Angelseaxisc Þéodisc Ȝeléafa, “Anglo-Saxon Théodish Belief”
Much in the way that our folkdom has been called both the Théodish Ríce and the Wínland Ríce since its earliest days, so too have we Théodsmen long spoken of our troth as both Anglo-Saxon Théodish Belief and as Théodism. As betold in the Ȝéarӡerim of Ȝéring,
1985 C.E. — Gárman Lord names the “Witanic” religion of Anglo-Saxon Þéodisc Ӡeléafa, or “Théodish Belief,” with his own house, which he had just bought, as its hofstead.
From that year onward, our belief has been hight Angelseaxisc Þéodisc Ȝeléafa, which is “Anglo-Saxon Théodish Belief,” and is shortened therefrom to “Théodish Belief” in our everyday speech. The name “Théodism,” however, arose soon thereafter as a further shortening of its name. That it was carried over into abannings and deemings, gave to it the weight of thew. Thus, there are many writings set forth before the begrounding (establishment) of Háliggyld Books (2014) and the Spellstów tidewrit (2019) wherein both “Théodish Belief” and “Théodism” were given as names for our troth.
Théodish Belief
Yet for some years now, our troth has been hight “Théodish Belief” alone when named in the Ríce’s reevely (official) writ. This has been no oversight by Théodsmen but rather a hearkening to the wisdom of that deeming which the Witan made at Éastremónað 2021 whereby the bounds of Théodishness were clearly marked out. As it was then abanned,
Théodish Belief is not merely a method, a style, a structure, or an approach to Heathenry. Théodish Belief is the trow of a folkdom, that being the folkdom of Théodsmen. Théodsmen are those bound together in the Wínland Ríce by its Web of Oaths, by its Web of Thew, by its Orlay, and by their love for and leave to the Holy Kingship of the Théodish Ríce. [i]
Théodism
As for the name “Théodism,” its Greek ending of “-ism” has at times been misunderstood by those outside of the Théodish Ríce to mean that our troth is “merely a method, a style, a structure, or an approach to Heathenry” and that anyone who finds our thew and lore to his liking might call himself a Théodsman. That may well hold true for such selfly (personal) troths as Protestantism and Neopaganism, wherein one need only choose to become a Protestant or Neopagan. Yet Théodish Belief is not a selfly thing but is instead a the folkly (tribal) troth. Thus, one cannot merely choose to be a Théodsman. Rather one must dree leornerescipe and undergo ordeal until one has truly worthed oneself and thereafter been deemed a Théodsman by the Ríce’s cyning or his reeves and welcomed into the Théodish Ríce. To recall the aforesaid deeming, “it is the right of the Théodish Ríce and its Cyning alone to deem Théodishness.”
Thus, the sake of those in Greater Heathendom who might misunderstand “Théodism,” we have largely left off calling our Ríce’s belief by that name. Nonetheless though as it was once wont of Théodsmen to call it such, such a highting might still be overheard in the hall. Thus, though we hold that the name of “Théodism,” is ours to do with as we might deem fit, we hold that the most right and true name for holiness is Angelseaxisc Þéodisc Ȝeléafa, that being “Anglo-Saxon Théodish Belief” and “Théodish Belief,” and that it should be hight as such in all reevely writ, in oath-taking, and in our biddings to the gods.
Given by the Théodish Ríce’s Cyning and Witegan at a Witenagemót of the Théodish Ríce which was held at Whitthenge Heall on II Ærra Líða MMXXVI. To this deeming did the Cyning set his hand and his Witan give their rede.
Þórbeorht Hláford Cyning
Eðelwynn Hlǽfdiȝe Cwén, in Witness
Sǽfriþ Wéofodþyȝen Ides, Wita
Ælfgár Þeȝn Húsceorl, Wita
Friðoríc Wéofodþeȝn Scírgeréfa, Wita
[i] “A Deeming of the Théodish Ríce’s Witan on the Heathen Fellowship Known as Ondheim, Hréðemónað 2021.” By Ælfríc Hláford of Hræfnscír, Sǽfríð Þygen of Ealdríce, and Friðoríc Þegn of Æppeldor.