The Initiation of the Perses

 The Candidate: A man, having successfully navigated the fiery trials of the Leo grade, now stands ready to embrace a different aspect of the divine mysteries. He seeks initiation as Perses, a grade intrinsically linked with the Moon, with preservation, and with the life-giving fruits of the earth nurtured by celestial powers. He approaches cleansed, perhaps contemplating the cycles of growth and harvest, both earthly and spiritual.

The Commencement: Led by the Pater, whose authority encompasses all grades, the candidate moves towards the central focus of the sanctuary. The air is hushed, imbued with a sense of ancient wisdom and the quiet power of cyclical regeneration. The brethren watch, understanding that this grade connects them deeply to the foundational myths and the life born from the sacrifice.

An Invocation by the Pater: "O Mithras, Lord of the generative power that springs from the sacred Bull! And Thou, Luna, silent guardian of the night, governess of tides and growth, under whose celestial protection this grade rests! Behold this soul, proven in the Lion's fire, now seeking the wisdom of the Persian. Imbue him with thy preservative grace; grant him understanding of the cycles of life renewed. May he become a faithful keeper of the fruits born from sacrifice, a true Perses in Thy holy service."

The Purification by Honey (as Keeper of Fruits): As with the Leo, the Perses undergoes purification by honey poured upon the hands. However, the symbolism here shifts subtly but significantly. As Porphyry elucidates, this act is performed for the Persian specifically in his capacity as "keeper of the fruits."

Formula during the Honey Ablution: "Let this honey, celestial dew drawn from the Moon, essence of preservation, cleanse thy hands. As honey guards against corruption, so art thou charged to be a keeper of the sacred fruits, the life begotten of the Great Sacrifice. Receive this symbol of the preserving element; let thy hands be dedicated to guarding the bounty that springs eternal from the divine act. Keep pure thy charge, O Persian!"

Invocation to Luna and Mithras the Reaper: The candidate may now offer prayers, acknowledging the dual patronage relevant to his grade – Luna the Preserver and Mithras the Reaper, whose sickle mirrors that of Saturn, the guardian of the highest grade, the Pater.

Prayer by the Candidate: "Hail, Luna, Mistress of the night-drawn dew, nurturer of seeds, purifier of the Bull's life-essence held within thy sphere! Hail, Mithras, who with sickle gathers the divine harvest sprung from sacred blood and spinal marrow! Grant me, thy servant Perses, the wisdom to preserve, the diligence to guard, the reverence to understand the perpetual miracle of life renewed through sacrifice. May I be a worthy keeper of Thy fruits."

Bestowal of the Grade and Symbols: Having undergone the purification and offered due reverence, the candidate is formally accepted into the grade of Perses. He might now don the grey tunic associated with this rank.

Formula of Acceptance (intoned by the Pater): "Nama Persis tutela Lunae! Hail to the Persians under the protection of the Moon!"

He is now associated with the potent symbols of his grade: the Falx (sickle) and the Scythe, implements of the harvest, connecting him to Mithras the divine reaper and the life-giving cycle; he may also carry symbolic twigs or ears of corn. These symbols represent not just earthly harvest but the spiritual reaping of souls saved through the God's actions.

The Role of the Perses: The Perses embodies the preserving power of the Moon, the guardian of life's continuity. He is the "keeper of the fruits," symbolizing the safeguarding of the spiritual benefits derived from Mithras's sacrifice. This grade, bearing the name of the cult's origins, serves as a profound reminder of the ancient Persian roots of the Mysteries and the deep connection between the celestial bodies, the earth's bounty, and the promise of regeneration held within the sacred rites. He stands as a vital link in the chain of initiation, connecting the fiery power of the Lion to the celestial courses navigated by the higher grades.