Holy Church of Valencia

The Holy Valencian Church provides the vision for the empire to move forward into the future, based on their beliefs in the Holy Triad. The Leader of the Church, called the Popes, is also the ultimate leader of the entire Empire.

## Organization

### Heirarchy

1. **Pope:** The Supreme Leader of the Valencian Empire. All other officials answer to him.
2. **Kardinal:** A small council elected from the ranks of the Arch-Bishops to manage church doctrine, disseminate theological information to the Bishops.
3. **Arcbishops:** Bishops of the highest order within their Province.
4. **Bishops:** Head priests in each region, over at least 3 parishes.
5. **Priests:** Spiritual leaders of parishes.
6. **Archdeacon:** Serve the Archbishops, usually only one.
7. **Deacons:** serve Priests or Bishops, typically numbering around 3-5.
8. **Monks:** chosen from the Priesthood or voluntarily joined, monks are mainly separated from the rest of society to study the farthest depths of spiritual truth.

### Religious Orders

1. **Priests:** ministers of Valencian grace to the people and they have the authority to preform rites and administer sacraments. Priests can also receive specialized training to become exorcists or medical doctors.
2. **Nuns**: Holy women who dedicate their lives to caring for the people of Valencia through various means.
	* **Handen**: trained in holy magics
		+ The Sisters of the Perpetual Watch
		+ The Daughters of Valencia
	* **Voeten**: healers and cultivators of life
		+ The Order of St. Freida
	* **Geest**: Teachers of children
3. **Monks:** Holy men who dedicate their lives to deeper study and understanding of the divine.
	* **Shatten***:* focus on retaining miraculius power within one’s body for greater physical prowess.
	* **Öffnen***:* Focusing on miraculous healing focus.
	* **Vier***:* focus on the study of the nature of the holy power and its uses.
4. **Paladins:** Knights blessed with the holy power of Valencia Herself.
	* **Order of Hightower:**
	* **Order of Anderson:**
	* **Order of Gerect:**

## Doctrine

### Nature of the Gods

The Father is is an ethereal being (although He can take a form if He so desires) of unrivaled power, wisdom, and authority. The Church considers the Father to be the only original god existing since before the Great Lapse, although others have come into existence like Valencia and the Son. Some theologians of the Church would consider some extremely powerful Horrors, such as Stheno and Vladislav, as lesser gods.

When it comes to the other two gods worshiped by the Church, Valencia and the Son, their deity is considered an emination of the Father: Valencia attaining godhood by gift of the Father and the Son possessing it by birth.

### The Father

**The Father** represents the order of the universe, it's foundation and enduring power. All things flow from the Father, to the Father, and for the Father. He is recognized as stern, but caring for his creations. He is often symbolized in triangular shapes as seen at the top of the Valencian Sun.

### The Holy Mother

**Valencia** represents the ideal of all human endaevor: to become divine. While the Church does not teach that anyone can become divine, the fact that Valencia was made divine by the Father provides an asperational goal for many in the Church. She represents nuturing, kindness, love, and security. She is greatly loved by the people, and even those who dislike the Church may have a soft spot for the Holy Mother. It is believed that Valencia is the one who enables Priests to use "Holy Power" or "Miraculous Power."

When the First Valencians neared the shore of Pamant, an eagle appeared to guide them to land. Many believed it was Valencia herself so Eagles became a great symbol of the Holy Mother.

### The Son

**The Son** represents enforcement of that order which the Father gives. He is the Divine Enforcer, the Sword of the Father. When the Son was born his mother gave him a name. The Father disapproved, for "The Divine shall neither take names nor shall they give names." The Church teaches that Valencia and the Son both agreed with the Father. The Son now executes his role as Divine Enforcer: bringing judgements upon those who break fellowship with the church. He is often symbolized by swords or hammers.

### Deification

No one knows exactly why the Father chose Valencia to become a god and his wife, other than to bear his son, but the fact that it happened has propelled many in the church to pursue the possibility of being the next 'chosen."

## Canons

1. **Canon of Worship**: Valencians are required to attend worship servies three times a week (Monday mornings., Thursday nights, and Sunday nights). Worship includes: songs, readings, homilies given by the priests, ritual meals, and other rites.
2. **Canon of** **Knowledge**: Valencians are required to know how to recite prayers and certain scriptures by heart.
3. **Canon of** **Charity**: Valencians are required to give *charity* (free-will gifts) through the Church and their personal lives.
4. **Canon of** **Piety**: Valencians are required to live pious lives that reflect the orderliness of the Father, the justice of the Son, and the love of the Mother.

## Feat Days

1. **St Freida's Day** *(February 17)*: Remembering St. Freida's healing of Kardinal Jung by throwing large neighborhood gatherings, greeting each other with the Frieda's words after she healed the Kardinal, "Your story is not over!"
2. **Adpulsus** (*April 2-9*): A week long celebration of the first landing of the Valencian ships upon Pamant.

## Common Prayers

1. **Glory**: "Glory to Valencia, Mother of us all, the Father has glorified thee. Blessed art thou among all women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, the Son. Holy Valencia, Mother of the Son, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen."
2. **Exalt**: “Exalt, Divine Queen, mother of our faith, our life, our peace and our only hope. To thee do we cry out, poor banished children of the earth. To thee do we send up our breath, mourning and weeping in this valley of death. Turn then, most magnificent Mother, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our life, bring us into the divine life for eternal days. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be transformed into divine vessels for your glory! Amen”