The Thiasus ("Thias")

The bearers of nestinar ritualism have their own organization - "thiasus", independent of the church. They have their own holy places, buildings, icons, sacred objects and possessions. The whole social organization and ritualism in the nestinar villages obey the "Nestinar Law". The ancient structure of the "thiasus" is preserved. It should be pointed out that the term "thiasus" is not used with its modern Greek meaning - "a theatrical group"; but with its old Greek one, of "religious brotherhood, community". As a general term, "thiasus" can be related to any group, organized on the basis of a common belief and ritualism.

The existence of nestinar organization can also be proved by the system of nestinar holy places - "small monasteries", "ayasmas","konaks"; kept in perfect order by the worshippers. The list of proofs can be completed with: the choice of a chief priest/priestess, and later on, the choice of a churchwarden ("vikilin", "teletarchos"); the gathering of the inhabitants of several villages at "The Big Ayasma, the meetings and visits of nestinars with the aim of performing the ritual.

The priestess in Chief used to keep the knowledge and conducted the rituals. The nestinars of different villages would visit her each spring, in order to be given instructions. That visit had a ceremonious character. She met them, gave them presents, invited them into her house, so that they could bow in front of the icons.

The priestess duties have been transferred to a churchwarden ("vikilin","teletarchos") in 1945. And that has been the practice for the last several decades. The churchwarden usually comes from a nestinar family, and is married to a nestinar.

The ones who carry the icons are boys, chosen for each holiday, by the churchwarden. To be among the chosen, was a matter of honor.

According to some old surveys, there used to be "special people", who stacked the fire and spread the embers. It is possible, that the churchwarden's position was inherited by the subsequent generations, because of the sacredness of the fire.

In past times the lowest level of the nestinar community was obviously taken by people, who devoted themselves to a god/goddess in order to serve him/her. It was a practice, urged by the desire for redemption of sins, widely known in the ancient world, and later on adopted by Christian religion. Such a level does exist in the present nestinar organization, but it is still unclear whether the believer could join the initiated; but basically, such a step is acceptable.

There can be observed another level in the "thiasus". That is the group of the ones, who wait "to be obsessed". Briefly, they wait for "God to get into them", in order to endure his presence and be depraved of it, by the dance on embers.