Chapter 138: Deus Vult

### Story Date

Friday, 15 July, AD 1043/6551 ε.Κ/4 Duh l-Hijja 434 AH/5 Qiao-Yue Huangyou Era Year 1/5 Heyannir ÅrO -1

## Appearances

### Locations

Saint-Malo
Al Jazīra Al-Khadrā
Eigg
Vedrarfjord
Constantinople
Berk
Aral Sea
Caen

*Perhaps the most illustrative example of the difference between the orthodox nature of Christianity and the orthoprax nature of Judaism and Islam is the examination of their respective statements of faith, which structure their relationship with the divine.*

*In Judaism, the statement of faith is known as the* Shema*; found in the text of the Torah, it reads simply as, “Shema Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Echad.” “Hear O Israel, The Lord is our God, The Lord is One.” In this simple passage, the nature of the Hebrew god is defined as being the Lord of the people of Israel, and a singular entity. While there is more to the text of the prayer in liturgical use, this single phrase is the structural core of the Jewish statement of faith in their god, their relationship to that deity, and that deity’s singular oneness. The rest of Jewish law concerns fulfilling the commandments of their Lord. No further professions of faith are strictly necessary beyond this, so long as the deeds and actions of the individual Jew stay on the path dictated by their deity.*

*In Islam, the statement of faith is known as the* Shahada*; found in the text of the Koran in various combinations, it also reads simply, “Ašhadu ʾan lā ʾilāha ʾilla -llāhu, wa-ʾašhadu ʾanna muḥammadan rasūlu -llāh.” “There is no deity but God, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of God.” In this simple passage, again, the nature of the Islamic god is defined as monotheistic, and being specifically the deity on whose behalf Mohammad acted as prophet. And while the formulation of the statement is not found precisely as-is in the text of the Koran, it is directly derived from it, and anchors the religious structure of the Islamic faith—they worship one singular god as Mohammad instructed them to, with the instructions being found in the text. Again, as another orthoprax religion, the instruction of faith is singular and focuses on singular points, with the rest of religious observance being defined by actions.*

*In contrast, Christianity, as an orthodox religion, has two statements of faith, the Nicene Creed and the Apostles’ Creed, both of which are lengthy, detailing the full beliefs of what it means to be Christian with twelve distinct articles of faith, in the Nicene Creed reading:*

*“I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.*

*I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made.*

*For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.*

*For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end.*

*I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.*

*I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.”*

*In this text, the full orthodoxic nature of Christianity comes through, detailing the specificity of belief that makes one a Christian. Further, this statement does not come from the Christian holy texts, but was instead compiled centuries later at various religious councils, as the early Christian faith struggled to define itself solely through belief; even later, as the Apostles’ Creed came into general use, due to its shorter nature, significant portions of the statement of faith require inclusion…*

*—Divine Light Through The Gem Of Man: Studying The Many Facets Of The Holy, Waterford University Press, 1692*

## Major Events

* Henry the Sinister begins enacting his plan against Normandy.
* Viggo receives a visit from Father Salucci and they discuss both Viggo's politics and Berk's politics. Viggo clarifies rumours that Salucci heard of Hiccup marrying a Jewish woman and explaining that his father adopted her. Salucci also informs him Viggo will have a new bishop for his holdings.
* Jarl Hallvar tracks down his son Gabriel and confronts him on not joining the Varangians and letting his Heidrun join in his stead when her gender puts her at risk. Gobber hears of this and sends a letter to Snotlout about Heidrun.
* At a private meeting, Octavianus backs down from trying to reclaim Maria, whose real name is Saida, back.
* Sigurd is present for a discussion between Theodora and the Patriarch of the Byzantine Christians regarding the Christian Pope's letter that is full of complaints against them, the biggest of which is their refusal to recognise Pope Benedict as the head of all Christendom.
* Dalassenos reports to Theodora that a trap they placed successfully caught General Leo Torniskios as a traitor.
* Spitelout and Picknose have a heart-to-heart talk about their respective family units.
* Tuffnut and Mor leave Constantinople.
* Drago and his forces have another battle with Özhan's forces before he orders a retreat.
* Henry the Sinister incites religious violence as his ploy to take over Normandy by citing the dragon scales Rivkah's family has as proof the Jews are conspiring with Berk.

## Trivia

As Rivkah mentions in her narration, the 9th of Av (Tisha B'Av) is the most important day of mourning in Judaism, being the day both Temples in Jerusalem were destroyed, as well as numerous other calamities for the Jewish people (most of which occurred after the events of ATOV). Here another tragedy joins them, the Caen pogrom.

## Characters

### Humans

* Hawiz Breizh
* Conan Breizh
* Viggo Grimborn
* Father Salucci (first appearance)
* Gobber the Belch
* Murchadh mac Flannchadh
* Gabriel Hallvarsson
* Hallvar (first appearance)
* Hákon Mortensson
* Archbishop Octavianus
* Ultan mac Vir
* Fintan mac Ionatan
* Gunvor Dugaldsdóttir
* Teàrlag Eimhirsdóttir
* Munia
* Maria/Saida (first appearance)
* Sigurd Trondsson
* Sophia Makris
* Gudmund Hallvarsson
* Gunnar Bræsisson
* Theodora Porphyrogenita
* Papal Legate (first appearance)
* Patriarch Michael Keroularios of Constantinople (first appearance?)
* Constantine Dalassenos
* Picknose Rolfsson
* Spitelout Clodgallsson
* Inga Roswynnsdóttir
* Mór nic Echmarcach
* Tuffnut Thicknutsson
* Demetrius Pachis
* Drago Bludvist
* Kasim
* Rivkah bat Hadassah
* Henry the Sinister
* Rivkah's father (last appearance)
* Lilach bat Ofri (last appearance)

### Dragons

* Bluehorn
* Barf & Belch

## Analysis

### Epigraph Tie-In

* The epigraph mentions Islam's statement of faith. The chapter shows Saida reciting it to reaffirm her faith in Islam.