the fire-bowl, he gestures toward the decorated tray which holds the bloodless En'Var offerings of salt, pure water, summer fruits, and colorful midsummer flowers, saying: HIGH INITIATE "Let my prayers rise like this incense to the Sardars, as your people, O Priest-Kings, offer these gifts to you, asking that you will hear them and grant their petitions. May these offerings be acceptable to you, and may you send us your favor in return." The HIGH INITIATE casts a pinch of golden Scimitars salt into the flame, saying, "Receive this pure salt of the Oasis of Two Scimitars, holy Priest-Kings, that as it purifies all things, preserves them from decay, and binds men together in brotherhood, so we may be purified of all that is unclean before you, preserved from all danger, and bound to you by your benevolent power." As the salt is consumed the choir sings, "Accept this offering of purifying salt, holy Priest-Kings! We give you a gift, give to us your favor." Next, the HIGH INITIATE sprinkles a few drops of living water brought from the Scimitars waterfall into the flame, saying: "Receive this pure water from the oasis of Scimitars, water which is our life, holy Priest-Kings, that all our lives may be made yours, and lived according to your Will." As the water sizzles and evaporates, the choir sings, "Accept this offering of life-giving water, holy Priest-Kings! We give you a gift; give to us your favor." Next, the HIGH INITIATE drops a small fresh date from the plate of fresh fruit into the flame, saying, "Receive this date from our oasis orchards, Holy Ones. Grant that the flavor of our life may be as sweet as this succulent fruit we give you. May we be fed by your hand, and all that we need provided by your gift." As the fruit is consumed in the flame, the choir sings, "Accept this offering of sustaining food from our lands, holy Priest-Kings! We give you a gift; give to us your favor." Finally, the HIGH INITIATE picks up one of the flowers on the platter of offerings, and drops it into the fire, saying, "Receive this summer blossom from the gardens of Scimitars, holy Priest-Kings: a bright-colored bud growing out of the darkness of the winter ground, a bloom watered in the Light of spring by your blessed gift of our Oasis pool, a flower flourishing golden now in summer, in the midst of barren desert sands." "So may our hearts bloom, rejoicing in the beauty that surrounds us always, even in the driest and most desolate places. Send us, we beg you, peace and joy, that we may live together in loyal friendship, as members of the Oasis of Two Scimitars." As the flower disappears into the flame, the choir sings, "Accept this offering of living beauty, O Holy Ones. We give you a gift; give to us your favor." When the last of the offerings has been consumed in the sacrificial fire, the High Initiate raises his hands again to the golden circle above the altar and chants: "Oh holy Priest-Kings, now send Your blessing upon us all, like sunshine on the fertile soil of an oasis garden, That your people, now green and growing, on this longest day of the year, May come to harvest, according to your will, At the time and place you have prepared for us." Kailek: "All praise to you, Priest-Kings, holy and mighty, on this, your holy day!" The HIGH INITIATE completes the ceremony by casting another handful of incense into the brazier on the altar, then, turning to the congregation, he blesses them with the sign of the circle of Priest-Kings, and says: "Go forth now rejoicing, all you faithful servants of Priest-Kings, Under the shield of their power, secure in their Victory of Light, to the Festival of En'Var. Dance for joy in the sunshine; celebrate the Light!" "Ta Sardar Gor!" Kailek turns to face the people and repeats: " Ta Sardar Gor! Give Praise to the Holy Ones!" The choir burst into the final joyous hymn as the initiates walk slowly through the white railing and out the door of the temple. Outside the temple, BOTH INITIATES bless the faithful slaves gathered outside. Kailek: "Blessing upon you....""Blessing upon you, happy En'var""Blessings upon you ROE...Happy En'var" : "Blessing upon you. Happy En'var."