Church of Sanctaria: Difference between revisions
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It is documented that Julius died only a year or so later in 998, leaving behind information on how his successor, chosen by him before later formal processes were implemented, was to be treated like the next earthy messenger from God, because God had told Julius who to pick. His successor, whose birth name has been lost to history, took the regnal name of Paul and reigned until 1011. Not much is known about this pope, of a number of the subsequent popes, other than they did not seek to expand the religion or their temporal power, instead focusing on education of their new and growing faithful; this can be assumed because of the significant jump in written records over the next forty years, suggesting that Julius and his successor Paul had implemented some sort of education system that taught the tribal natives English and Latin. | It is documented that Julius died only a year or so later in 998, leaving behind information on how his successor, chosen by him before later formal processes were implemented, was to be treated like the next earthy messenger from God, because God had told Julius who to pick. His successor, whose birth name has been lost to history, took the regnal name of Paul and reigned until 1011. Not much is known about this pope, of a number of the subsequent popes, other than they did not seek to expand the religion or their temporal power, instead focusing on education of their new and growing faithful; this can be assumed because of the significant jump in written records over the next forty years, suggesting that Julius and his successor Paul had implemented some sort of education system that taught the tribal natives English and Latin. | ||
It was during the 11th century, generally accepted to be during the reign of Patriarch Christopher I, that the archbishopric of [[Sanctus]] was designated as the primary See, and that whoever held the office of [[Archbishop of Sanctus]] would be the Patriarch of the Church. Sanctus, a city on the southern coast of the lands referred to as Terra Sanctus, had fertile lands docks for trading ships. No formal declaration exists but tradition holds that Sanctus was designated the capital of the Terra Sanctus in the year 1055, during the reign of Christopher I. | It was during the 11th century, generally accepted to be during the reign of Patriarch Christopher I, that the archbishopric of [[Sanctus]] was designated as the primary See, and that whoever held the office of [[Archbishop of Sanctus]] would be the Patriarch of the Church. Sanctus, a city on the southern coast of the lands referred to as Terra Sanctus, had fertile lands and existing docks for trading ships. No formal declaration exists but tradition holds that Sanctus was designated the capital of the Terra Sanctus in the year 1055, during the reign of Christopher I. | ||
==Doctrine== | ==Doctrine== | ||
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 Church of Sanctaria | |
|---|---|
| Ecclesia Terra Sancti | |
 | |
| Orientation | Catholic |
| Polity | Episcopal |
| Patriarch | vacant |
| Region | |
| Language |
|
| Headquarters | Episcopal Palace, Sanctus Sanctaria |
| Separated from | Roman Catholic Church (985 AD) |
| Members | 228 million |
| Tax status | Charity |
| Other name(s) | Sanctarian Catholic Church |
| Official website | cos.sct |
The Church of Sanctaria (Latin: Ecclesia Terra Sancti), also known as the Sanctarian Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church in Sanctaria, with more than 228 million members worldwide. It is also the state church of Sanctaria. As one of the oldest religious institutions in the region of the International Democratic Union, it has played a prominent part in the history and the development of civilisation in the western part of the region. The church is headed by the Archbishop of Sanctus, who is more commonly known as the Patriarch of the Church of Sanctaria, or, simply, the Patriarch. Its central administration is located in Sanctus, capital of Sanctaria.
The Sanctarian Catholic Church split from the Roman Catholic Church, and renounced the authority of the Roman Pope, in 985 AD when Julius, a missionary sent by the Roman Church, discovered what he believed was "the holy land". Records suggest Julius did not want to cede authority of this new land, located far from any lands previously mapped, to the Church in Rome and he subsequently declared himself head of the Church he was teaching the natives about. Current teaching in the Roman Catholic Church is the missionary known as Julius was presumed dead shortly after his journey began.
The Church's teachings are broadly similar to that of the Roman Catholic Church, in that, while it was founded by Julius, its bishops are the successors of the apostles of Jesus Christ, and that the Patriarch is the successor to Saint Peter to whom primacy was conferred by Christ.
A primary difference, however, between the Church of Sanctaria and the Roman Catholic Church is regarding the sacrament of the Eucharist. While the Roman Catholic Church teaches that consecrated bread and wine becomes the body and blood of Christ, the Church of Sanctaria maintains that the blood and wine become only blessed symbols of Christ's body and blood. The Virgin Mary is also venerated in the Church of Sanctaria, however the Roman Church's Marion theology is far more dogmatic. Its teaching includes sanctification through faith and evangelisation of the Gospel as well as Catholic social teaching, which emphasises voluntary support for the sick, the poor, and the afflicted through the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.[1] The Church of Sanctaria is one of the largest non-government providers of education in Sanctaria.
