mt nysa mystery school

Hiereis Studies Program

Mt Nysa offers the Hiereis Studies Program for those who wish to serve the gods of Ancient Hellenic Mystery Religion.

The English words priest and priestess – related to the Greek πρεσβύτερος (presbúteros; elder) – are imperfect translations of a variety of sacred officials in the Ancient Hellenic Religion. Most often, these officials were not pastoral leaders in the modern clerical sense, but ritual experts known as an ἱερεύς (hiereús; male) or ἱέρεια (hiéreia; female). These words in turn come from the Greek ἱερός (hierós; holy, sacred, consecrated), and can be translated literally as “man/woman concerned with the sacred,” or to simplify, “holy man/woman.” Note: Hiereis is the plural form of hiereus; within the context of Mt Nysa and this Program, it is employed as a gender neutral term. The same is true of Priest/Priesthood, though less often used.

Our approach

The Hiereus then and now

Any individual in a state of purity may perform rituals in Ancient Hellenic Religion; clergy has never been required for this. Hiereis were an extension of the community and dedicated representatives of it (to the Theoi, Gods), often facilitating festivals, rites of passage, and divinations. Most importantly, they maintained and promoted the cult of their deity (including care of the sanctuary and cult images). In the ancient Hellenic world, an individual could become a sacred official by appointment, election, lot, inheritance, or even purchase. It did not require a specific training, personal calling, or spiritual gift, but was civic in nature – though certain attributes could set apart a good hiereus (generosity, piety, and so on). As we cannot (and do not wish to) replicate the societal structures of Archaic-Classical Greece, there is no straightforward process for becoming a modern Hellenic priest or priestess. 

Our Program offers an adapted yet authentic pathway for priesthood based on intensive study and communal appointment, rooted in the legacy of the hiereus/hiereia. It comprises of advanced education in the Ancient Hellenic Religion, particularly ritual form, complemented when appropriate by divinatory, magical, or healing skills. Candidates specialise in the traditions of a chosen deity (we focus on mystery deities, or those associated with mystery cult), researching their origins, mythologies, festivals, epithets, sanctuaries, cultic regulations, and offerings. Rather than attempting to reconstruct one particular cult from fragmented historical sources, candidates are encouraged to survey many cults of the deity and form a new and localised tradition.

Upon completion of the Program, candidates and their assignments will be put forward to the Mt Nysa community for consideration. Should their appointment be confirmed by two independent divinations, they will be consecrated as an Hiereus or Hiereia and recognised as a sacred official by Mt Nysa. See more on this process below. From there, Hiereis may form temples and/or lead communities as they feel called without oversight or regulation (beyond the local and federal laws of their land). In most places, they are able to legally officiate weddings and funeral services.



curriculum and tuition

Studying with mt nysa

This Program requires demanding reading of primary source and secondary scholarship in the English language, with consideration of ancient literature, non-literary texts, and material culture. Knowledge of Ancient Greek is not required, though we supply materials to understand the language at a rudimentary level (proficiency in alphabet, Classical pronunciation, and transliteration), and encourage further study in this arena. All reading materials are provided as part of the Program, organised by module in PDF form. Sacred tools and objects (hiera) will be suggested to procure. Many of these can be made or sourced from low-cost sources, such as thrift stores.

The Hiereis Studies Program is made up of nine core modules:

  1. Advanced Hellenic Religion
  2. Deity Specialisation I: Origins, Hymns, and Mythology
  3. Priests and Priesthood in Ancient Greece
  4. Deity Specialisation II: Sanctuary and Historical Cult
  5. Special Rites I: Protection and Purification
  6. Deity Specialisation III: Festival Cycle and Calendar
  7. Rites of Passage: Birth and Death, Coming of Age and Marriage
  8. Deity Specialisation IV: Sacred Officials and Objects
  9. Special Rites II: Magic, Divination, and Healing Traditions

Each module has readings, reflection questions, assignments, and a check-in session (Zoom or email) with Program instructor. The Program is designed for 9 months of study, but candidates may move more quickly or take up to 18 months to complete. Tuition is $150 per module.

