The Priesthood of Antinous
Emperor Hadrian Augustus inaugurated the Priesthood of Antinous on October 30th 130 AD, when he proclaimed the divinity of Antinous and ordered that temples and cult sanctuaries should be built across the Roman world. The Ancient Religion of Antinous was received by the gay population of the Roman Empire with deep devotion, the Religion of Antinous would outlive Hadrian by several hundred years. Many cities,e4specially in the Greek provinces received Antinous with enthusiasm, constructing Temples and issuing coins in honor of the new god. The similarity of the coins and the general theme of the temples suggests that the Religion of Antinous was well organized under the direction of a few individuals who diligently carried out the orders of Emperor Hadrian and carefully promoted the new religion to the far corners of the Roman world. These were the first Priests of Antinous.
Only a few of the ancient priests are recorded on the inscriptions that they left, among them:
Julius Fidus Aquila, Priest
and Epistrategos of Antinoopolis
Aristotimos, Priest of Delphi
Hostilius Marcellus, Priest of Corinth
Isidoros Didymus, Priest of Alexandria
Nicias, priest of Antinous in Rome
Sufenas, Priest of Antinous and Eunostos in Neapoli
Lupercus, Priest of Antinous and Eunostos in Neapoli
The Ancient Priesthood of Antinous has a glorious history, but it was destroyed by the Christians as part of the destruction of the classical world. Antinous was viciously targeted because of the homosexual implications of his religion, and so the Priesthood was eventually extinguished.
In 2002, the Priesthood of Antinous was re-established in the modern world. Priesthood of Antinous represents total, special and absolute devotion to Antinous as a God. To be a Priest of Antinous requires particular devotion to Antinous above and beyond all other gods, beyond all other notions of divinity...to worship Antinous as the fullness of one's spiritual being. A Priest of Antinous worships Antinous foremost above all other gods, all other concepts, and is willing to devote their life to Antinous beyond all other concerns. A Priest of Antinous is dedicated to the Religion of Antinous, and to the serve the community of Antinous believers in any way possible.
The Priesthood of Antinous
exists to Worship and Venerate Antinous,
To seek Homotheosis (Antinous-gay-consciousness)
To celebrate the rituals and ceremonies of Antinous,
To represent Antinous in the modern world,
To encourage the veneration and understanding of Antinous among others.
Membership in the Priesthood of Antinous is open to all
