Temple of Glorinel

The **Temple of Glorinel** was a religious institution based in the Archduchy of Glorinel.

## **Canon and Doctrine**

### **The Eleven Divines**

The Temple claimed an unbroken chain between itself and an ancient *Bretic Rite*. No distinction was made between *mannish* and *merrish* gods, as this was believed to be contrary to the ancient half-man half-mer origins of the Breton people. Devotion to the nedic divines was nonetheless more popular.

In alphabetical order, the Eleven Divines were:

**Akatosh**, the God of Time

**Arkay**, the God of Life and Death

**Dibella**, the Goddess of Beauty

**Julianos**, the God of Wisdom

**Kynareth**, the Goddess of Air

**Magnus**, the God of Sorcery

**Mara**, the Goddess of Love

**Phynaster**, the God of Lore

**Stendarr**, the God of Mercy

**Y’ffre**, the God of the Forest

**Zenithar**, the God of Work

Despite the closeness between the Archduchy of Glorinel and Septim Empire, the divine Emperor Talos remained absent from this pantheon. His worship was neither encouraged nor discouraged by the Temple.

### **Divine Nature**

The Temple taught that the Divines were principally incorporeal, absent of physical bodies and existing outside of the mortal plane. Although it was possible for one among them to enter into a corporeal form, this was exceptionally rare. Archbishop Monet, a saint and theological father to the Temple, said of this, *‘The baker does not enter his cake.’*

In the absence of the immanent divine, the Temple held that an intercessory body of priests and saints were necessary to receive the blessings and guidance of the Divines.

### **The Daedra and Sheor as Originators of Evil**

The teaching of the Temple regarding evil was that there were two types: moral and unmoral (or natural). The former was attributed to the corruptive influence of the Daedra, whose worship was absolutely forbidden. Spiritual excellence was traditionally understood to be the normative state of all people. Therefore, the protective quality of prayer carried greater weight than its constructive quality in the Temple. Prayer, it was taught, protected one from evils: both those they might commit and those committed against them.

The second type of evil was associated with Sheor. This evil encompassed natural disasters such as earthquakes, drought, and crop failure. Those who prayed to Sheor were regarded by the Temple as heretics. Small pockets of devotees to Sheor nonetheless quietly existed.

### **Afterlife**

The Temple of Glorinel held that there existed a single plane of existence in the afterlife rather than many. This plane was, however, divided between the Eleven Divines. Archbishop Monet called this *the house with many doors*.

Success after death was determined by piety in life. This success was marked by how close or far one was to be from a Divine. The most pious, the saints, were promised places at the very feet of the Eleven Divines.

#### **Sainthood**

The Temple of Glorinel held that any man or woman pious enough may ascend to sainthood, irrespective of his or her origin. This meant, as Archbishop Monet remarked, that saints were made and not born.

Saints were revered as vessels of divine blessing and inspiration. Icons and statues were to be found throughout the realm and cults around particular saints were commonplace. The Temple encouraged the veneration of saints, marking them as exemplars for the faithful to emulate.

While it was possible for a person to be regarded as a *living saint*, a rare instance in which the individual was considered to be guaranteed spiritual success, canonisation was only possible after death. The Fellowship of the Raised, a body within the church, was responsible for discovering and chronicling the lives of the pious.

Though only the Temple could grant official recognition, many were taken privately as saints. This was particularly the case in rural areas.

## **Priesthood**

Membership of the Temple clergy was restricted in a number of ways. A prospective priest was required to be a man aged at least twenty-four. He must also have an ordained priest to vouch for his character.

As such, it was difficult for a person with no prior (personal or familial) connection to the Temple to become ordained. For this reason, most entrants first served as lay members.

### **Vow of Priesthood**

To be ordained as a priest, a man was required to make a vow in the presence of at least two clergymen. The vow dissolved lineage, removing a person from inheritance and succession.