Note from Bria Melitta: I wish I could provide this Program for free, but between software/domain subscriptions and countless hours of material sourcing, organisation, and check-ins—well, you get the idea. I am obliged to cap this demanding Program to a handful of students at any given time. That being said, times are undeniably tough and everyone is coming from different circumstances. Financial aid is available for qualified candidates; simply indicate need in application.

Candidates may choose to end their studies at any time. If a candidate leaves the Program early, they will not be charged for additional modules. Please note that no refunds can be given on modules already begun or completed.



what comes next?

Confirmation process

Upon completion of all nine modules, candidates forward their collected assignments to the Hieropoioi (“makers of the holy;” council overseeing sacred rites). These Hiereis are experienced members of Mt Nysa who volunteer to review candidate assignments, perform inductive divinations to confirm divine approval of the appointment (2 required), and witness the oath ceremony of the new Hiereus/Hiereia.

“What if the divinations are not favorable?!” I knew you’d ask! If a candidate has successfully completed the nine modules, we assume a certain level of maturity in their knowledge, practice, relationship with deity and discernment in becoming a sacred official. This process is not intended to gatekeep consecration, but to provide communal feedback, recognition, and final confirmation. Two divinations are required as they can ensure neutrality and inform one another (e.g.: Divination #1 has an unfavorable or ambiguous outcome; Divination #2 offers context, such as advising the candidate to wait another month or perform a particular sacrifice).

Following consecration, candidates are recognised as Hiereis by Mt Nysa. They may go on to create their own temples, religious communities, services or educational offerings as they feel called, though primary focus should be on the formation and maintenance of the deity’s cult in their local community.



prerequisite & application

admissions

Mt Nysa’s Hellenismos Basics Course is a prerequisite for admission into the Hiereis Studies Program.*

*Prerequisite may be waived for applicants with previous academic study of Ancient Hellenic Religion. In your application, please note any relevant courses of study, books read, or other experience for consideration.

Program Inquiries: admissions@mtynsa.com




applications currently open

"Who organises this program? What are your qualifications?"

No one individual or group was responsible for initiating sacred officials in the ancient world. This is why we have adapted an appointment process in our small-scale way. As for the founder behind this collective “we,” my name is Bria Melitta and “I am no-one special” (to echo the late Kallímakhos of Hellenicgods.org). I am a lifelong student, teacher, mother, and devotee of the Theoi. I pursued Religious Studies in undergraduate school and soon after discovered my ancient Mediterranean matrilineage. The path has been unfolding ever since.

My interest in formal priestesshood began in 2020 after certifying as a doula (childbirth attendant) under some incredibly wise women. After long hours sifting laboring women’s hips with scarves, gentle hymns and herbs for fertility and candlelit women’s circles, I came to recognise the great hunger that people have for ancient spiritual guidance in life’s transitions. Under the mentorship of Yeshe Meryemana Matthews of Mt Shasta Goddess Temple, I undertook a rigorous 2-year training as a holy woman and was consecrated as a priestess of Aphrodite Kubileya in 2023. In 2023, I also founded the Mt Nysa Mystery School dedicated to the study and revival of Dionysian and Eleusinian Mysteries. Presently, I am working on my second Masters degree in Classical Mediterranean History and Archaeology, with a research focus on the evolution of mystery cult from the Bronze Age to the Classical period. The cliché rings true—the more I learn, the less I know. And how delightful it is.

I am an ordained member of clergy but have no desire to be the authority over others, only to share this rich ancestral tradition in a way that’s, well, not so overwhelming. This humble program should not be thought of as the pathway to Hellenic priesthood but a pathway. It is certainly not the only place you can find education. We focus on the priesthoods of Mystery gods and goddesses, but should you be more generally-inclined, we may have other organisation recommendations.

However you make your way—do make it! I am of the opinion that the more holy men and women we have, the more dedicated cults of the Theoi we revive, the better. We can each do our part to give as much as we take, to repair the threads of the cosmic tapestry, to step inside the mystery of the kykeon and the thyrsos. In doing so we greatly honor the Theoi, help to heal Ge (Earth) and all beings who call Ge their home.

May all walk in peace.
Bria Melitta