The Initiation of the Nymphus (Bridegroom)

 

The Candidate: A man, having already proven his mettle and devotion by passing through the initiations of the Corax grade, stands ready to ascend. He has served his time as the Raven, the messenger, and now seeks a more intimate communion with the God. He has prepared himself through prescribed purifications, possibly involving ritual ablutions with water, seeking the clarity required for this next, profound step.  

The Commencement: Guided once more by the mystagogus, perhaps the Pater himself, whose wisdom illuminates the community, the candidate advances towards the focal point of the sanctuary, often the representation of the Tauroctony or a sacred altar. His demeanour is one of profound humility and anticipation, for he approaches a symbolic union, a mystical marriage with the divine.

An Invocation by the Pater: "O Mithras, Sol Invictus, Genitor Luminis! Behold this soul, once Thy Raven, now aspiring to draw nearer unto Thee. And Thou, Venus Genetrix, under whose celestial guardianship this grade resides, look favourably upon this Thy votary. Purify his heart, make bright his spirit, that he may be found worthy of the sacred bond and the revelation of the New Light (Neon Phos)."  

The Purification and Veiling: Before the central mystery may proceed, further purification may be enacted. Unlike the Lions who are cleansed with honey, the Nymphus, perhaps signifying water's cleansing power, might undergo a final lustration. He is then presented with, or covered by, a bridal veil (velum), a symbol of hidden knowledge, purity, and the threshold between the profane and the sacred mystery he is about to enter.  

The Mystical Marriage: The heart of the Nymphus initiation is the symbolic marriage to Mithras, a rite performed by the Pater acting in persona dei. The veiled candidate stands before the Pater. A sacred silence descends upon the Mithraeum.

A possible Formula spoken by the Pater (representing Mithras): "Receive this pledge, O soul seeking union. As heaven weds earth, as light banishes darkness, so shall thy spirit be joined unto mine. Be thou faithful, be thou hidden in my mysteries, be thou illuminated by my eternal radiance."

The Pater then performs the iunctio dextrarum, clasping the right hand of the candidate in a solemn gesture of fidelity and alliance, sealing the mystical pact between the initiate and the God. This handshake binds him deeper into the fraternity.  

The Unveiling / The Hymn: At a climactic moment, a choice of ritual actions might occur, reflecting an ambiguity in ancient texts. Perhaps the veil is dramatically pulled away, revealing the initiate to the assembled brethren, now bathed in the "new light" symbolized perhaps by the sudden brightening of lamps.  

Formula upon unveiling (based on "ide"): "Ide Nymphe, gaude Nymphe, gaude neon phos! Behold, Nymphus! Rejoice, Nymphus! Rejoice in the New Light!"

Alternatively, the initiate might be called upon to sing a hymn appropriate to this sacred marriage.

Formula prompting the hymn (based on "aide"): "Aide, Nymphe! Sing, Nymphus! Let thy voice ascend in praise of this holy union!"

Bestowal of the Grade and Symbols: The ceremony culminates with the formal acceptance and the bestowing of the symbols specific to the Nymphus grade. The Pater intones the sacred greeting, acknowledging the initiate's new status and divine patronage.

Formula of Acceptance (intoned by the Pater): "Nama Nymphis tutela Veneris! Hail to the Bridegrooms under the protection of Venus!"  

The initiate is presented with, or shown, the emblems of his grade: the Lamp, signifying the newly revealed inner light; the Torch, perhaps the marriage torch, representing the divine fire and life brought by Mithras; and the Diadem, a clear allusion to the patronage of Venus and the honour of this mystical union.  

Conclusion: The ceremony concludes. The initiate, no longer merely Corax but now Nymphus, the Bridegroom, takes his place among his brethren. He has undergone a profound transformation, symbolically joined to his God, privy to deeper secrets, and bathed in the neon phos, the new light flowing from his closer relationship with Mithras. He stands ready for the duties and further revelations that await him on the path towards the ultimate light.