Church of All Saints

The Blessed Cross, also known as the Sun-Blessed Cross.

The **Church of All Saints**, also known as the Church of Saintologist, is the largest Unnisian church and it's the world's oldest and largest continuously functioning international institution, it has played a prominent role in the history and development of Western Eros. The church is headed by the Arch Bishop of Farfallana. Its central administration is the **Holy City of Farfallana**, in the **Kingdom of Solas**.

## **History**

Originally it was considered a heresy of the **Unnusian faith**, which dictated the sole divinity of **Unnus**, the God of Creation. The Saintologist faith believe that all the Gods of the world are as equally as valid as Unnus *(though some religious scholars debate that Unnus acts as a "major God" among them.)* They also believe that the Gods have decided to take a vow of silence, instead using Saints as their voice among their mortal followers to guide them.

Due to the teachings of the Church that all religions are valid, it has became one of the most popular faiths among Eros and even with the Eastern Kingdoms, this allowed good relations between culturally different nations such as the **Kingdom of Valion** and the **Empire of Ndidi**. the some nations and regions have refused to accept their faith, such as the **Ahmedian Sultanate**, who only believe in the divinity of Unnus and of his prophets.

As of 1678, there's a total of 146 confirmed saints. The most popular saints being **Saint Tessa**, often referred to as *"the Bellanonna"* who is the matron of children, mothers and grandmothers. There's also **Saint Charlot**, the patron of healers, barbers, beauty and good health.

## **Sacraments**

A *sacrament* is a rite, instituted by the Gods, that confers grace, constituting a sacred mystery. The two most widely accepted sacraments are the **Blessing** and the **Communion**, however, the majority of Saintologists, mainly in Western Eros, also recognize five additional sacraments: **Confirmation**, **Penance**, **Coronation**, **Matrimony** and **Anointing**. Taken together, these are the **Six Sacraments** as recognized by churches in the High Church tradition.

### **The Blessing**

The **Blessing of the Saints** is the ritual act, with the use of **Holy Blood**, by which a person is admitted to membership of the Church. The Blessing strengthens a person's faith, and is intimately linked to their salvation. The most common form of Blessing is known as *"The Early Blessing"*, which a child is submerged into a pool of Sacred Blood, this is repeated three times in the name of the Gods, the Saints, and the Martyrs.

### **The Communion**

The **Communion with the Gods**, is an ancient rite of Unnisian origin. According to the **Book of Unnus**, the rite was instituted by the God; giving his followers his blood and flesh and commanded his followers to continue the tradition through the usage of **Holy Blood**. The element of the Communion, the **Holy Blood**, is consecrated on an altar of the Gods and consumed thereafter. Communicants, those who consume the elements, may speak of "receiving the blessing of the Gods" as well as "celebrating the Communion".

### **The Confirmation**

The **Confirmation of Faith** is seen as the confirming of the bows created in the Blessing. It is taken every ten years and it renders the bond with the Church more perfect, because while a baptized person is already a member of the faith, reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the perfection of divine grace.

### **The Penance**

The **Penance in front of the Saints** is repentance of sins. It is one of the most ancient of rites, instituted in the Book of Unnus. Penance, while a duty, is first of all a gift. No **Wer** can do any penance worthy of the Gods and Saints consideration without first giving the grace to do so. In penance is proclaimed **Wer** unworthiness in the face of the Gods condescension, the indispensable disposition to Saints grace. For though sanctifying grace alone forgives and purges sins from the soul, it is necessary that the individual consent to this action of grace by the work of the virtue of penance, Penance helps to conquer sinful habits and builds generosity, humility and patience.

### **The Coronation**

The **Bestowal of a Holy Crown** is the act of placement of a crown upon a monarch's head. A coronation ceremony consists of many rituals, such as the taking of special vows by the monarch, the investing and presentation of regalia to the monarch, and acts of homage by the new ruler's subjects and the anointing the monarch with **Holy Blood**. The monarch's consort may also be crowned, either simultaneously with the monarch or as a separate event.

### **The Matrimony**

The **Holy Matrimony** is a solemn and public covenant between a man and a woman in the presence of the Gods, intended by Saints for their mutual joy; for the help and comfort given one another in prosperity and adversity; and, when it is Gods will, for the procreation of children and their nurture.

### **The Anointing**

The **Anointing of the Sick** is giving grace to the people who suffer through sickness. Through the sacrament a gift of the Saints is given, it renews confidence and faith in the Gods and strengthens against temptations to discouragement, despair and anguish at the thought of death and the struggle of death; it prevents from losing hope in the Saints justice, truth and salvation.The special grace of the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick has as its effects:

* The uniting of the sick person to the passion of the Saints, for their own good and that of the whole Church.

* The strengthening, peace, and courage to endure, in a holy manner, the sufferings of illness or old age.

* The forgiveness of sins, if the sick person was not able to obtain it through the sacrament of penance.

* The restoration of health, if it is conducive to the salvation of his soul.

* The preparation for passing over to eternal life.

## **Orders of the Church**

There are various orders that serve the Church, some were created by priests while others were created by zealous warriors, knights and commoners and were eventually recognized as legitimate orders by the Arch-Bishop. The relationship between these Orders and the Church varies greatly, with those who excellently receiving funding from the Church itself, while those who perform poorly are often kept at a distance, in the worst of cases, they are branded as a heretic organization.

* **Sisterhood of Fire**, a religious order of vestals trained in combat and in anointing the sick, they are dedicated to **Saint Marlene**.

* **Brotherhood of Light**, a religious order of scholar monks trained in the arts of miracles, they are dedicated to **Saint Giovacchin**.

* **The Oathkeeper Order**, a knight order that fights against the enemies of the Church, their patron saint is **Saint Galahad**.

* **Order of Saint Arkhan**, a zealous religious order dedicated to hunt the supernatural, they are dedicated to **Saint Arkhan**.

## **Views and Beliefs**

### The view on Werhobs

Throughout the years, various the Arch-Bishops have taken different approaches when dealing with the paranormal. Throughout the "Old Age", the majority of the Arch-Bishops have ordered the immediate execution of the supernatural, **Vampyrs** were burnt in the stake while **Werwulfs** were beheaded in public events. Some, however, had taken more liberal approaches, such as confining werwulfs into highly protected asylums to be treated of their lycanthropy. The most infamous of the Arch-Bishops was Giuseppe Garibaldi, who proclaimed that the Werhobs were only a test from the Gods and the Saints and that they should be treated with respect. Currently, Arch-Bishop Pierozzzo Spizega considers Vampyrs and Werwulfs a menace and have to be hunted, for they are a danger for humanity. However, some Kingdoms have taken different different measures on how to deal with their supernatural inhabitants.