From the mid 20th century, the Church of Sanctaria has been criticised for its traditionalist beliefs, particularly its treatment of women, homosexuals, and also for its refusals to publish transparent financial records.
History
Arrival of Christianity
According to tradition, Christianity in the form of the Church of Sanctaria arrived in the International Democratic Union, in the land now considered to be western Sanctaria, in the year 985 with the landing of the Roman Catholic missionary known to scholars today only as Julius. The historical evidence of that time suggests that the native people, who were tribal, believed in local polytheistic religions, though the number, names, and variety of the gods they worshipped differed from tribe to tribe. Initially making little progress by way of converting local tribal chieftains, contemporary records believed to have been written by Julius himself, or at the least an assistant or scribe travelling with him, explains that he came across one particular tribe that believed him to be the earthly personification of one their gods.
Although assuming the mantle of a god or idol is forbidden by Christianity, Julius used this leverage to convince the tribe, and more importantly their chieftain, that the one true religion was a monotheistic Christian one, and that while he was not the God himself, he was his earthly messenger. It is believed by scholars today that this initial method of conversion - representing himself as God's representative on earth, which had hitherto in Christianity been the Roman Pope - led Julius to officially break from the Roman Catholic Church, remain in Sanctaria, rename the religion as the Sanctarian Catholic Church, and appoint himself as that sect's Pope-like figure, what he called the Patriarch.
Having initially won over one tribe, Julius used his position as their spiritual leader to convince them to wage war against smaller tribes, using the practice of right of conquest as the basis for spreading Christianity in the area, at least at first. By 989, it is documented that at least six tribes had united under the leadership of one chieftain, a King Aefrid, who had Julius and the Church of Sanctaria as their spiritual leader. Contemporary records suggest that his new united tribe was significant in size and that Julius himself instructed them daily in Christian belief. By 991, records exist of Julius having left that tribe to convert other, similarly sized groups in the region, to great success; the tribe he left remained large, believing in the Christian god and Julius as that god's representative, while these new tribes also began to accept the Sanctarian Catholic Church, and Julius as their spiritual leader.
Beginnings of temporal power
One of the earliest surviving documents of that era of Sanctarian history is what is known as the Korn Accord. Dated to be from around 997, this document details the meeting of two great tribes, whose lands and holdings were of considerable size, and who had been at war on and off for centuries. The Accord tells us that, tired of warring, and having been "enlightened in the way of Christ", the tribes had decided to unite under one leader. The document, written in Latin, and some scholars believe by Julius' own hand, explains that a "neutral and wise party" that the two chieftains had decided to unite under was "a messenger of Christ himself" - Julius.
The uniting of the two groups, and their significant tribal kingdoms, was the first instance of temporal power, as opposed to spiritual power, that the Church of Sanctaria was to wield. Though the Papal Kingdom of Sanctaria was not to be officially formed for another few hundred years, it is understood from the Korn Accord that Julius intended his Sanctarian Catholic Church to attempt to mirror the Roman Catholic Church in size and influence. Incidentally, the Korn Accord also mentions for the first time in written history what was to become the name of the nation, Sanctaria, when it talks of "the united lands we name Terra Sanctus".
It is documented that Julius died only a year or so later in 998, leaving behind information on how his successor, chosen by him before later formal processes were implemented, was to be treated like the next earthy messenger from God, because God had told Julius who to pick. His successor, whose birth name has been lost to history, took the regnal name of Paul and reigned until 1011. Not much is known about this pope, of a number of the subsequent popes, other than they did not seek to expand the religion or their temporal power, instead focusing on education of their new and growing faithful; this can be assumed because of the significant jump in written records over the next forty years, suggesting that Julius and his successor Paul had implemented some sort of education system that taught the tribal natives English and Latin.
It was during the 11th century, generally accepted to be during the reign of Patriarch Christopher I, that the archbishopric of Sanctus was designated as the primary See, and that whoever held the office of Archbishop of Sanctus would be the Patriarch of the Church. Sanctus, a city on the southern coast of the lands referred to as Terra Sanctus, had fertile lands and existing docks for trading ships. No formal declaration exists but tradition holds that Sanctus was designated the capital of the Terra Sanctus in the year 1055, during the reign of Christopher I.
Doctrine
Membership
Structure
References
- ↑ "Corporal works of mercy" concern the material needs of others. "Spiritual works of mercy" concern the spiritual needs of others.