Difference between revisions of "Holy Church of Achaea"

The '''Holy Church of Achaea''', based in the [[Chrysalis Basilica]] within [[Shallam]], is an organisation dedicated to the ideals of Good. Guided by the the [[Codex of Light]] bestowed upon the forces of Good by [[Pentharian]], [[Lorielan]], and [[Tarah]], the Church strives to uphold Righteousness, Order, and Light while opposing Evil, Darkness, and Chaos. Two [[:Category:Houses|Houses]], the [[Guardians of Light]] (once called the [[Templars]], then the [[Guardians of Light|Paladins]]) and the [[Empyreal Assembly]] (once called the [[Empereal Assembly|Priests]]), form the bulk of Church membership along with the Imithians who are from other Houses or no House at all.  

The Church was founded by [[Imithia]], the great-great-great-granddaughter of [[Pasiphae]], when she held a Rite of Passing to commemorate the life and mourn the death of the last of the [[:Category:Offspring|Offspring]]. Though originally composed of a few devout friends of Imithia, the Church grew quickly, eventually giving birth to the Templars and Priests. Though much different from their modern-day counterparts, they each played important parts in the functioning of the ancient Church.

Though based in the [[Delos|Delosian]] Basilica, the Church had many branches and chapels in other cities, including the Tower of the Luminai in Shallam. The [[Luminai]] were the most ardent opponents of the ancient [[Occultist|Occultists]] and guided the Church's fight against them. Though denied by the Church, the Occultists claim that the Luminai and the Church perpetrated many injustices against them, including torture and the destruction of their scholarly texts. The Luminai, likewise, claim that the Occultists were responsible for the arson that destroyed their tower within Shallam. Two members of the Ancient Luminai survive today, [[Gladius]] and [[Dawn]], who ascended into [[Mithraea]], Goddess of the Sun.

The Church is also responsible for much of the highways within Sapience, built under the Archprelacy of [[Raphael I]]. Through their construction, the Church was able to extend its influence to a greater degree within [[Ashtan]] and Shallam, an influence that waned greatly in Ashtan, but continues into modern times within Shallam. The Church also had some influence within the [[Seleucarian Empire]] whose founder, [[Nicator]], the Church named Fire Saint.

The [[Modern Age]] has seen the relocation of the Basilica, and therefore the Church, from Delos to Shallam by the [[Sarapis|Logos]], and the renaming of the Templar guild to the Paladins guild. In more recent days, both guilds have become Houses, and were appropriately renamed.

The Church is lead by a council of three Prelates, who select an [[Archprelate]] to serve as their chief. The three prelates are the Mayan Prelate, House Lady of the Empyreal Assembly; the Justiciar Prelate, House Lord of the Guardians of Light; and the Imithian Prelate, who is chosen by the Divine Patron of the Church.