Πέμπτη Μεσοῦντος/ Πέμπτ

Πέμπτη Μεσοῦντος/ Πέμπτη ἐπὶ δέκα / Πεντεκαιδεκάτη, XV day
From today’s sunset: fifteenth day of Boedromion.
Full Moon
‘The day of the gathering’. Agyrmós- Prorresis (formal declaration bidding depart to those not qualified): this is the first ‘official’ day of the Mysteries. The Archon Basileus calls the gathering (agyrmós) in the Stoa Poikile, in Agorà, of those already initiated into the Lesser Mysteries of Agrai. In the presence of the Hierophant and the Dadouchos, the Sacred Herald delivers the formal proclamation (prorresis).
“The leader of the mystai proclaimed to the assembly that they must be pure in hands and soul and of Hellenic speech.”
“Whoever is pure from all stain and whose soul is conscious of no sin and who has lived a good and just life.”
“Come ye all who are pure of hands and of intelligible speech.”
“If there is someone who is not initiated into the venerable initiations, or who is atheist, or who has not a pure disposition, get out from the sacred ceremonies.”
“Citizens’ Assembly … the first day of the Mysteries.”

Obligation to fast during the day: “fasting on the sacred days of the Rarian Demeter” but “because She broke Her fast at nightfall, the initiates time their meal by the appearance of the stars.”

“…to the Mother, the first-born Earth, the Kybeleian Kore said:
…of Demeter…o Zeus who see everything…
o Helios, o Fire who go across all the cities, when
to the Goddesses of victory and to the Goddesses of fate and together with the Moira which oversees all things You appeared,
You increases the brightness, shining Daimon,
with Your dominion; by You everything can be subdued, everything supported,
everything blazed; everywhere we have to endure the works of the Moira.
Lead me, O Fire, to the Mother, if I can resist fasting,
and to accomplish a fast of seven nights, or after the day.
For You I have fasted for seven days, Olympian Zeus and Helios who see everything……”
Sicilian golden tablet- Otto Kern, Orphicorum fragmenta fr. 47

Registration of the initiates and payment of the fees that go to the various Eleusinian priests and priestesses.
(Hesychius, s.v. agyrmos ; Schol. on Aristoph. Ran. 369; Poll. viii. 90; Call. Aetia 10; Ovid Fasti 530)

(Relief with Demeter seated in the centre; Kore and Triptolemus at Her side. From Campania, I BCE, now in the Louvre…)