"THE most salient feature about Antinous, and the thing that makes our religion different from others, is that Antinous was a mortal human being who actually lived," said Antonius Subia in a global Skype link-up this weekend celebrating the birthday of Antinous.
Speaking from the Hollywood Temple of Antinous to celebrants taking part from across the United States, Europe and as far away as Brazil, he noted that we know his birth date ... 27 November ... and we know what he looked like from countless statues.
"He was a human being just like you or me," Flamen Antonius said. "He was not some ray of light of divine perfection. He was a person with faults and failings just like any of us. And yet he became the last deity of the Classical era ... we know he lived ... and we know he became a god."
Joining ceremonies from Germany via Skype, Priest Hernestus offered a reading from MARTIN CAMPBELL's brilliant historical novel about the life of Antinous entitled, THE LOVE GOD, which has received critical acclaim.
The passage described the mountainous woodlands of Bithynia (modern Turkey) where Antinous was born in the year 111 AD.
More big news was made at the virtual-reality conclave was held in conjunction with ceremonies at the HOLLYWOOD TEMPLE OF ANTINOUS when Antonius announced the 4th Sacred Games of Antinous in the modern era will be held August 21st, 2018. Applications for entries are being taken now.
"Everyone has heard of the Ancient Olympics, but there were other Games held in antiquity," Antonius told the celebrants gathered at the Hollywood Temple and via phone and Skype.
"And among the most famous were the Games of Antinous, which were called the Megala Antinoeia ... the Great Games of Antinous," Antonius said. "These were Sacred Games which were held in Antinoopolis, Bithynia and in Mantinea."
The most famous Games were held at Antinoopolis, the city founded by Emperor Hadrian in Egypt at the spot along the Nile where Antinous had drowned in the year 130 AD.
The competitors were primarily young men called Ephebes.
In Antinoopolis these included swimming and boat races in the Nile.
The Great Antinoeia, as the Games of Antinous were called, were held for hundreds of years.
But little was known of the actual competitions until a fragile papyrus was deciphered recently which revealed some intriguing and somewhat shocking details about the Games of Antinous of the year 267 AD and two wrestlers named NICANTINOUS AND DEMETRIUS.
The Games of Antinous faded into obscurity ... but have been revived in the past decade by us. They are held every four years during the cycle of the blooming of the ROSY LOTUS OF ANTINOUS AFTER THE LION HUNT in August.
This is the IV ANTINOEIAD of the modern era, and entry is open to everyone wishing to honor Antinous with their own artistic, academic or athletic talents.
"These Games are open to all ... regardless whether you are gay and regardless of gender," Antonius said.
"You can submit any form of artistic endeavor ... poems, paintings, videos or literary works. But you can also submit dancing, running or other physical effort ... as long as you provide documentation of your performance art," he explained.
Prizes will be awarded to winners, details of which are to be unveiled on this blog in coming days and weeks as the deadline approaches.
For enquiries and submissions, contact us here: antinouspriest@gmail.com
But the Antinous Games were unique in that they also included competition in the arts and music.
The
over-all winner was consecrated as the living embodiment of Antinous
and given citizenship in Antinoopolis, with an all-expense-paid life of
luxury and adoration.
He was worshiped in the temple as the representative of Antinous, the emblem of youth and masculinity. He was the Divine Ephebe.
The Great Antinoeia, as the Games of Antinous were called, were held for hundreds of years.
But little was known of the actual competitions until a fragile papyrus was deciphered recently which revealed some intriguing and somewhat shocking details about the Games of Antinous of the year 267 AD and two wrestlers named NICANTINOUS AND DEMETRIUS.
The Games of Antinous faded into obscurity ... but have been revived in the past decade by us. They are held every four years during the cycle of the blooming of the ROSY LOTUS OF ANTINOUS AFTER THE LION HUNT in August.
This is the IV ANTINOEIAD of the modern era, and entry is open to everyone wishing to honor Antinous with their own artistic, academic or athletic talents.
"These Games are open to all ... regardless whether you are gay and regardless of gender," Antonius said.
"You can submit any form of artistic endeavor ... poems, paintings, videos or literary works. But you can also submit dancing, running or other physical effort ... as long as you provide documentation of your performance art," he explained.
Prizes will be awarded to winners, details of which are to be unveiled on this blog in coming days and weeks as the deadline approaches.
For enquiries and submissions, contact us here: antinouspriest@gmail.com
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