Kleidous Agoge — Procession of the Key

Athenian Calendar Dates: 30 Elaphebolion to 5 Mounykhion + 30 Pyanepsion to 5 Maimakterion
Honouring: Hekate
Origin: A festival of the same name was said to take place at Hekate’s temple in Lagina, connected to Stratonikeia.

The Temple of Hekate at Lagina is the only temple dedicated to Hekate that is still upstanding. The temple’s most significant ritual was the Kleidous Agoge, also Kleidos Pompe, known as the Procession of the Key.

• Annual festival. Most commonly attributed to the first new moon in Spring.
• A cult object (presumably a sacred key) was processed (walked or marched) from the temple sanctuary into the civic centre of Stratonikeia.
• It is likely the key served both a physical and metaphysical purpose for the cult. Perhaps being the means by which initiates could access the cult’s hidden mysteries.
• The key was carried by the Kleidophoros or “Key Bearer” (a young, usually unmarried woman related to the Priest)
• In the city, the key was installed within the bouleuterion, central council or civic assembly house, for several days whilst celebratory feasts and games were held.

This information was sourced from: https://knotmagick101.wordpress.com/2019/07/20/hekate-at-lagina

What is Kleidous Agoge?

As with many festivals in modern hellenic polytheism, we aim to reconstruct Kleidous Agoge based on the information we have, and revive it by adapting celebrations to our modern times.

As this festival takes place on the first new moon of Spring/Autumn (depending on your hemisphere), the sanctuary regards this as a festival of renewal and abundance in honour of Hekate.

Inspired by Hekate’s role in the Homeric Hymn to Demeter, this festival also celebrates Hekate as the Torchbearer (Phosphorus or Daduchos) and Companion (Propolos) of Persephone and Demeter.

With the Key being significant to the celebration, this is a time of unlocking doors, opening paths, and inviting the wisdom and guidance of Hekate Kleidouchos into our lives.

A Twice Annual Festival

Our celebrations of Kleidous Agoge at the Sanctuary of the Crossroads will take place twice a year, for Spring in each hemisphere. The Attic calendar dates for this festival were set on the first new moons of Spring in 2025, the debut year of this festival.

The channel #┆・kleidous-agoge can be used to participate in some activities. Other activities may take place in voice chat or independently in your own space and time.

In 2026, this event is taking place on:

• April 18th – April 24th 2026. 30 Elaphebolion to 5 Mounykhion.
• November 10th – November 15th 2026. 30 Pyanepsion to 5 Maimakterion

Schedule

Day One: Time Capsule

We start the festival by opening our time capsule from last Kleidous Agoge! This can be found in the #┆・time-capsule channel.

Community members are welcome to read their past messages and anyone is welcome to contribute a new entry for when the time capsule closes again at the end of the festival, to be opened again next Kleidous Agoge.

You can write letters to your future self with the option to send memes and pictures if you’d like. The time capsule will remain open to letters + media until the last day, when the festival concludes.

Day Two: Crossroads Ritual

On day two or throughout the week, you are invited to participate in a crossroads ritual uniquely written in recognition of this festival. You can do this in your own time and place, with the materials that work best for you!

Quinton, Priest of Hekate, will also be hosting a live Crossroads Ritual for Kleidous Agoge for the first time. You can find this event listed in our Discord server to check the date and time this is taking place.

Items that are recommended include:

• Key (an antique key, modern unused key, a drawing or depiction of a key)
• 1 – 3 candles (any colours you associate with Hekate, any size)
• Representation of a crossroads. Some ideas:
  • Salt or dirt on a plate or tray. Trace in a crossroads with your finger or form a crossroads with these materials.
  • Two sticks arranged as a crossroads.
  • A drawing (on paper, on surface). You can use chalk, pencil, or a preferred medium (perhaps one with ritual significance).
  • An actual crossroads.
• Offerings for Hekate (incense, libations, food)
• Purification items for self and space (e.g. khernips, separate incense, sound cleansing items)
• Optionally, herbs, crystals, and other ingredients associated with opening roads, opportunities, and abundance.

