Arêndron Clergy

The first fact that needs to be borne in mind about the Arêndron clergy is that one is never simply a priest; always a priest of a particular god. Which god is not a matter of choice, but is chosen by one's date of birth. As the page on Arêndron astrology explains, the day of the week one was born on determines one's “patron deity”, one of the six Artûlan or major gods with whom one has a special relationship. Those whose patron deity is Amma or Loreish can only be priests of that deity; the situation with the other four is more complex. Kailya and Thantor only allow men to be their priests, while Glaud and Sheubâr only allow women; so a man born on either Kailya's or Glaud's day can become a priest of Kailya, while a woman born on either of those days can become a priest of Glaud. Sheubâr and Thantor are “paired” in the same way.

As well as the six Artûlan, there are a number of minor gods or Tulein. These too have priests; mostly these come from old Vardiscêan, Vœkânhan and Grekôran families who still prefer their gods to the Arêndron gods, although there are many Arêndrons who worship these gods as well.

The clerical hierarchy

The clergy are organised on a hierarchical basis, with six levels:

1. Archprelates
2. Prelates
3. Hierarchs
4. Hierophants
5. Priests
6. Apprentice priests

Starting at the bottom: the apprentice priests are those who have not yet completed their training, but have been assigned to a temple for the last stage, in which they learn the specific duties pertaining to their particular god. Above them are the regular priests; most temples have between four and ten priests at any one time. They are the main body of the clergy, responsible for conducting most of the services and rites, and also serve as community leaders, being there to offer free and confidential advice (on religious or other matters) to those who need it. The priests as a body also run schools for the local children, although not all priests are necessarily involved in this, as some simply have no talent for teaching.

Each temple has one head priest or hierophant, who is in charge of organising the other priests. The hierophant has powers to punish and dismiss the lower priests should this become necessary, and also to send them to another temple if one is unexpectedly short-staffed. The hierophant is in charge of conducting the major rites and festivals, and is usually thought to have direct communication with the gods. The hierophant is normally the most senior priest in a temple (in terms of having served the longest), although since the the hierophant has the power to choose his own successor, this is not invariable. Nevertheless, if a more senior priest is passed over for whatever reason, it is usual for him to be sent on to another temple to avoid offence.

Each ecclesiastical province (which in Imperial times coincidenced with the political provinces of the Empire) has a cathedral in the political capital, which contains within it temples of all six gods. The six hierophants of these temples have the title of hierarch, and have authority over the whole of the province. The hierarchs are chosen in a similar manner to the hierophants: the most promising apprentices are sent to become priests at the cathedral temples, and it is from these that the previous hierarch nominates his successor. The regions in which one of the minor gods is prominent have a seventh hierarch, who is the highest authority for the worship of that god.

The six (or seven) hierarchs of each province every four years elect one of their own number as a prelate, whose main function is to co-ordinate the demands of the separate clergies of each god in that province. The prelate must also be a go-between for the secular authority, and in most provinces has an official or semi-official position as a counsellor to the ruler. The prelate also retains his function as a hierophant for one particular god, and still takes part in that god's rites.

The prelates in turn elect one of their number as archprelate in each diocese. The archprelates are the highest authority, and must all meet together in council at least once a year to decide matters relating to the church as a whole. This council is always chaired by the Prelate of Endros, who does not have the authority of command over the other prelates but is a sort of “first among equals”; in the days of the Empire he served as the Emperor's counsel on religious matters.

Marriage

The rules concerning sex and marriage are different for each of the six gods. Marriage is sacred to Amma and Loreish, and so these two believe that their priests should set their congregations the example of a loving marriage. For this reason, their priests are not just allowed but encouraged to marry, but cannot divorce; and they are free to choose their marriage partners.

Though the other four gods forbid marriage for their priests, sex is not forbidden. Indeed, since sexuality is sacred to Kailya and Glaud, their priests have to undergo ritual sex as part of some of their ceremonies. For Sheubâr and Thantor, by contrast, chastity is a virtue, and only those who have sworn lifelong chastity are eligible to become hierophants or any of the higher ranks.