The heroine of the novel Veronica, fleeing the persecution of her deceived business partner and failed husband, flees from Russia to Greece. There she turns to a stranger for help, and he provides her with refuge in the village of Arachova on the slope of Mount Parnassus. Despite the friendliness of the locals, the feeling of danger does not leave Veronica. What makes Demetrios take such an active part in her fate and who communicates with her every day - Christians observing the traditions of the Orthodox Church, or pagans making sacrifices to the bloody gods? And now the first snow falls on the rocky slopes of Parnassus. The women of Phocis, Boeotia and Attica begin to perform ancient rites. Bacchic dances, frantic running, sexual excitement, which finds outlet in love acts in the open air and wild hunting, where not only animals, but also humans are game - these are the great Dionysian mysteries, of which Veronica becomes an involuntary participant.