Liturgy and Rites

athras warn, this site may contain spoilers though the episode most recently broadcast in the United States.

Our liturgy and rites are shaped by tradition and the instructions in the Rule of Draal.

The Offices

Just as the original eight Office Hours have been combined in certain traditions into two main offices, Matins and Vespers, so the Hours in the Zathras tradition have been combined into two main offices:

The Hour of Scampering

This is the oldest Office, and has been traced back to the Ancients. As a result, the origins have been lost to antiquity. It is observed by a Vorlonesque liturgical dance (though it is doubtful that this was a part of the Ancients' liturgy for this Hour). The presider is usually a ViCaR, who may be an Abbut. The canticle is "Reflection, Surprise, Terror."

The Hour of Scampering is often combined with the Hour of Longing, another of the Offices of the Ancients.

The Hour of the Wolf

This Office was originally observed late at night, prior to retiring for the evening (similar to Compline). It is rich in symbolism, and is observed by partaking the sacramental vodka which protects us from the Wolf and her children. It is preferred that the sacramental vodka be received from a special chalice, referred to as a "B5 shot glass" in some texts.

There is a third Office that some who accept The Old Show observe (though this is not canonical in the Order), known as The Red Hour. It is a period of ecstatic frenzy, and is only observed during the time of the Festival. It is at exactly 6 P.M. local time.

The Weekly Viewing

At a designated time each week, the current installment of the Great Story is viewed. Often the Weekly Viewing is done in community, although some believe that it is best to approach the Weekly Viewing in silence and solitude. Part of the ritual is to set the VCR to record the episode. Quite often it is necessary to replay the tape of the episode again during the week, sometimes even multiple times, beginning right after the initial viewing. While such replays are beneficial and are rightly observed, they are further meditation upon the Weekly Viewing, and not the Weekly Viewing itself.

Although the earliest observances of the Weekly Viewing were not at a standard time (different regional customs arose), Wednesday evening (10 PM EST, 7 PM PST) has become a widely accepted time for this important observance.

The Daily Stripping

(It should be noted that this liturgical term has its origins in the obscure language of television broadcasting, and should not be misinterpreted.) This practice is fairly recent, but is a most beneficial addition to the observances. It is particularly useful for the training of initiates. Each weekday an older installment of the Great Story is reviewed, following the same procedures as used for the Weekly Viewing.

Contemplation

It is expected that each Sister will spend time each day in personal contemplation. This contemplation may take many forms. For instance, the repeated viewing of the weekly episode may be one form, as may be scholarly discussions with others about the Story, whether face-to-face or over the Internet. Sometimes a member of the Order may retreat from the rest of the community in order to observe a period of silence and meditation. This special form of contemplation is so valuable, and often leads to such profound insights, that is has been called "real life."

Hymns and Sacred Filks

Music has always been an important part of ritual, and that is certainly true for the Order. In addition to the chants and canticles that were first sung by the Ancients, there has been a more recent move to use songs that have regular metrical structures and rhyme patterns. Much of this body of work has been lost, but we are searching the ancient records, and are attempting to recover some of this rich heritage.

The first hymn we have uncovered is "Hello, Draaly", a song which appears to recount some of the history of Draal, Zathras, and the Great Machine. The version we have posted is a rough translation of the original, and it appears there were parts of the manuscript missing. But we have humbly presented what we have here so that the Sisters might be edified.

Blessings

The Short Blessing

In the name of the Zathras who was and the nine brothers Zathras

(a common variant is "in the name of the Zathras and the nine")

The Long Blessing

In memory of the one Zathras,
who passed beyond the time rift,
and in honor of the the nine,
zAthras,
zaThras,
zatHras,
zathRas,
zathrAs,
zathraS,
ZAthras,
zathrAS,
and
ZathraS
who aid us in our work.

May we be protected from Shadows,
From the wrath of Vorlons,
From the aftermath of war,
And from spoilers.

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This site most humbly and quite rarely maintained by Sister Zathra norak, O.S.Z.
Last updated 1998-01-22, in the Year According to Zathras 4731