Holy Cardinal Pontificate
cardies ponts inquisitors preachers, maesters, cardinal knights 'the pontificate'
The Holy Cardinal Pontificate, usually referred to simply as the Pontificate, is the most dominant religion across Amestria. The Pontificate is also referred to as 'the church', and has a history of not being tolerant towards other religions. Believers of the faith follow the Cardinal Teachings, which are said to guide the individual to a happy and productive life. Following the teachings are also said to secure one a place in the afterlife. There is very little tolerance for violating the teachings, even towards those who are not believers. The church formed after the fall of Exodia as an answer to humanity's vanity, to ensure that such avarice and arrogance would never arise once again. The church is lead by the Hierophant, who in turn delegates his power to several Maesters which are responsible for representing the religion and coordinate different regions. Due to humanity's majority faith in the Pontificate, these religious figures hold an extensive amount of power and control many aspects of human society.
Contents
Hierarchy
The Holy Cardinal Pontificate maintains a strict hierarchy within their temple walls, with the Hierophant himself being the most powerful individual, progressing downwards to the most humble of priests. Individuals who are lower in the hierarchy are expected to listen and fulfill the wishes of the upper hierarchy. While the Hierophant himself is considered the embodiment of the cardinal teachings and is also the head of the church, most matters are handled by Maesters, localized leaders of the faith who are often responsible for several churches in a region. Cardinal knights uphold the cardinal teachings, by combating heresy wherever it rears it's ugly head. Inquisitors are responsible for actively seeking heresy and attempting to convert heretics by any method they have at their disposal, and if they should fail they will send word to the church to dispatch a cardinal knight to handle the heresy. Priests are the humble servants of a church, with the High Priest being the leader of the church and several normal priests serving under them.
Hierophant
The Hierophant is considered the embodiment of the cardinal teachings. All members of the faith listen to his every word, and work tirelessly to fulfill his wishes. The Hierophant is elected by a council of maesters, and will remain in power for the duration of their life. The selection process is somewhat of a mystery to outsiders, however it is known that they might spend years or even decades searching every human settlement for the right individual. The current Hierophant has been the source of much controversy, having been elected from a very young age over a century ago. The Hierophant is also the only individual which may make changes to the cardinal teachings, however such a thing has not happened in recent memory.
Maester
Maesters are responsible for handling most matters within the faith. They manage the churches in their region, while also dispatching inquisitors and cardinal knights where needed. Maesters are considered to be an extension of the Hierophant's will, and as such are treated with great reverence and respect. They often command a significant amount of influence, going so far as being able to influence the decisions of entire kingdoms. They will attend religious ceremonies in their region, spending most of their time travelling between locations. While members of the church see the Maesters as peerless, those not of the faith have spread rumors of the Maester's growing corruption. Regardless of rumors, almost everyone respects their wishes, lest they be counted as heretics and dealt with by the church.
Cardinal Knight
Cardinal knights are the holy warriors of the church, and are dispatched to deal with heresy wherever it might appear. While one would think that they only fight non-believers targeted by inquisitors, they could not be farther from the truth. Cardinal knights are also responsible for handling tasks issued by a local church, which often extends to aiding the town or village the church is located in. Cardinal knights have been considered heroes by many for their valiant acts, such as defending a village from hordes of bandits or looters, saving someone's life, or even helping repair an important town structure. Wherever a cardinal knight might go, their duty is to represent the the church and hopefully bring faith to the people they assist.
Priest
Priests are the liaison between the church and the faithful. They work tirelessly to maintain their church as well as perform daily ceremonies and rites for the local population around their church. The church itself is lead by the High Priest, who will then delegate tasks to the priests under them. Priests are often versed in healing magic or medicinal remedies, and are responsible for healing the faithful. Priests are also responsible for preaching the cardinal teachings, often trying to spread the influence of the church in their local town or village.
Beliefs and Practices
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History
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Assorted Info
- The Hierophant was elected over a century ago, however he still looks the same as the day he was elected. Many attribute this to his profound faith in the cardinal teachings.