Zorochristian Blog : Zartochrestian Mithraism

Zartochrestian Mithraism

ZARTOCHRESTIAN MITHRAISM

Zartochrestian Mithraism is a new religious movement. It adopts the identity of a neo-Roman religion, while looking to the ancient Persian tradition of Zoroastrianism for its ethical-philosophical foundation, and enhancing this with the wisdom traditions of the ancient Greek world.

Our movement is Mithraic because its focus is on the god Mithras, who is the divine form of the human struggle to produce the Good Existence.

It is Chrestian because it emphasizes Mithras's role as Chrestus - the Good One, the Useful One - the One working for the benefit of the whole community, rather than selfish advancement.

Zarto refers to Zartus or Zarathustra whose teachings form the foundation for the teachings of the movement.

BONUM ('The Good') ('Agathon' in Greek)

Zartochrestian Mithraism is a religion that focuses on the GOOD. Our aim is to 'Produce Good' in the world.

We rely on two main traditions to help us to do this - the Zoroastrian tradition and the Platonic tradition - while also seeking to develop new thinking and practices.

THE GOOD ORDER

ARTA is the concept of Good Order. Where there is Arta then the shape of the world is such as to produce the Good Life. Where there is Arta, then different things connect well together, and create the spark of life. Where there is Arta then the minds of the living beings relate with truth to the world they inhabit. Where there is Arta then the actions of the living beings are righteous and produce a good effect.

ARTISTA means 'the best Arta'. Artista is the perfect order of things where there is the maximum flourishing of life, the maximum happiness, and the minimum of suffering.

THE SENIOR TRINITY

The Senior Trinity is our starting point in mapping reality.

The Senior Trinity is made up of three metaphysical beings which are: Protarche, Mazda and Chrestum.

PROTARCHE is the ultimate foundation and source of all existence. As Zurvan, it is the time and space within which is all that exists, and without which nothing could exist. As Helius it is the source energy that drives all activity. As Pleroma it is the realm of possible divine forms. Protarche is the ultimate source of matter, spirit and energy, and as Zurvan upholds the laws that control their manifestation.

MAZDA is Wisdom. It is the active creative power in the world that derives from the activity of Mind. Its chief angel - or appearance to us - is the Angel Sophia.

CHRESTUM or CHRESTON is the ideal Good Lord that seeks the Good of the whole and the part. Its chief angel is Mithras.

Mithras is the human-shaped Champion of the Good. Mithras is a fully divine being, not a demigod who derives in part from a particular human being. Yet Mithras has a human form - the form of a perfect human striving single-mindedly for the Good.

As individuals we can encounter may different kinds of situations, and the best action to take will depend on our capabilities to act and the nature of the situation we face.

Accordingly Mithras has many forms, many personalities, and many ways of acting. Yet Mithras will always come with the most helpful personality and perform the best actions for the situation at hand.

TRIVIAE ('Three paths')

The Triviae or 'Three developmental paths' of Zartochrestian Mithraism are the work that a Mithraist should do:

1. VIA CHRESTIFORMA ('Path of Chrestic Formation')

This is the formation of a person into someone who desires to seek the Good and is orientated correctly to make the best attempt at successfully producing the Good. It is the shaping of someone into the character of Mithras Chrestus.

2. VIA ROMICA ('Path of Strengthening')

These are activities that build up the productive ability of a person. This will involve strengthening capabilities, healing injuries and creating internal coherence. Romic activities will involve the different aspects of a person including the psychic (emotional) , mental (intellectual) and physical.

3. VIA GNOSTICA ('path of knowledge')

The Gnostic Path can be considered a special case of the Romic path, and involves activities that help develop the Mind. The aim is to become fully able to discern the real truth of any situation and know how to act for the Good. One works to leave behind the childish mental world of illusion and become fully mentally adult.

SCRIPTURA MITHRAICA - ('The Mithraic Scriptures')

The is the Mithraic Bible. It consists of the writings which are considered the most important to give mental nourishment to followers of the religion.

The Avesta - the traditional scripture of the Zoroastrians - forms the foundation of the Mithraica.

To the Avesta are added many other writings. At present there is no definitive list as to what writings should be included in the Mithraica.

One vision of the Mithraica sees it as composed of four parts - the Avesta, the Hellenica (Greek scriptures), the Parsica (Persian scriptures) and the Anglica (modern writings in English).

DIVINE OGDOAD (experimental expansion of the senior trinity - subject to change)

1. Zurvan (lord of time and space)
2. Vaius (instigator of motion and change),
3. Gaeta (the living world),
4. Mazda (the wise creative power)
5. Tir (lord of the structure of the living world)
6. Virdius ('Divine Man (i.e 'Divine Male')),
7. Anhita ('Divine Lady'),
8. Mithras (champion of the Good).

EXPERIMENTAL MITHRAIC FESTIVALS

Festivals that are currently suggested are:

SOPHIKANA - Festival of creation and new life - March 21st (Spring Equinox) (the Mithraic Easter) (Patron Angel Sophia) leading up to Zartinatus.
ZARTINATUS - (Birth of Zartus (Zarathustra)) - Celebration of best mental ability - March 26th
VIRDIKANA - Festival of youth and untrammeled life - May 1st
TIRIKANA/ANHITAKANA - Festival of the Good Society/Festival of Water - Summer Solstice
MITHRAKANA - ('Festival of Mithras') - Celebration of religious life and religious community - perhaps from the Autumn Equinox to 29th September
ATARKANA - ('Fire Festival') - Celebration of the free human spirit, the fire within - November 5th.
YALDA - Re-birth of the Sun
including: BRUMA (18th to 24th Dec)
when the Sun is at its weakest
and NOVUSSOL (25th Dec to 31st Dec)
when we celebrate the growing strength of the Sun

Ave Mithras Chrestus Aristus!
Ad bonum tendimus et via artista est.

Marcus Zartianus
Updated February 2019 CE/4019 ME and September 2019.