As mentioned on the main page, this temple's primary ritual is based upon the sacrifice ritual of the Ancient Greeks. In modern times, animals are not killed upon the altar, although many substitutions can be used as symbols of this action. The primary sacrifice at HTAZP is usually a meat dish.

This Temple's Ritual Structure

The Gathering:

All the participants gather at the main hearth fire of the house. Assembled together are the ritual implements. These are a taper candle, a bowl or basket of barley in which a ritual knife is submerged, the selected sacrifice (as stated earlier, usually fruit of some kind which has been selected earlier by the chief-sacrificer or priest), a bottle of wine, and the icon or statue of the Deity or Dieties who are receiveing the sacrifice.

The altar has been set up in an appropriate location inside or outside the home. Upon it is the icon of the God(s) being honred with the sacrifice, a  cast-iron cauldron filled with barley and rubbing-alcohol and  two offering bowls...one for the food sacrifice and another for non-food sacrifices.  Cups and plates are kept available within the space for use during the feast. A bowl and pitcher of purified water is kept just below the altar for the purification.

The Procession:

The participants, lead by the priest or chief-sacrificer process to the sacred space with the main sacrifice (aka the main course of the post-ritual meal. In some cases during a procession, an image of the Deity is carried, and when the procession is finished, the priest places the isacred image  upon the altar. The person carrying the candle lights a fire within a cauldron, perhaps with a prayer to Hestia, the Goddess of the Hearth and Home.

The Circumambulation and Purification:

When all have reached the sacred space and have formed a semi-circle around the altar, the bowl of purified water is taken out from under the altar and handed to a participant. The priest then lights a stick of incense (or a smudge bundle) and the two walk around the room, sprinkling the water and wafting the incense, declaring that the space is now sacred. Following this, the water is poured over each participant's hands. This marks the begining of worship.

The Barley Offering:

The bowl of barley is passed around and each person takes a hadfull. The priest leads everyone in a prayer to the God or Gods receiving the sacrifice. After the prayer, he or she invites the other participants to speak prayers of their own. When all the prayers have been spoken, everyone tosses their barley into the altar fire, offering bowls, and at the offerings.

The Sacrifice and Feast:

A small portion of the main sacrifice is cut off and offered into the fire or offering bowl. The food is then cut up and cooked within the ritual space. While this food cooks, the priest uses the sacrificial knife to select portions of the other food offerings and places these things into the sacrificial bowl.  

A bottle of wine or water is opened, and the priest pours some of it into the offering bowl (or if possible into the fire itself) for the God while saying a prayer. The rest of the food and wine is distributed to the participants and eaten. This is the most important part of the sacrifice...everyone eats. This is the time when the Gods and the participants share in a feast. It is incredibly important that the entire main sacrifice is eaten within the sacred space.

The Post Ritual Revel:

This ritual can be the prelude to other events, or it can be the main event of the day, depending on the purpose of a sacrifice. On the day of a festival, a variety of events may go on following this main ritual. Some of these include but are not by any means limited to games, arts and crafts, other rites specific to the festival, contests, drumming, dancing, and divination. There can also be purifications, life-cycle rites, and weddings. These variants are normally chosen by the acting priest of the God whom the day is special to. The ritual can also stand by itself and even be used as a ritual for daily prayer. In this case, the primary offering is incense or candles and the carving section is omitted. The libations can also be performed as an action in and of themselves throughout the day by various participants who wish to give the God something of their own in private. The important thing is that this time is set aside for the worship of the Gods, and that mindset must be maintained.