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gaeleth:divinities:ecclesiastic_ranks

Ecclesiastic Ranks

The churches of Gaeleth united as never before in the aftermath of the Storm Wars, and under the Avard Accords. The accords helped to establish certain standards for the determination of ranks within each church, and the ranks later became standardized throughout much of the Inquisition.

The congregants are considered the lowest-ranking members of the church hierarchy, yet they are also the most important.

A member of the congregation or a convert who wish to begin training as a priest and servant of the church is anointed as an accolyte. When an accolyte is granted the prayers of his god, that accolyte becomes a deacon – a preacher empowered by his or her god. Those whom are empowered and travel circuits or serve in other temples, but do not yet have a temple of their own, are called prior. Priors are often encouraged to travel the land, converting followers to the faith, and serving the churches best by their examples out among the masses. Empowered priests with their own temple, who may have others serving under them, are called vicar, and one who sees over more than one temple is known as a bishop. A cardinal is one who sees over a large number of temples and serves in the church hierarchy in an administrative position over bishops. A disciple is both a servant of the church and a direct servant of the god or goddess of the church; usually disciples are appointed by agents of the deities themselves. The Chosen is the highest-ranking member of any church, appointed by the deity of the church itself to the position.

After the passing of a member of a church, that individual can be ordained into sainthood by a Chosen. Saints of the various churches tend to become figureheads for differing interpretations of their god's will.

gaeleth/divinities/ecclesiastic_ranks.txt · Last modified: 2021/09/28 15:48 (external edit)