Shrine of Mune Mortserasa
Not without a bit of delay, Ketevan Chakhava arrived at the Shrine of Mune Morterasa, considered one of the oldest shrines in Mktvartvelo, situated about fifty kilometres from the capital city of the Unitary State of Mktvartvelo. Along the right side of the open are on the hill where the shrine was situated, a few seats where the guests and witnesses of the ceremony would be welcomed. The number of guests and witnesses would be considerably restricted, as it was traditional. Between them, there was the Prime Minister, both the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Chairman of the State Council, as well as the most senior and yougest members of chambers of the parliament. As well as other members of the clergy, the armed forces leadership and from other state institutions, the relatives of the new Brzdmtsveli and those from the former ones, completed the number of witnesses. Besides them, there were a limited number of foreign diplomats and guests.
"Welcome, Your Most High Majesty", a religious apprentice received Ketevan, being the first person to address her directly with her title. "The ceremony will start in about twenty minutes.
"Thanks", Ketevan simply replied. From the distance, she would recognize Sinatdedopali Tsiuri, along High Priestesses Elodeba and Eter. Since the 18th century, the ceremony of the election of a new head of state was the only time that the three highest members of the clergy in the Order of Simartlea could be seen outside the Shrine of Dalotsvili Shadrevani at the same time (and at the same place).
Along the shrine there was a stone platform, similar to the temples of the Order of Simartlea where sacrifices were performed. However, the shrine was rather unique compared to most religious buildings in Mktvartvelo. Although it was one of the oldest religious sites in the country, it was not an active religious site, and the head of the shrine was not an actual priestess but a religious magistrate. Offerings and religious rituals were rare, only in very special occassions. It was also unique the fact that the shrine was not consacrated to an unique god or goddess. According to the legend, the shrine was built from stones from a large number of existing temples. Although this latter claim was disputed, although it was not clear if some of those mentioned temples had actually existed.
The Sinatdedopali remained next to the shrine, talking with two other priestess when the final preparations for the rite were started, about five minutes later. Assistant priestesses, along a few younger religious apprentrices brought two animals, an adult horse and a young calf, as well as transparent box carrying a snake to the platform. Another small group of religious apprentrices were carrying some piece of clothing. Meanwhile other assistant priestesses brought certain kind of bowls and tools. When they were given the signal, two women -who were wearing white clothing, similar but still distinct to the other women on the platform- helped to stun to the black male horse. The animal fell, motionless but still alive, to the ground. The young women struggled to orient the head of the animal toward the right place.
When finally time had arrived. Three priestesses took their places in the platform -the two who had been talking with the Sinatdedopali, and a third one who had been closely the previous scene-, they started to sing different but in unison hymns. Then, the Sinatdedopali and the two High Priestesses followed, placing themselves exactly in the middle of the platform. Ketevan Chakhava approached the platform and stopped in front of it, where two girls were standing, holding some clothing. They helped her to put that long tunic or mantle over her own clothing. The tunic was white but it could be perceived, even from the distance, its rich embroidery full with details and colours. As it was the tradition, the tunic was decorated with embroidery that described certain motives and events about the person, his or her life, family, clan, as well as other historical events, from either the history of the nation or significant contemporary events.
Then, High Priestesses Eter and Elodeba helped Ketevan to step on the platform. As she did, the Sinatdedopali held Ketevan's both hands, and both repeated the oath to serve as symbolical "Protector of the Order of Simartlea". As the ceremonial oath was over, the Sinatdedopali looked back at the other three priestesses to start the sacrifice. They then intoned the sacrificial hymns and the proper sacrifice started. The method was slightly different depending the animal (in the case of the male horse, two religious apprentices held the head of the animal, while other held the ritual knife; in the case of the calf, one religious apprentice held the animal while the assistant priestess was prepared with another knife; while in the case of the snake, only one held and put to death to the small animal). In all cases, the sacrifice involved a clean cut, while another religious apprentice holding a metal bowl aimed to gather the poured blood of the animal before it touched the floor until it was full enough.
Ketevan looked seriously at the ritual. Although she had witnessed many ritual sacrifices, of course, it was the first time she had witnessed the killing of a snake, which sacrifice was rare in Mktvartvelo as they were considered a secret animal. It was only one of the few rituals where the sacrifice of a snake was allowed.
As the ritual ended, and enough blood had poured from the already deceased animals, the three religious apprentices holding the bowls stood up, and approached High Priestesses Eter and Elodeba. Eter was holding a golden bowl in which the blood from the three bowls was poured into. As this was finished and the religious apprentices retired back, High Priestess Elodeba dropped some kind of molasses on the golden bowl and started to stir the mixture with a ritual tool. When this was over, the Sinatdedopali indicated Ketevan to move to the center of the platform, where Elodeba and Eter were holding the golden bowl. Then, the Sinatdedopali started to sign a solemn hymn, and proceed to "wash" Ketevan's hands with the bloody mixture until the hymn, which Eter and Elodeba accompanied at a lower tone, finished. Then, the religious apprentices poured a inflammable liquid, and then the eyes of the two mammals and the head of the snake. As they did that, another two religious apprentices helped Ketevan to descend from the stone platform. She was helped to clean her hands with a long and white towel a few steps further. At the same time, a fourth priestess throw a burning piece of silk over the stone container where the rests of the sacrificed animals were poured.
As Ketevan advanced through the esplanade along the temple, some girls threw flowers and petals before her own steps.
"As soon as you wish, Your Most High Majesty", Kalisha, her main assistant that day, told Ketevan, "we're ready to go back to Ktsatskuri. The main suite of Mdidare Hotel has been booked if you wish to rest a bit before the dinner".
"Oh, sure", Ketevan replied. "Yes, I would like to go immediately, of course, as soon as we received the greetings from the usual suspects".
"But first", Ketevan added, "lend me your handkerchief, if you don't mind".
"Of course!", Kalisha said. "Excuse me, Your Most High Majesty", she added as she looked on her own pulse.
Back in Ktsatskuri, Ishviati Mtsenarabi PalaceAbout six hours later, everything was ready in Ishviati Mtsenarabi Palace to receive the guests in which would be the first official reception of Ketevan Chakhava as Brzdmtsveli of the Unitary State of Mktvartvelo. The third part of the ceremony, had a much more recent history. While the first two aspects of the ceremony were aimed to symbolize the compromise of the head of state with the state and the religion, the third one, was aimed to serve as a formal presentation of the new head of state to the most important representatives of Mktvartvelo's society. Of the three, it was certainly also the most relaxed and banal one, for sure.
