DeConick A.D

250
SPIRITUAL AVATARS
congregation, not just invoked by the leader over the elements in the
Eucharist meal. So he replaced the standard Eucharist with an ecstatic
Eucharist reminiscent of the drinking ceremonies used to induce ecstasy
in initiates being inducted into the Greek mysteries (Förster 2014).
The ceremony involved a number of cups filled with a light-colored
wine beverage. Marcus begins the ceremony with a prayer to draw God’s
grace into their midst: “May the unknowable and ineffable grace that is
before all things fill your inner self. May she multiple her knowledge in
you, sowing the grain of mustard seed in good soil” (Irenaeus, Against the
Heresies 1.13.2; my translation). He then invites the congregants forward
to each take a cup. As they do so, the wine in one of the cups turns blood
red, as if the blood of the divinity Grace has flowed into it, raining down
from the transcendent world above. The person who holds that cup has
been especially elected by Grace that day. That person, whether man or
woman, takes on the role of congregational leader, consecrating and then
sharing the bloodred wine with all the others, so that God’s grace flows
among them all.
After all the congregants have sipped from the cup, Marcus holds up a
big, empty chalice. He asks the leader of the day to pour the remainder of
the bloodred wine into the chalice while he prays especially for this elected
person (Irenaeus, 1.13.3; my translation):
My wish is for you to share in the grace that I have. The Father of all is constantly
looking upon your angel who is in his presence. But the place of the
mighty (angel) is in us. We must be restored to one. First, from me and through
me, receive grace. Prepare yourself as a bride awaiting her bridegroom, so
that you may be what I am and I may be what you are. Consecrate the seed
of light in your bridal chamber. From me, receive (your) bridegroom. Hold
him and be held by him. Behold grace has descended upon you. Open your
mouth and prophesy.
At this moment, the chalice bubbles up and overflows. Marcus quickly
offers the chalice to the elected person. She is pleased to drink the divine
liquid, unite with her divine avatar, and become the community’s prophet
of the day, too. It is reported that within seconds of drinking, the person’s
heart rate increased and body perspired (Hippolytus, Refutation 6.39–41).