Church of Xathos

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Hierarchy of the Church of Xaethos

The following list is a list of positions and ranks that form the Clergy of Xaethos. The highest of these is the Archbishop and the lowest official rank is Pastor. Any title or position granted below Pastor is known in the Doctrine of the Tomes as "an endowed lay person with elevated status within the local Shrine who is tasked with assisting the Pastor with their duties." The following list is the Canonical heircarchy.

Pastor

The following list are titles that show up within older versions of the Doctrine of the Tomes, but are no longer used in the modern Church

• Head Bishop
• Head Elder
• Bishop-in-waiting
• Head Shaman
• Elder Pastor

Branches of Church of Xaethos

Alkari Church

Le Main branch of Xaethosi. Directly lead by the Archbishop in Eternatus, Eternatus Island, Alksearia.

Ursine Church

In 1988, the Ursine Church split from the Central Church over disagreements over the Archbishopric. In a controversial move, the College of Elders voted to deny the writ of nomination from King Eldras V, allowing the College to elect a member themselves. Two candidates eventually came to be: the now-Archbishop Rhea III and High Elder Vorg’rath Tel’kum. After an unprecedented 10 rounds of voting, Archbishop Rhea was named the new Archbishop. The Balistrian Church took offense as High Elder Tel’kum had been around for longer, and had served on the previous Archbishop’s council. The Ursine Church declared itself sovereign from the Alksearian Church, and instituted their own Archbishop. The Ursine Church only has a following within Balistria, however, recent tensions between Balistria and Alksearia have resulted in the Ursine Church starting to decline.

In late 2019, the Ursine College of Bishops voted on a resolution to bring themselves back into full communion with the Alksearian Church. The vote failed 88-89, with the Archbishop casting his first vote within the college. A similar resolution was brought up in August 2020, however, the resolution was never brought for a full vote as the College was placed on an indefinite hiatus due to recent political events in Balistria. The Ursine Church is expected to return to session on January 1st, 2021, but may come back earlier.

Xaethos's Chosen

Xaethos's Chosen is a group of extremists traditionalists who adhere to the heretical theology of Iconofants (Icono meaning "image of", fants derived from enfantes meaning "children of", meaning "the Image of the Children"). The group is largely made up of disgruntled theologians, excommunicated clergy, and dissenters within the Church. One of the main goals of the group is to revert back to the Council of 1880[PLACEHOLDER] which decreed Iconofants as heretical and also establishing the formal resting place of the Archbishop's seat.

Theology

• There are 2 main gods: Xaethos and Ceurin.
• While there is no direct "Fallen God", there is just the collective "The Fallen". In essence, they are people who have fallen from grace, or who's souls are so corrupted that communion with Xaethos and Ceurin the Prophet, is incompatable.
• Xaethos is the Creator, and the god of gods. Xaethos is not gendered as Xaethos can take any form that they so wish.
• Ceurin is Xaethos's Prophet, who spread the word of Xaethos to those in Alksearia. Ceurin is believed to be the son of Xaethos, but nothing in the Tomes directly confirms nor denies it. It has garned much theological debate.