Following the success of Skype ceremonies on the Birthday of Antinous in November and on the December Solstice and Hadrian's Birthday in January, Flamen Antonyus Subia (seen here) enlarged and expanded the international ceremonies for the Equinox.
The ceremonies were held in Hollywood with live participation from adherents in North America as well as Europe, in addition to New Zealand. Thus, we celebrated not just the Vernal Equinox for the advent of Springtime in northern climes ... but also the Autumnal Equinox for those of us throughout South America, South Africa, Southeast Asia, New Zealand and Australia.
It was the first time ever that worshipers in both hemispheres have raised their voices in unison in praise of the God of the Gays and Flamen Antonyus affirms that it is only the beginning.
"We are going to make this a permanent feature of our ceremonies," Antonyus says.
The ritual celebrates the five-day Equinox cycle called the "Cerealia" ... which commemorates the God Mars (the deity presiding over March), the death of Adonis and death of Attis, the veneration of Hadrian's wife the Empress Sabina as well venues Antinous visited at this time of year.
The ritual was carried out by priests on different continents ... with each sharing in responsibilities.
The modern religion of Antinous has adherents in both hemispheres, with especially large contingents in Brazil, Australia and New Zealand in addition to North America, Britain and Europe.
Reflecting this multi-cultural diversity, the ceremonies focused on the hare as an ages-old symbol of fertility and creative forces from the most ancient civilizations up to today.
Novice Priest Martin Campbell, who lives in Britain, offered an Equinox prayer to the Luna Moon Hare which was read by Priest Uendi during the ceremonies.
One adherent, participating from New Zealand, offered a prayer to Tu Er Shen the Chinese rabbit deity of homosexuality.
Priest Hernestus, online from Germany, contributed with prayers for the Egyptian desert hare deity Wenenu, the netjer of swiftness and fertility whose hieroglyph means "to exist."Wenenu and his feminine aspect Wenet are associated with Osiris and the sun god Ra.
The Ancient Egyptians were the first to accept Antinous as a God, calling him Antinous-Osiris.
Taking part from the US, Keith Mezaenaset Hoberg, a W'ab Priest in the Kemetic Orthodox faith, invoked the blessings of the Goddess Isis on all followers of Antinous for the Equinox.
Antonyus called the international Skype ceremony the most successful yet.
"We will be doing much more of this in future, and we will find ways to involve far more people," he said.
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