Supreme Council of Ethnikoi Hellenes

The Supreme Council of Ethnikoi Hellenes (Ύπατο Συμβούλιο των Ελλήνων Εθνικών), commonly known as YSEE, is an umbrella organisation in Greece established in 1997 to defend and restore the ethnic, polytheistic, Hellenic tradition, religion and way in contemporary Greek society. The organisation arose from the union of several other independent groups of Hellenic revivalism. Since their founding, YSEE has distributed over 170 letters and press releases aimed at increasing religious freedom for Ethnikoi Hellenes in Greece and hosted over 100 educational events. [cite web|url=http://www.wcer.org/members/europe/greece/index.htm| title = YSEE|accessdate= 2007-11-26]

It is estimated that perhaps 2,000 Greeks practise in the ethnic Hellenic tradition and another 100,000 have "some sort of interest". [cite web|url = http://www.archaeology.org/0501/abstracts/letter.html|title=Letter From Greece: The Gods Return to Olympus|accessdate = 2007-11-26] These Ethnikoi Hellenes face varying degrees of discrimination in Greece,cite web|url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1767802,00.html|title=Greek gods prepare for comeback|accessdate=2007-11-26] [cite web|url=http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2004/35458.htm|title=International Religious Freedom Report 2004|accessdate=2007-11-26] [cite web|url = http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2005/51555.htm|title=International Religious Freedom Report 2005|accessdate=2007-11-26] which is overwhelmingly Orthodox Christian. [cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gr.html#People|title = Greece|accessdate = 2007-11-26] One of YSEE's main goals is to obtain legal recognition for their religion, which is not acknowledged as a "legal person of public law" in Greece. One consequence of this lack of legal recognition is that Ethnikoi Hellenes have been prevented from establishing permanent places of worship. Greek courts have recently unbanned the worship of polytheistic gods.

YSEE is a founding member of the World Congress of Ethnic Religions and hosted the seventh annual WCER Congress in June 2004. YSEE is also a member of the European Union's action programme to combat discrimination.

In addition to their political activities, YSEE regularly holds traditional Hellenic rituals and ceremonies, including an annual Prometheia festival at Mount Olympus. About 2500 people attended the Prometheia in 2005, making it easily the largest such gathering in the modern world. [cite web|url=http://www.ysee.gr/index.php?type=d&f=prometheia2005|title=Προμήθεια «2005»|language=Greek| accessdate=2007-11-26] The festival includes talks on philosophical and religious topics, theatrical and artistic displays, and religious rituals and namegiving ceremonies.

Outside of Greece

The Supreme Council of Ethnikoi Hellenes has formed chapters is the United States, Australia, Canada, and Germany, offering lectures, events, and support for practitioners of the Hellenic religion outside of Greece.

ee also

* Polytheistic reconstructionism
* Hellenic Polytheistic Reconstructionism
* Religion in modern Greece
* Separation of church and state in modern Greece
* World Congress of Ethnic Religions

External links

* [http://www.ysee.gr/index-eng.php YSEE homepage (English version)]
* [http://www.wcer.org/members/europe/greece/index.htm About YSEE from the WCER website]
* [http://www.ysee.gr/index-eng.php?type=english&f=mme6 MSNBC clips featuring YSEE members]

Notes

References

*"A Beginner's Guide to Hellenismos" (2007) by Timothy Jay Alexander ISBN 978-1-4303-2456-0 (Page 16)
*"The Pagan Man: Priests, Warriors, Hunters, and Drummers" (2006) by Isaac Bonewits ISBN 978-0-8065-2697-3 (Page 32)
*"Hellenismos Today" (2007) by Timothy Jay Alexander ISBN 978-1-4303-1427-1 (Page 20)
*"The Gods of Reason: An Authentic Theology for Modern Hellenismos" (2007) by Timothy Jay Alexander ISBN 978-1-4303-2763-9 (Page 25)