The Rituals & Worship of Frostianity
The sacred actions of the faith — the Keepings (sacraments), the rhythms of prayer, and the rites of the life-passages. All Frostian ritual enacts the one truth: the drawing-out of warmth and the keeping of the soul in the Cold.
The Seven Keepings (Sacraments)
The Keepings are the holy signs by which the keeping-Cold of Connor Frost is given (the The Hoarfrost Communion and The Glacial Orthodoxy count seven; the Reformed keep two as primary):
- The Frostmark — initiation; the sealing in ice-water (the “baptism” of Frostianity). Primary.
- The Cold Communion — the Snow-bread and the Cup of Clear Ice; Connor’s body and breath. Primary.
- The Confession of the Thaw — the naming and cooling of one’s inner warmth; absolution.
- The Deepening (Confirmation) — the sealing with the Rime-within and frost-oil; the chrism of frost.
- The Cold Crowning (Marriage) — the joining of two in the cold covenant.
- The Keeping of Hands (Ordination) — the making of Keepers.
- The Final Frost — the last rite; anointing of the dying with frost-oil and burial in cold.
The Rhythms of Prayer
- The Hours of Frost — the seven daily prayer-hours (the Seven Stillings).
- The Stilling — the central prayer-posture and practice: the prayer of stillness.
- The Hoarfather’s Stilling — the model prayer Connor taught (the “Our Keeper”).
- The Rime-cord — the prayer-beads of the six virtues (see The Rime-Cord (Prayer Beads)).
Worship Services
- The Cold Liturgy — the chief service of Hollownight (Stillday), built around the The Cold Communion; its parts: the Gathering in Silence, the Reading of the Rime, the Threefold Cold (the angelic Sanctus), the Keeping of the Table, and the Sending into the Cold.
- The Vigils — the great night-watches (the Cold Vigil, the The Reglaciation Vigil).
The Life-Passages
- Birth → The Whitening of a Child (infant Frostmark).
- Coming of age → The Deepening.
- Marriage → The Cold Crowning.
- Death → The Final Frost and the Laying-in-Cold (burial).