***AB:*** *here refers to the seniormost priest.*

***W:*** *here refers to a witness – an ordained priest – who vouches for a prospective priest’s character*

***P:*** *here refers to the prospective priest*

***P:***

*A boy and a son seeks to be raised.*

***B:***

*Is this a man of propriety – a good and faithful servant of the Divines?*

***W:***

*He is a man of propriety and faithful service to the Divines.*

***B:***

*Is this a man learned in the laws of the Temple?*

***W:***

*He is a man learned in these laws.*

***P:***

*I commend my soul to the Divines*

*I pledge eternal service to the Eleven and Their Temple*

*I leave behind my name and take that of my brothers in spirit*

*I leave behind my wealth and take the riches of spirit*

*I leave behind my body and don the robe of spirit*

*In Akatosh I find truth,*

*In Arkay, I find eternity,*

*In Dibella, I find beauty,*

*In Julianos I find wisdom,*

*In Kynareth I find fortune,*

*In Magnus I find light,*

*In Mara I find love,*

*In Phynaster I find knowledge,*

*In Y’ffre I find life,*

*In Stendarr I find mercy,*

*In Zenithar I find bounty.*

*To these Eleven I commend my soul.*

*To these Eleven and Their Temple I pledge eternal service.*

***B:***

*A boy and a son raised now a man and a father.*

### **Church Officials**

The Temple of Glorinel is a strictly hierarchical institution, with a number of ranks that determine one’s authority and responsibilities.

#### **Archbishop**

As the head of the Temple, the Archbishop is responsible for directing its policy in and (where appropriate) beyond Glorinel. He is the paramount religious figure in the realm, leading and organising the Faith. While he is primarily the master of his own diocese, he is additionally supervisor over the three other dioceses in Glorinel. A prospective Archbishop must be at least forty-two years of age. Although he is likely to come from the ranks of the higher clergy, in particular from the Prelates, he need only simply be an ordained priest. The Archbishop is elected by the eleven prelates of the realm. An Archbishop may abdicate from service in old age or poor health, but is traditionally expected to act in this capacity for life.

#### **Bishop**

Masters over their dioceses, the Bishops of Glorinel are responsible for directing the Temple and leading the faithful in their bishopric. There are three Bishops in addition to the Archbishop, who are at least officially considered to be his spiritual viceroys and are held to be subordinate to him. In reality, a Bishop’s power and influence may at times rival that of the Archbishop. A prospective Bishop must be at least forty-two years of age. Candidates are traditionally put forward by the local priesthood in diocesan elections. Formal recognition comes from the Archbishop, who often *makes official that which already is*. Service as a Bishop is traditionally held to be for life, though a person may abdicate with good reason. Furthermore, it is possible (though rare) for a Bishop to be elected Archbishop of the realm.

#### **Prelates**

Penultimate members of the Temple, the Prelates make up the part of the upper echelons of the clergy. Each Prelate is dedicated to one of the Eleven Divines, to whom they are considered bound and may not move away from (that is, the Prelate of Stendarr may not become the Prelate of Zenithar). Although there are four dioceses, there are only eleven Prelates - all appointed by the Archbishop. For this reason, Prelates often find themselves in tension with the lesser Bishops of the realm. A Prelate’s duty is to supervise the practises and services associated with their particular Divine. The Prelates are sometimes described as *spiritual governors*. They are furthermore responsible for electing the Archbishop, who is often chosen from their own ranks. A prospective Prelate must be at least thirty-five years of age.

#### **Curates**

Often, though not necessarily, the seniormost priest in a given temple, the Curates are the heads of religious buildings and parishes. The Curates of Glorinel are responsible for organising daily services, such as prayers, blessings, and marriages. A Curate is tasked also with the keep and repair of shrines and temples, the training and wellbeing of the priests who serve in them, and the distribution of charity. A prospective Curate must be at least thirty years of age.

#### **Priests**

Making up the greater body of the clergy in Glorinel, the priests are the ministers of faith. Traditionally ordained by either the Archbishop or a Bishop, the priests take vows removing themselves from normal and worldly life. Dedicated to the service of the Eleven Divines and Their Temple, the priests are notably required to abandon their rights to inheritance. Taking a large number of roles in the Temple, the simple priests are the most varied in their particular service. A priest may be responsible for work in a village or may be taken as a chaplain in a noble court. They may be tasked with the maintenance of shrines or with the recording of history. A prospective priest must be at least twenty-four years of age.

#### **Deacons**

As lay members of the Temple, the Deacons are responsible for performing a number of roles outside the immediate spiritual field. Working as assistants and servants, a deacon may be tasked with anything from cleaning to secretarial work. Many deacons look to become priests, some enter into this work for reasons of simpler lay piety, and others still work for the boarding offered by the Temple. A prospective deacon must be at least twenty years of age.

#### **Oblates**

Young apprentices and novices in the Temple are commonly in spiritual service for one of two reasons: they are either taken in from the orphans and the poor, or they are sent to the Temple with the intention of their being educated. Schooled in the mundane subjects (and sometimes in the magical), the oblates usually receive fairly rigorous training. Generally expected to continue in religious service as deacons and priests, they are given food and board, and at times are sponsored by senior priests to study in universities.