Ludi Victoriae of 2759 a.U.c  are dedicated to our Gods and our Roman ancestors. But not only ! We have members of our family, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, friends and comrades involved in war. For they I post here the prayer presented by Marcus Moravius Horatianus to the Religio Romana group. May the Gods return them victorious, healthy and safe :

" Father Mars, for too long have You neglected to look upon Your children of Romulus, upon Your grandchildren. Alas, for too long
have You been absent from our side. Recall the days that Your children bore Your Eagles to distant shores. Recall when You stood
beside Cornelius Scipio before the walls of Carthage. Recall when You marched with the legions into Illyrium with Aemilius Paulus to
overthrow a Macedonian tyrant and free Greece. Recall when beside Traianus You walked beyond the walls of Babylon to where the Tigris
and Euphrates flow into the sea. The sibyl enjoined the son of Venus, "Remember, Roman, this shall be your task: to impose the ways
of peace, to spare the vanquished, and to tame the arrogant by war." Then did Your son found the City of Rome, whose children, in
pious devotion to the Gods, extended the Pax Romanorum from northern seas to the Gulf of Persia.

Now once more Your children call to You. Rome resurgent, its sons and daughters band together from distant lands, to honor once more
the Gods and Goddesses of ancient Rome. Once more are our sons and daughters formed into legions, stationed from beneath Monte Santo in
Macedonia to distant Bactria in the defense of peace. Even now our sons and daughters battle in those lands of Parthia where Crassus
fell, where Augustus restored Rome's honor, where Traianus marched, and where Julianus the Blessed was tragically taken from us. Roman
Lares who once fought in those lands stir once more to join with the new sons and daughters of Rome to defend the weak, to oppose the
tyrant, to impose the ways of peace over that troubled land. We call upon You once more, Pater Mars, come to our aid.

Mars, whether You rush down from cloud-capped Mount Haemus, whether on frosty white mountains of Thrace, whether stirring the snows of
the Hindu Kush or the sands of Mesopotamian plains, make ready. Call forth Bellona to bear once more Her shield and spear. Hasten
Pavor to ready Your war chariot and Pallor to bridle Your war horses. Send Your helmed Sister into our councils. Press forward
to the battle lines. Raise Your shield to defend our sons and daughters. Instill in them the courage and unwavering resolve of
legions past. Turn all evils aside from them. Guard, defend and preserve the lives of our sons and daughter as inviolable to all
hostile assaults. Cast Your iron spear upon the enemy. Fill those hostile forces that oppose our armies with fear and dread. May Your
hand guide our sons and daughters upon the enemy. By Your hand may the hostile foe flee in dread fear. May You guard the welfare and
sustenance of our soldiers, and allow that they return home healthy and unharmed. May You grant that they bring back honors and share
in a triumphal procession, our sons and daughters as glorious defenders of peace.

If You will make this happen, so that we may know, sense and derive that this has happened, that our sons and daughters return home
victors, safe and healthy, then for You shall the hearths of Nova Roma blaze anew with offerings. By whatever vow will have been made
by their parents and the cives of Nova Roma, wherever it will have been made, each in accordance with his or her own custom, may You
accept that these vows have been properly made upon our families' altars. Then, too, shall we welcome the Roman Manes who are still
lost in those lands to our hearths, that they may take up their proper abode among us as our Lares. Lead us now to rejoin the
ancient maiores with the new juniores of Nova Roma as one people. This is what we ask of You, most holy Mavors, that You come now to
stand among us, defend, protect, and preserve our sons and daughters in distant wars, return them victorious, healthy and safe, and
reunite them once more with their families in service to the Gods and Goddesses of Roma antiqua. "
 

                             We, Titus Iulius Sabinus and Gaius Equitius Cato, Nova Roma Curule Aediles hereby solemny declare LUDI VICTORIAE of year 2759 a.U.c open !

        RELIGIOUS CELEBRATIONS :

Curule Aediles, Titus Iulius Sabinus and Gaius Equitius Cato, in front of their Cohors, garbed in toga praetexta, cinctu Gabino, capite velato.

Dacia Provincial Sacerdos, Iulia Iulia Caesaris Cytheris Aege, garbed in robe, capite velato, present the ritual :

The gates were left unlocked and the evening came upon the white walls, illuminated by the restless shadows of their silent visitors. Among the whispers it could be seen another movement, a strange motion belonging to another world, the spirits that came from far away places where they sown their sorrows and laughter, new worlds upon new victories. No longer under the power of time the hours are free to bloom as in a dance till day light and pass smoothly over the sacred fires of every domus.

 Quivering with joy the hands touch the water from the sacred vessels as once some other hands had touched the untamed waters of a new horizon. The temple of the ones departed from Rome in their quest was the heavenly bolt, the pillars sustaining it their souls; today the marble pillars are still and guard Vesta’s sacred fire. Silence is ordered.

 “Iuno, hail to you goddess!  You are the empress of this world sitting above us all and watching over us. Goddess of the mild rains that make all things grow, without Your caress nature wouldn’t be so rich. The softness of Your rain may purify us all. Oh, Iuno , come and watch over this ritual, bring your smile upon Nova Roma and Nova Romani ! May You show Yourself shining and kind to all the Roman legions and righteous in times of danger! Bless these Ludi! "  The Goddess is offered milk and honey.

The milk is poured from the patera onto the sacred fire. Fresh petal roses embroider the whiteness of the marble.

“Iupiter, we called You today to ask for Your blessings. Shining God of the Heavens let Your most kind thoughts fall upon us. Show mercy for the souls of our ancestors and look favorably upon us."

Wine is offered to Iupiter. The wine is poured with the right hand on the altar fire.

The past days of glory still show themselves through the veils of ages, their tumult and beatitude attend the rites of the present.

“Venus Victrix, may You always show Yourself radiant and winning to the Nova Romans as you appeared to the Romans in ancient times. You allowed them to taste the sweet and rejuvenating wine from the cups of victory as they revealed in front of the world their bravery and courage and devotion to Rome and Her immortal Gods!

Venus Victrix, the Nova Romans who attend this rite today and those who participate to the ludi took the oath to continue the march on the path opened by their ancestors. We seek to honor You and the Gods of Rome!”

Myrrh incense is burned.  Wine and milk are poured over the sacred fire.

Many Romans have left towards the darkest places of the earth bringing with them the light and the wisdom of Rome. Not all of them returned, they had to embrace the new lands which became their home for ever.