By Elani Temperance
Timothy Jay Alexander is one of the most visible Hellenics out there. He has written a couple of introductory books and is active on-line as well as off-line to promote Hellenismos and educate people on its ideology and theology.
Alexander has identified seven pillars of Hellenismos which practitioners should adhere to and which will help identify and understand Hellenismos for the non-practitioner. These pillars are:
■ Ethike Arete – the practice of habitual excellence (ethics)
■ Eusebia – reverence, loyalty, and sense of duty toward the Gods (of Greece)
■ Hagneia – the maintaining of ritual purity by avoiding miasma
■ Nomos Arkhaios – observance of ancient tradition, (religious) law, and customs
■ Sophia – the pursuit of wisdom, understanding, and truth
■ Sophrosune – the control of self through deep contemplation
■ Xenia – adherence to hospitality and the guest-host relationship
What’s been said…