You can find the full ritual script here.

Share your ritual experience and photos in #┆・kleidous-agoge!

Day Three: Devotional Writing

Express your creativity on the third day of Kleidous Agoge! An all day event to work on any Hekate related writing alone, or brainstorm together in VC1. Hosted by Neokoros Daysleeper.

We invite you to write a devotional piece based on the themes and observances of the festival.

These can be poems, prayers, stories, personal recounts or anything that resonates with you to create in devotion to Hekate.

You can send your pieces in #┆・kleidous-agoge anytime during the week and you can come along to our Presentation of Writing on the same day.

Present your devotionals about Hekate! It can be something you worked on today, or something you’ve already written. Anyone who wants to participate can come to VC1 to present their work.

Day Four: Festival Planning Presentation

As a first for our Kleidous Agoge celebrations, Quinton will be presenting on the making of Kleidous Agoge, a modern Hekatean holiday inspired by a historical festival. Come along to learn about recreating festivals for modern practice!

Day Five: Listening Party

A listening party will be hosted by Neokoros Bunny on the 5th day of Kleidous Agoge! Join us at the crossroads for good tunes and good vibes.

All you need to do is show up and listen, or you can add to the community playlist.

Day Six: Torchlight Tales

This is another all-new first-time activity for Kleidous Agoge, hosted by El, Priestess of Hekate.

For the 6th day of Kleidous Agoge, we invite you to gather at the crossroads and participate in an evening of stories and shadows!

Torchlight Tales is a slideshow presentation night where participants will take the stage to tell a story centered on the crossroads. These tales may be draw from your personal practice, such as moments of transformation or spiritual encounters at the crossroads, or they may be entire imagined and woven from myth and symbolism!

Anyone who feels called to share a tale is welcome to present a slideshow presentation!

Day Seven: Games

Join us for the final night of Kleidous Agoge, where we will gather for a fun evening of Jackbox Games, creativity, and community! Hosted by El.

Everyone is welcome to join! All you need is a device that can connect to the internet!

Whether you’re playing or just watching along, come be part of the closing festivities and enjoy the energy of the space!

Various Devotional Activities for Kleidous Agoge

Here are some ideas for devotional activities:

• You could watch a movie that reminds you of Hekate! This emulates the activity of watching theatre in ancient festivals.
• Visiting a local crossroads and leaving a wildlife and nature safe offering.
• Learning something new about Hekate.
• Focusing on an epithet of hers for a day by learning more about it or reflecting on its significance to you. How might you be able to embody this epithet for a day?
• Doing divination with Hekate.
• Journalling about Hekate’s presence in your life.
• Working on your goals in relation to your worship of or work with Hekate.
• Dedicating jewelry to Hekate or wearing your devotional jewelry.
• Doing spellwork with Hekate.
• Working with her on protection (as she is a protector goddess)
• Honouring your transitions and changes in your life.
• Learning about her historical context (e.g. Ancient Greece, Ancient Anatolia)

Ideas for offerings:

• Water
• Milk
• Honey
• Wine
• Olive oil
• Grains
• Eggs
• Leeks
• Garlic
• Pomegranates
• Cakes (such as small honey cakes)
• Bread
• Plants and herbs associated with the underworld (e.g. asphodel, cypress, mint)
• Plants and herbs associated with your spellwork (pharmakeia)
• Candles or torches
• Keys
• Dark chocolate
• Flowers
• Crystals
• Incense
• Snake shed
• Ethically sourced animal remains

The Sanctuary’s Gift

In reviving Ancient Greek festivals for modern hellenic polytheism, we commemorate one of the most significant aspects of Ancient Greek Religion — communal worship.

This is the sanctuary’s gift to you and Hekate: bringing communal worship to our members, through shared activities that honour our goddess, the changing of seasons, and the mysteries of ancient cults (despite how little we know of them).

We hope that this festival brings you closer to Hekate and each other.