Patriarchalism

In Hosianism, Patriarchalism refers in broad terms to the specific liturgical, religious and hierarchical characteristics of certain Hosian denominations. Patriarchal Hosian Churches are usually identified as having a formal hierarchy headed by a Patriarch, a high regard for the Hosian religious traditions and the seven Sacrifices ordained by it, and being more concerned with mystery than their Luthoran and Ameliorate counterparts.

Specifically, Patriarchalism is usually employed by Hosians to identify that a particular denomination embodies or succeeds the "One Holy Apostolic and Ecumenical Church" described in the Aurorian Creed or the Creed of the Hosioi (equivalent of the Creed of the Apostles). As such, the Luthoran Church designates itself as patriarchal as well as confessing.

There are two variants within Patriarchalism: Aurorian (or Western) Patriarchalism, consisting of those patriarchal churches accepting the Aurorian creed, and anti-Aurorian (or Eastern) Patriarchalism, consisting of those churches that rejected the outcome of the Council of Auroria.

Aurorian (or Western) Patriarchalism
At the Council of Auroria, the Church Fathers formalised the Aurorian Creed, thus founding the Holy Apostolic Hosian Church of Terra. This is the starting point of all the Western Patriarchal denominations, who all originate from the now-defunct Apostolic Church through numerous great schisms. Commonly, Aurorian Patriarchals claim that their denomination is the continuation of the Apostolic Church, and their Arch-Patriarch the sole legitimate successor of the first Arch-Patriarch, St. Michael, regarded as the first Bishop of Auroria and founder of the Hosian Church.

Eastern (or anti-Aurorian) Patriarchalism
Those Churches that rejected the outcome of the Council of Auroria, identifying instead with the older Creed of the Hosioi, became the Patriarchal Church (Eastern Rite). Their denominations are generally classified as Eastern (or, as a pejorative, anti-Aurorian) Patriarchalism to distinguish them from Aurorian Patriarchals. There exist fundamental theological and liturgical differences between the remnant of the Apostolic Church and the Eastern Rite Patriarchals, which caused the schism occurring after the Council of Auroria.