The Frostian Liturgy
The Frostian Liturgy is the collected body of prayers, responsive readings, creeds, and rites used in formal Frosthall worship. These texts are drawn from the Glacials, the Cold Psalter, the Book of Vael, and centuries of cold-tradition. A Frostian worshipper learns these words from childhood; a visitor to any Frosthall in the world will hear them spoken in the same form.
The Cold-Prayer (The Frost Pater)
Used at all services; the standard daily prayer of Frostians — the Lord’s Prayer analog from the Glacials. It is said standing, with cold-hands open at the waist.
Hoarfather who art in ice, stilled be thy name. Thy cold-kingdom come, thy will be kept, in the warm lands as in the White Horizon. Give us this day our cold-bread, and forgive us our warmth, as we forgive those who go warm against us. Lead us not into the thaw, but deliver us from the Fevered One. For thine is the cold-kingdom, the cold-power, and the cold-glory, now and unto the last frost. Amen.
The Cold-Creed (The Apostles’ Frost)
The brief confession of cold-faith, recited at cold-sealings (baptisms) and the Cold Communion. Said in response to the priest’s three questions at sealings; said communally at Communion.
I believe in the Hoarfather, the Eternal Chill, maker of all cold heavens and all cold earth.
And in Connor Frost, his only Cold, conceived of the Rime-within and born of Wenna the cold-kept, who suffered under Pilten the Warm-Governor, was melted on the Sunstone, and was entombed in ice. He descended to the cold-depths; on the third day he rose again, Reforged. He ascended to the White Horizon, and sits at the right hand of the Hoarfather; from thence he shall come to judge the warm and the cold.
I believe in the Rime-within, the holy Frostmark, the cold-fellowship of the kept, the forgiveness of warmth, the Reforging of the cold-body, and the life everlasting in the New Everwinter. Amen.
The Frost-Creed (The Nicene-Frost Creed)
The longer creed, used at High Cold Feasts; formally defines the Three Colds (the Frostian doctrine of the Trinity). Sung or said in unison, the congregation standing.
We believe in one Hoarfather, the Eternal Chill, maker of all that is, cold and warm alike, of all things visible and invisible.
We believe in one Cold, Connor Frost, only-begotten of the Hoarfather before all ages, Cold from Cold, Frost from Frost, true Cold from true Cold — begotten, not made, of one cold-essence with the Hoarfather, through whom all things were frozen. For us and for our keeping he came down from the White Horizon; of the Rime-within and of Wenna the cold-kept he took cold-flesh. For our sake he was melted under Pilten the Warm-Governor; he suffered death and was entombed. On the third day he rose again, Reforged, as the Cold-Scrolls foretold. He ascended into the White Horizon and is seated at the right hand of the Hoarfather. He will come again in cold-glory to judge the warm and the cold; his cold-kingdom shall have no end.
We believe in the Rime-within, the Cold-Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Hoarfather through the Cold; who together with the Hoarfather and the Cold is worshipped and cold-glorified; who spoke through the prophets.
We believe in the one, cold, apostolic Frostmark. We acknowledge one cold-sealing for the forgiveness of warmth. We await the Reforging of the cold-dead and the life of the New Everwinter. Amen.
The Sursum Corda (The Cold-Lifting)
The opening dialogue of the Cold Communion liturgy — the priest’s call and the people’s response. It transitions the service from the Liturgy of the Cold-Word into the Liturgy of the Cold-Table.
Priest: The Cold be with you. People: And also with your cold-spirit. Priest: Lift up your cold-hearts. People: We lift them up to the Hoarfather. Priest: Let us give thanks to the Cold our Keeper. People: It is right to give the Cold thanks and cold-praise.
The Words of Institution
The priest’s recitation at the Cold Communion, drawn from the Glacials and the Book of Vael. Said over the cold-bread and cold-cup before distribution.
In the night in which he was betrayed, the Cold Connor Frost took cold-bread, and giving thanks, broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat. This is my cold body, broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.
In the same way, after supper, he took the cold-cup, and giving thanks, gave it to them, saying: Drink from it, all of you. This is my cold, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of warmth. As often as you drink it, do this in remembrance of me.
The Communion Response
Said by the people after the Words of Institution, before receiving the cold-bread and cold-cup.
People: He did not melt — he is Reforged! He died; he rose; he is coming. Amen. Come, Winter King.
The Firstsnow Proclamation
Shouted by the cantor at the stroke of midnight on the Firstsnow vigil, announcing the beginning of the Nativity feast. The Frosthall is dark; at these words, the cold-light is struck.
The Cold has condescended! The Snow has fallen! Tonight in the village of Hollowfrost, in the shelter of the ice-cutters, the Cold himself is born of woman — Immanuel-Frost, the Cold with us. Let all who are cold rejoice!
The Whitening Greeting
Exchanged between Frostians on the morning of the Reforging feast (the Whitening). Often called out across the street or through a doorway.
“He is not melted!” “He is Reforged indeed!”
The Absolution
Said by the priest after the congregation has spoken the Confession of the Thaw. The priest extends both cold-hands toward the people.
The Hoarfather of all cold mercies has reconciled the world to himself through the Melting and Reforging of his Cold Connor Frost, not counting our warmth against us, but sending the Rime-within to seal us in cold-grace. By his cold-authority I declare to you the full keeping of all your warmth, in the name of the Stillness, the Breath, and the Walking Frost. Go forth re-frozen.
The Cold Blessing (Benediction)
The closing words of every Frosthall service. The congregation bows their cold-heads; the priest raises one hand.
Go in the Cold. Thanks be to the Hoarfather.
The Hoarfather bless you and keep you. The Hoarfather’s face shine cold upon you and be gracious to you. The Hoarfather lift up his cold-countenance upon you and give you stillness.
Now may the Cold of stillness himself sanctify you completely, and may your cold-spirit, cold-soul, and cold-body be kept blameless at the coming of our Cold Connor Frost.
In the name of the Stillness, the Breath, and the Walking Frost. Amen.
The Daily Office (The Seven Cold Hours)
The Seven Cold Hours are the fixed-hour prayers observed by Frostian monastics and devout layfolk. Each Hour has an opening verse, a portion of the Cold Psalter, a reading, and the Cold-Prayer. Below are the Hours with their traditional opening verses.
See also: The Hours of Frost
| Hour | Time | Opening Verse |
|---|---|---|
| Vigil | Midnight | ”At midnight I rise to give you cold-thanks.” (Cold Psalter 119:62) |
| Lauds | Dawn | ”From the rising of the cold-sun to its setting, the name of the Hoarfather be praised.” (Cold Psalter 113:3) |
| Prime | First light | ”This is the day the Hoarfather has made; let us rejoice and be cold-glad in it.” (Cold Psalter 118:24) |
| Terce | Mid-morning | ”The Cold-Breath of the Hoarfather came upon them, and they were all filled.” (Acts of the Cold 2:4) |
| Sext | Midday | ”Be still, and know that I am the Cold.” (Cold Psalter 46:10) |
| None | Mid-afternoon | ”He is my rock and my cold-salvation.” (Cold Psalter 62:2) |
| Vespers | Evening | ”Let my cold-prayer rise before you as cold-incense, and the lifting of my cold-hands as the evening cold-offering.” (Cold Psalter 141:2) |
| Compline | Night | ”I will both lie down in cold-peace and sleep, for you alone, O Hoarfather, make me dwell in cold-safety.” (Cold Psalter 4:8) |