ATHENS—A group of modern-day Greek pagans gathered at the Parthenon on Sunday and prayed to Athena, goddess of wisdom and patron of the Greek capital, to protect the ancient site from further destruction, which is how they interpret adjustments to the site for the new museum being designed by Bernard Tschumi, the New York Times reports.

“Oh, goddess,” said priestess Doretta Peppa. “We are ready to defend your grounds.”

The ritual was performed by members of the group Ellinais, which recently won a court battle for state recognition of the ancient Greek religion. Defying a ban on ceremonies at ancient sites, dozens of pagans entered the site as tourists and then convinced guards to allow the 15-minute ritual to go forward.

The group was objecting to the removal of marble pediments from the Parthenon, as well as the displacement of hundreds of works from an Acropolis gallery. These pieces are to be installed in the new Tschumi museum, which is due to open early next year.