Daily Devotional: September 12th
Memorial to Emperor Julian the Philosopher
Memorial for Emperor Julian the Philosopher
In Memory of Emperor Julian (331-363 AD): Defender of Ancient Traditions
Today, we remember Emperor Julian, a visionary leader whose reign sought to rekindle the ancient flame of Hellenism within a Rome already transformed by Christianity. A philosopher-warrior, Julian endeavored to restore the classical values and traditions of the Greco-Roman world, advocating for the wisdom of the ancients and the richness of polytheism in an era of rapid Christianization.
Though his efforts were brief and ultimately undone, Julian's courage to stand against the tide of history and his devotion to the Gods still echo across time. His vision serves as a reminder of the profound cultural shifts that shaped the ancient world and the enduring legacy of philosophical inquiry, tolerance, and religious freedom.
Hail to Julian, the last pagan emperor—who, despite his untimely death, remains a symbol of intellectual resistance and the pursuit of a dream beyond his age.
Rest in peace, Philosopher-King.
Hymn for Emperor Julian
O Emperor Julian, in the annals of time,
Reformer and sage, your virtues brightly shine.
In the age of transformation, your vision clear,
Guide us on paths of wisdom, draw us near.
Guide us in the pursuit of justice and truth,
In the spirit of reform, renew our youth.
In the realm of ideas, where wisdom prevails,
May your spirit guide us through virtue's trails.
As you strove for justice and a noble reign,
In our hearts, your influence remains.
Guide us, Emperor Julian, in the quest for right,
In the pursuit of virtue, in the day and night.
In the echoes of your enlightened reign,
May the spirit of reform forever sustain.
As we navigate the currents of change,
Julian, in your virtues, may we arrange.
Emperor Julian, whose legacy prevails,
In the dance of rebirth, your influence sails.
In this prayer, our reverence we declare,
For your vision of reform, beyond compare.
Hymn for Ides Eve
O Jove, exalted lord of skies,
Thy power no mortal can despise.
With thunderbolt and eagle's flight,
Thou reignest in celestial light.
On this eve of Ides we call,
To thee, the mightiest of all.
Grant us wisdom, strength, and grace,
To face each challenge we embrace.
In thee, the fates their course align,
With justice pure and will divine.
Protect our homes, our sacred ties,
And bless the paths where virtue lies.
O Jove, supreme in heaven’s dome,
Guide our hearts, our spirits’ home.
To thee we lift our prayers, our voice,
In thy great power, we rejoice.
Daily Meditation
"For it is the incongruous element in myths that guides us to the truth. I mean that the more paradoxical and prodigious the riddle is, the more it seems to warn us not to believe simply the bare words but rather to study diligently the hidden truth and not to relax our efforts until under the guidance of the Gods, those hidden things become plain, and so initiate or rather perfect our Nous or whatever we possess that is more sublime than the Nous, I mean that small particle of the One and the Good which contains the whole indivisibly, the complement of the soul, and in the One and the Good comprehends the whole of soul itself through the prevailing and separate and distinct presence of the One.”
—Emperor Julian
Letter to the Cynic Heracleios, 217d
The Nous is our faculty to understand the divine through intuition and immediate experience. It has often been called the eye of the soul.
Here, Julian tells us that we should not believe the bare words we read in the myths about the Gods. We should understand that the myths are divine riddles that we must use as objects of contemplation to purify our Nous. By not stopping at the base literal reading of myth and by allowing our minds to contemplate the more profound meaning, we can initiate ourselves into the hidden truth under the guidance of the Gods. Properly used, myths expand from stories into divine meditations that reveal the light of the Gods to our souls. It is the most perplexing and paradoxical elements of myth that are the call for us to seek the deeper truth.
Monthly Ascesis
Developing a practice of watchfulness is a powerful and effective way to create stillness in our souls, allowing us to behold God's presence in our lives.
This month, add this meditation practice to your morning prayers. This is particularly effective following a chanting session.
“The most basic and fundamental meditation practice is watchfulness or Nepsis in Greek. Watchfulness is the act of observing the mind while not chasing any thoughts or emotions that arise. You only need to sit down, close your eyes, and relax to do this practice. Then, watch your thoughts as they arise and fall away. Thoughts will continue to pop into your mind, and that’s ok. The key is not to follow them. For example, if your mind starts thinking about a project at work, don’t follow that idea and start working on the project in your mind. Just acknowledge that thought and watch it. Don’t feed that idea with more ideas; just leave it alone. Eventually, it will pass by, or a new thought will take its place. If that happens, just watch that thought without following it or allowing it to disturb you.”
-Excerpt from our new book, Ascesis: the Handbook of Platonic Practice
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