Temple of Glorinel

The Temple of Glorinel is the official religious institution of the Archduchy of Glorinel.

The faith of Glorinel is distinct in a number of ways from the Imperial Cult and other customs in High Rock. Formally dedicated to eleven divines, the Temple merges the pantheons of man and mer. It is a hierarchical church with a number of key ranks. The Temple plays an integral role in secular society and vice-versa, making it both particularly influential and particularly influenced.

The Eleven Divines
The Temple of Glorinel recognises and organises the worship of eleven Divines. In alphabetical order, these are:

Akatosh, the God of Time

Arkay, the God of the Cycle of Life and Death

Dibella, the Goddess of Beauty

Julianos, the God of Wisdom and Logic

Kynareth, the Goddess of Air

Magnus, the God of Sorcery

Mara, the Goddess of Love

Phynaster, the Great Teacher

Stendarr, the God of Mercy

Y’ffre, the God of the Forest

Zenithar, the God of Work and Commerce

Corporeal and Incorporeal Natures
The Temple of Glorinel holds that the Eleven Divines are normally incorporeal, existing as entities outside of mortal understanding. However, the Temple also holds that these Divines are capable of entering a bodily form. It is believed, for example, that the Great Teacher Phynaster wandered the land of High Rock as a real and physical being.

While the immediate appearance of the divine in the world is possible, the gods are primarily transcendental. Interaction with the divine is generally understood to occur in the immaterial plane, through dreams and visions.

These two forms - corporeal and incorporeal - are regarded by orthodoxy to be one and the same. By way of illustration, the case of Phynaster: the being that walked the earth is very same being as the transcendent god. Neither is there a shedding of divinity nor is there dual personhood.

Sheor and Evil
The Temple of Glorinel prohibits the worship of Sheor. Considered the God of Misfortune and Strife, Sheor is held to be the source of unmoral evil. That is to say he is responsible for disasters such as drought and crop failure.

Sheor does not cause or encourage moral evils, such as murder or theft, which are instead attributed to worldly distance from the Divines and the influence of the Daedra.

Afterlife
The Temple of Glorinel holds that beyond the physical realm is an incorporeal afterlife. This afterlife belongs to both the good and the bad, where one’s piety will determine how close to the Divines one finds themselves. Those favoured by the gods will be higher (or, rather closer), while those not will be lower (or further). The holiest of people, the saints, will stand at the very feet of the Divines.

Sainthood
The Temple of Glorinel holds that a man or woman holy enough may ascend to sainthood, taking his or her place at the feet of the Divines. Saints are revered as vessels of divine blessing and inspiration. As exemplars to the faithful, who often seek to emulate them, saints are afforded icons and statues across the realm.

While a person may be regarded as a living saint, formal canonisation is traditionally only possible after death. The Fellowship of the Raised, a body within the church, is responsible for discovering and recording the life of the pious. Though there are any number of holy men privately taken as saints, official recognition in the Temple can only be granted by the Lord Bishop.

Priesthood
To enter into the priesthood of the Temple of Glorinel is to enter into the Divines’ direct service. A prospective clergyman in theory needs only take a vow with two ordained priests as his witnesses, but entry into this spiritual class is traditionally a grander affair conducted in a temple building.

Vow of Priesthood
To take the vow of priesthood, one requires at least two ordained priests present. This vow dissolves lineage, removing a person from inheritance and succession. Those seeking to take the vow must be at least twenty-four years old.

B: here refers to the Lord Bishop or a senior priest in his absence.

W: here refers to a witness - an ordained priest - who vouches for a person's character.

P: here refers to the prospective priest.

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 and the ways of the Temple?

W:He is a man learned in these laws and ways.

''B: A boy and a son.'' 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 and sisters 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 man and a father.

Church Officals
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.