"Since 1985, Aquarian Tabernacle Church has been continuing the Eleusinian Mysteries originally held in Ancient Greece. These mysteries, held every year in honor of Demeter and Persephone, explore universal concepts and truths from the perspective of the seeker of hidden knowledge. Our Priests and Priestesses spend 3-4 months preparing for the festival, working with the energies of the Gods and rehearsing the ritual drama that is presented over 4 days for hundreds of people each Easter Weekend.
Though the main portions of the event focus on Greek deities, there are many workshops and other groups that bring a plethora of alternate ways to explore, including the general mysteries of women, men and those who identify as a mixture of both energies. There is also a vendors space, with many often-requested items and trinkets to take home, and plenty of space for conversations or introspective moments.
Everyone who attends will come away transformed and with wonderful memories of their time in Eleusis."
Every year, the Aquarian Tabernacle Church hosts an amazing, dynamic, and life changing event called the Eleusinian Mysteries, a recreation of the ancient rites of Greece. With vessels who hold the gods, you can meet, talk to, and interact with select Greek gods, in person!
As they said above, vendors have their own space to bring beautiful art and useful things to pagans from all over the world.
This year, however, although the Mysteries are usually held in person, we're all under a quarantine that isolates us from each other. The Mother Church thought long and hard about what to do- cancelling the Mysteries was unthinkable, but just as unthinkable was endangering their people.
"The ATC has all the technological means to move the Eleusinian Mysteries to Virtual Liminal Space for this year's mysteries. The Eumolpidae are currently working on a plan that will allow the Mysteries to take place in a Virtual Liminal space in a way that is easily accessible from several different internet platforms. Our plan is to reproduce the entire experience online, right down to Shopping with Vendors, musical guests and one on one visits with the Gods. Triptolemus gave me several ideas of how to make this happen, and we will be announcing the concrete versions of these ideas as they make their way into this dimension.
Please come to see the Great Mother this year. While we expect to learn much from the Virtual Mysteries, this may be your only opportunity to see it in this form. The Great Mother comes to us at this time, in the Flesh, bringing the entire Pantheon with her to commune with us. Do not miss the opportunity to experience this from the comfort of your own private space and hear Her very important timely message.
History tells us that this is not the only time that the Mysteries have taken Virtual form in times a political or domestic crisis. One time, an attacking Army experienced the mysteries in a way that sent them packing back home. A copy of that article will be attached in the comments of this post. In the expanse of thousands of years of presenting the mysteries we have faced many challenges. We will endure, we will overcome and we will carry on knowing that everything happens for a reason and all challenges are blessings in disguise." -Archpriestess Belladonna LaVeau, on their response to COVID-19
Vending will be done online, and you'll still have the opportunity to meet the deities, experience ritual, and meet the other members of the community! So come join us for this wonderful experience, and we look forward to seeing you!