n of the world and is regarded as one dead and in
the realms of the blessed. He is escorted by four other deacons. One holds
aloft the large wooden tau-cross, known as _derashvod zivo_, that
symbolizes his religious office; a second bears the sacred scriptures of
the Star-worshippers, the _Sidra Rabba_, "the great Order," two-thirds of
which form the liturgy of the living and one-third the ritual of the dead.
The third of the deacons carries two live pigeons in a cage, and the last
a measure of barley and of sesame seeds. The procession marches through
the ranks of the seated worshippers, who bend and kiss the garments of the
_Ganzivro_ as he passes near them. The _tarmidos_, guarding the entrance
to the tabernacle, draw back the hanging over the doorway and the priests
file in, the deacons and _tarmidos_ to the right and left, leaving the
_Ganzivro_ standing alone in the centre, in front of the earthen altar
facing the North Star, Polaris. The sacred book, _Sidra Rabba_, is laid
upon the altar folded back where the liturgy of the living is divided from
the ritual of the dead. The high priest takes one of the live pigeons
handed to him by a _shkando_, extends his hand towards the Polar Star upon
which he fixes his eyes, and lets the bird fly, calling aloud, _Bshmo
d'hai rabba mshabbah zivo kadmaya Elaha Edmen Nafshi Eprah_, "In the name
of the living one, blessed be the primitive light, the ancient light, the
Divinity self-created." The words, clearly enunciated within, are
distinctly heard by the worshippers without, and with one accord the
white-robed figures rise from their places and prostrate themselves upon
the ground towards the North Star, on which they have silently been
gazing.

Noiselessly the worshippers resume their seated position on the ground
outside. Within the _Mishkna_, or tabernacle, the _Ganzivro_ steps on one
side, and his place is immediately taken by the senior priest, a tarmido,
who opens the _Sidra Rabba_ before him on the altar and begins to read the
_Shomhotto_, "confession" of the sect, in a modulated chant, his voice
rising and falling as he reads, and ever and anon terminating in a loud
and swelling _Mshobbo havi eshmakhyo Manda d'hai_, "Blessed be thy name, O
source of life," which the congregants without take up and repeat with
bowed heads, their hands covering their eyes. While the reading is in
progress two other priests turn, and prepare the _Peto elayat_, or high
mystery, as they term