Magna Aenilia Ecclesia
| Continent / Island | Far East |
| Capital Temple | Idapur, Greater Aenilia |
Senior Council
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| Temple/Priest Numbers |
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| Congregation | ~56,000 |
| Realms of the Faith |
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Magna Aenilia Ecclesia is the current Aenilic faith. Built on the ruins of the fallen Vandaenil, the good Aenilic word is slowly being restored to the East.
Contents
History
Upon the destruction of Taith Aenil and the forging of Greater Aenilia by the Prophet Orphaea Imperium (once Orphen Vincent) and his disciple Luyten Dell, the last remaining bastion of heresy in Aenilia was the guild of the Vandaenil. Orphaea tore down the guild and saw a grand temple raised in its place. In keeping with the declaration he made when he oversaw the foundation of Grater Aenilia, the faith is a soverign institution equal, not subject, to Greater Aenilia, with its own rank system and military forces.
Dogma
See also: Magna Aenilia Ecclesia/Beliefs
The Aenil are beings that occupy a world greater than and parallel to our own. Our own actions on this plane of existence call out to the Aenil in their identical yet seperated world, influencing them as much as their blessings (or curses) influence us. It is impossible to say 'all Aenil are good' or 'this many are good and this many are bad'; the Aenil are innumerable (in the sense that, while it is unlikely there are an infinite number, there are so many it is beyond the capacity of man to number them) and as varied as men. Our own actions influence those Aenil who take an interest in our lives. For that reason, it is important to act well so that our actions might attract benevolent Aenil who can guide and protect us from those that would cause us harm, Aenil or man.
Hierarchy
The male pronoun is used throughout for simplicity, however MAE is an equal opportunity religion.
All positions are based on faith and merit - political titles mean nothing within the temple, just as the Aenil judge men for who they are not what they have after their name.
Church Council
The Prophet is the incarnation or mortal authority of Aenil in this world. As the member of the faith with the strongest connection to the Aenil, as well as (one of) the most learned, he is the final authority on Aenilic matters, and might be considered the 'ruler' of the faith as a soverign and independent religious institution the same as a King, Pontifex or otherwise is the ruler of a soverign and independent political realm.
A Disciple is one with a direct mentor-mentee relationship with the Prophet, the second closest to the Prophet in understanding of the Aenil and authority in the faith.
The 'council' consists of the Legate, Syndic and Chamberlain; roughly analogous to the General, Judge and Banker respectively of a realm. These positions are given to those that have shown themselves to be faithful and that the other members of the faith can trust to carry out these duties. The Legate is responsible for the Temple Guardians (soldiers sworn to the defence of the faith and all within it) and those forces that may be volunteered by realms during wartime. The Syndic is responsible for ensuring that heresy and blasphemy is treated or eliminated where necessary. The Chamberlain looks after the finances of the faith and ensures that funds are distributed as necessary. Finally, a High Priest as an additional spiritual advisor.
Clergy
Every realm of the faithful has an Auctoritas for that realm, a priest selected as the head of the priesthood for that realm and chosen only from the priests of that realm. If a priest from that realm is unavailable, the position remains vacant until a candidate is found. Priests do not overlap into realms other than their own unless otherwise arranged (such as converting a large number of people as fast as possible, or there are no priests in a realm).
A Surrogate is second to an Auctoritas, a priest with great knowledge in the Aenil and is likely to become an Auctoritas or High Priest one day. A Priest is one that has dedicated all their service to the Aenil and spends their days walking and preaching to nobility and peasantry alike. Chaplains are Priests without a great deal of experience, they work become a Priest.
High Laity
The Temple Guardians are soldiers who have sworn their service in defence of the faith and that which makes it - its temples, artifacts and people - to the death, if necessary. They are commanded by the Legate. While they might be considered the 'army' of the faith, this is incorrect, as Guardians still serve in the armies of their realms. However, they also spend much of their time most visibly protecting temples and clergy.
Deacons are laymen who have not become clergy but still have good knowledge and high loyalty to the Aenil. While they cannot carry out all the services of a clergyman, they may carry out readings and officiate some services for the faithful. Similarly, Officiants are also laymen with high loyalty and good knowledge, but not as high as Deacons.
Laity
Laity is the largest branch of the faith.
First are the laypeople, those devoted to the Aenil and their teachings. Then follow the Faithful, Observant and Followers, each with their own degree of understanding and observance, but still with the same devotion. Finally the Petitioners, which have not been made full members of the faith but will one day come to join in full.
Diplomacy
See also: Magna Aenilia Ecclesia/Diplomacy
As a soverign and independent institution, the diplomacy of MAE is not defined by the diplomacy of the realms which have accepted it as a faith. While there may be overlap, no realm holds dominance over the faith, and the faith does not exerise political judgement or authority over other realms beyond that awarded it by its spiritual presence and authority.
