The Investiture of the Pater

Scene: The inner sanctum of the Mithraeum, prepared for the most solemn ceremony – the elevation of an initiate to the seventh and ultimate grade, that of Pater, the Father. The assembled community, comprising initiates of all preceding grades, watches with profound reverence. The atmosphere is heavy with sanctity, wisdom, and the palpable presence of the divine powers invoked. Only those who have achieved the rank of Heliodromus and demonstrated exceptional piety, wisdom (sophia), and dedication are considered for this highest office.

The Candidate: A man, having journeyed through all six preceding grades, from the shadowed flight of the Corax to the solar radiance of the Heliodromus, stands forth. He is no longer merely an aspirant but a vessel chosen for leadership, selected perhaps by existing Patres or acclaimed by the community he is destined to lead. His preparation involves not trials of endurance, but deep immersion in the theological, astrological, and philosophical tenets of the cult, embodying the pietas expected of a Sanctus Pater.

The Commencement: Led perhaps by a Pater Patrum, if such a dignitary presides, or by the most senior existing Father, the candidate approaches the central altar or throne reserved for the community's leader. He comes not to be tested, but to be consecrated, to assume the mantle of Mithras himself upon earth.

An Invocation to Mithras by the Presiding Pater: "O Mithras, Deus Sol Invictus, Rock-born Lord, Mediator between the Heights and the Depths! And Thou, ancient Saturn, Guardian of Time and Wisdom, under whose profound auspices this sacred grade resides! Look now upon this soul, Thy devoted servant, who hath ascended the sevenfold ladder unto this summit. Grant him Thy wisdom, Thy authority, Thy unwavering justice. Endow him with the spirit of the true Shepherd, the Magister Sacrorum, the Defensor of Thy flock. Consecrate him now as Thy living image, Thy voice amongst Thy brethren, a Father indeed!"

Another Invocation, to Saturn, by the Presiding Pater

"Hail Saturnus, primordial sire, keeper of the adytum of ages, whose hoary wisdom did precede the nascent cosmos, and whose revolutions mark the unyielding procession of temporal verity! We, thy humble votaries, assembled within this sanctified spelaeum, where the effulgence of Sol Invictus Mithras doth illuminate the path of righteousness, do entreat thy ponderous majesty. Attend, O Ancient of Days, thou from whose arcane cogitations the very skein of destiny is spun, and whose decree doth lend stability to the empyrean spheres.

Behold this devout soul, [Name of Pater], who, having with diligence and fortitude traversed the antecedent gradations of our sacred mysteries, now stands upon the threshold of that most venerated station, the rank of Pater. As the shepherd guardeth his flock, so shall he tend to this sodality, his brethren in Mithras. Therefore, O Saturnus, Chronos magnificent, from whose sickle the ripened grain of wisdom is reaped, we implore thy divine intercession.

Imbue him, we beseech thee, with the profound understanding of thy cyclical governance, that he may discern the subtle harmonies of creation and dissolution, the ebb and flow of the stellar tides, and the ineffable secrets that lie veiled beyond mortal ken. Grant unto him that gravitas befitting his office, a steadfastness unyielding as the adamantine rock from which the Unconquered God himself did spring forth. Let his pronouncements be weighed with the gravity of thy aeonian deliberation, and his counsel echo the sagacity of thy far-reaching sight.

As thou art the guardian of the ultimate gate, the final ascent for the soul refined, bestow upon this, thy dedicated servant, the keys to unlock the hearts of his brethren, to bind them in fraternal concord, and to guide them through the labyrinthine passages of virtue toward the luminous consummation. May his spirit, like thine own, be a repository of ancient lore and a fount of measured judgment. Endow him with the scythe of discernment, to sever falsehood from truth, and the sceptre of righteous authority, that he may preside with equity and inspire by august example.

Let thy influence, O progenitor of gods and men, descend upon him as the dew of evening upon the parched earth, invigorating his purpose, sanctifying his vows, and consecrating him wholly to the service of the Invincible Mithras. May he, under thy tutelary watch, become a Pater worthy of the sacred name, a steadfast pillar in this temple, and a luminous beacon reflecting the eternal verities, until that appointed hour when time itself shall be subsumed into the greater glory. Hearken, O Saturnus, and in thy vastness, grant our solemn petition."

The Solemn Investiture: This is not an initiation through trial, but a solemn bestowal of authority and responsibility. The candidate kneels or stands with profound humility as he receives the sacred symbols of his office, conferred by the presiding authority.

Formula during the Bestowal of the Staff and Ring: "Receive this Staff, symbol of the guidance thou shalt provide unto thy brethren, the support thou shalt offer upon the path. Receive this Ring, emblem of the wisdom now entrusted unto thee, the unbreakable bond uniting thee with the Mysteries and with thy God. Wield them with justice, temperance, and unwavering faith."

Formula during the Bestowal of the Phrygian Cap: "Receive this Cap, formed as that worn by Mithras Himself at His birth from the Rock. Let it signify His presence guiding thy thoughts, His authority resting upon thee. Wear it as His deputy, His very image amongst men."

Formula during the Bestowal of the Sickle: "Receive this Sickle, attribute of Saturn, Lord of the Harvest and of Time. As Saturn governs the cycles, so shalt thou oversee the seasons of this community. As the sickle reaps the grain sprung from the Bull's sacrifice, so shalt thou gather souls unto the light, preserving the sacred traditions through all ages."

Proclamation and Acclamation: The newly invested Pater rises, adorned with the symbols of his supreme rank. The presiding authority presents him to the assembled community.

Proclamation: "Behold your Pater! Chosen, consecrated, invested with the authority of Mithras and the wisdom of Saturn! He is your guide, your teacher, your defender. Hear him, honour him, follow him as he follows the light of the Invictus!"

The community responds with a solemn acclamation, perhaps striking their spears or uttering a ritualised shout of acceptance and loyalty.

Formal Acceptance Greeting: The new Pater, standing in his vested authority, receives the formal greeting of his station, encompassing all brethren from East to West.

Greeting intoned by the Community or Presiding Pater: "Nama Patribus ab oriente ad occidentem tutela Saturni! Hail all Fathers from East to West, under the protection of Saturn!"

Assumption of Role: The ceremony concludes as the new Pater takes his seat upon the designated throne or accepts the position of honour. He is now the Pater Sacrorum, the Father of the Mysteries for this community. He bears the ultimate responsibility for maintaining the rites, initiating new members into all grades, interpreting the sacred lore, representing Mithras in the enactment of the Sacred Meal, and guarding the spiritual welfare of his fraters. His word carries the weight of divine delegation; his life must be an exemplar of the pietas and wisdom he now embodies. He stands at the apex, the living link between the earthly community and the celestial Father, Mithras Invictus.