Pastophori

The term "Pastophori" derives from the Greek "pastos" (sprinkled, consecrated) and "pherein" (to carry). It specifically refers to those who bore the "pastos," a sacred shrine or image, in religious ceremonies. The practice is rooted in ancient Egyptian and Near Eastern temple rituals.

A certain class of candidates for initiation, those who bore in public processions (and also in the temples) the sacred coffin or funeral couch of the Sun-gods — killed and resurrected, of Osiris, Tammuz (or Adonis), of Atys and others. The Christians adopted their coffin from the pagans of antiquity.

The Pastophori, as described by Blavatsky, offer a potent glimpse into the performative nature of ancient spirituality. Their role as bearers of the sacred coffin, the vessel of a dying and resurrecting solar deity—be it Osiris in Egypt, Tammuz in Mesopotamia, or Attis in Phrygia—was not simply ceremonial but deeply theological. These were not passive observers of divine drama, but active participants, their physical labor a conduit for the very forces of life, death, and renewal that animated their cosmos.

This practice resonates with Mircea Eliade's concept of the sacred as the "opposite of the profane," a realm of being that is fundamentally different and more potent. The Pastophori, by carrying the symbol of the divine ordeal, were bridging these realms. They were, in a sense, walking embodiments of the myth, their movement through public space a ritualistic enactment of the universe's own cyclical processes. This is akin to the shamanic journey, where the practitioner traverses different planes of existence to bring back healing or wisdom.

The Christian adoption of carrying coffins or reliquaries, as Blavatsky notes, demonstrates the enduring power of this symbolic gesture. It speaks to a deep-seated human need to externalize and engage with the sacred through tangible means. The act of carrying, of bearing weight, is itself a metaphor for spiritual discipline and the burdens of existence. It transforms the abstract concept of divine sacrifice and resurrection into a palpable, communal experience, reinforcing the bonds of faith and the shared hope for continuity beyond dissolution. The Pastophori, therefore, remind us that spirituality is often an embodied practice, a dance with the divine that requires not just belief but active participation and the courage to bear the sacred.