Theognosian Church

The Orthodox Catholic Church is one of the two major catholic churches in Terra, the other being the Terran Catholic Church. It is led by the Pope, and it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity.

It split with the Terran Catholic Church in 2154, and is now the third largest branch of Christianity in Terra, after Terran Catholicism and Lutheran Protestantism.

History
The Orthodox Catholic Church, referred to by many of its followers as the Holy Church, was founded in 2153 after the Catholic Schism of the year before. For several years Pope Innocent I of the Terran Catholic Church had begun a series of infamous Cadaver Synods in which all the Kardinals in Terra tried a series of deceased clergy, saints and former Popes, seemingly in order to discredit their legacies and pave the way for the reversal of administrative and theological changes. The highest profile of these Cadaver Synods, and the most controversial, was the trial of deceased former Pope Pius II.



The Trial of Pope Pius II
The trial of Pius II ran for several months, and in an unprecedented move the Church ordered the disinterment of Pius II's body to physically sit on trial. Pope Pius II who was found guilty of perceived crimes against the Holy See and his cadaver was stripped of all Papal Regalia while his theological contributions outlawed. These actions did not sit well with a small but vocal minority of clergy and lay people (as well as a large number of parishioners) who quickly began an internal Church campaign to undo the damage of the trial. However, Innocent's supporters held firm and refused to undo the changes.

Unbeknown to the Innocent I the body of Pope Pius II was mutilated and thrown into the Alazinder River. Several clergymen loyal to Pius II retrieved the body from the river and smuggled it away to Quanzar. Upon hearing of what happened, Pope Innocent excommunicated the clergymen who had disposed of the body but irreversible damage had been done. The public was outraged at reports of Pius' body being disposed of in the river.

The Catholic Schism of 2154
Many of Pope Pius' Terran Catholic supporters struggled in vain for over a year to repair the damage done to the Church but by late 2154 all seemed lost and they left the Church in droves along with large numbers of parishioners.

In December of 2154 the body of Pius II emerged in Kanjor along with 500 Terran Catholic]] dissident clergymen and their families who settled in the town of Saint-Claire in the Martois région of Kanjor in southern Seleya. Here they formed the Orthodox Catholic Church following the theological precedents developed by Pope Pius II and several other Cadaver Synod victims using the body of Pope Pius II as its source of legitimacy. This came to be known as the Catholic Schism of 2154.

The Dark Ages
The period after the Church's inception is often referred to as the "Dark Ages". The period witnessed the struggling of the Church simply to survive the efforts of the Terran Catholic Church to de-legitimize and destroy it. Funds were low and the Church Fathers had difficulty developing new and independent precedents for the Church as debates continued to rage over whether to continue or dismiss Terran Catholic traditions. The Church numbered only 10,000 followers and was top heavy with clergy. This period would last until the 24th century when mass conversions began in Rildanor and Kanjor following many controversial changes within the Terran Catholic Church.

Orthodox Catholicism soon attracted supporters from all over the globe; mainly in French-speaking nations such as Alduria, Kanjor, and Rildanor, but soon spread to places as diverse as Darnussia, Keymon, Lodamun, Lourenne, Quanzar, Solentia, and Tukarali.

The Holy Trinity
Orthodox Catholics believe in a God who is both three and one (triune). The Father is the cause or origin of the Godhead, from whom the Son is begotten eternally and also from whom the Holy Spirit proceeds eternally. The Holy Trinity is three, distinct, divine persons (hypostases), without overlap or modality among them, who share one divine essence (ousia)—uncreated, immaterial and eternal. Orthodox Catholic doctrine regarding the Holy Trinity is summarized in the Nicene Creed (Symbol of Faith).

Jesus Christ
Catholics believe that Jesus is the Messiah of the Old Testament's Messianic prophecies. The Nicene Creed states that he is "... the only begotten son of God, ... one in being with the Father. Through him all things were made ...". In an event known as the Incarnation, the Church teaches that God descended from heaven for the salvation of humanity, became man through the power of the Holy Spirit and was born of a Jewish virgin named Mary. It is believed that Jesus' mission on earth included giving people his word and example to follow, as recorded in the four Gospels. Catholicism teaches that following the example of Jesus helps believers to become closer to him, and therefore to grow in true love, freedom, and the fullness of life.

Faith and Reason
Following the Holy Fathers, Orthodox Catholicism uses science and philosophy to defend and explain its Faith. The Church does not seek to reconcile faith and reason instead it makes no effort to prove by logic or science what Christ gave His followers to believe. However, if physics or biology or chemistry or philosophy lends support to the teachings of the Church, it does not refuse them.

Orthodox Catholicism is not intimidated by man's intellectual accomplishments and therefore does not bow to them nor change its version of Christian Faith to make it consistent with the results of human thought and science. Because of this, many critics believe the Church is an opponent of scientific advancement and inquiry.

Icons


The icon is an artistic depiction of Christ, the Mother of God and the Saints. God the Father cannot be painted, because He has never been seen. God the Holy Spirit has appeared as a dove and as "tongues of fire." He may be shown in this way. God the Son became a man, and He may be painted in His human form. Icons are more than sacred pictures. Everything about them is theological. For example, they are always flat, flat so that we who inhabit the physical world will understand that the world of the spirit where Christ, His Mother, the angels, the saints, and the departed dwell, is a world of mystery which cannot be penetrated by our five senses.

Including statues in its worship is also allowed. The statues are life-like and three-dimensional. They seem to imitate the art of ancient Selucia. Both arts are naturalistic. The icons portray Christ, the Mother of God, the saints, even the angels, as if they were in a state of nature. This "naturalism" stems from the medieval idea that "grace perfects nature." The person or persons are represented on the icon as deified. He or she is not a perfect human being, but much more: They are transfigured and glorified. They have a new and grace-filled humanity.

Death
Orthodox Catholics believe that when a person dies the soul is temporarily separated from the body. Though it may linger for a short period on Earth, it is ultimately escorted either to paradise (Abraham's bosom) or the darkness of Hades, following the Temporary Judgment; Orthodox Catholics do not accept the doctrine of Purgatory which is held by Terran Catholicism and other Churches. The soul’s experience of either of these states is only a “foretaste” - being experienced only by the soul - until the Final Judgment, when the soul and body will be reunited.

Role of the Church


The Orthodox Catholic Church holds that the Church "... is the continuing presence of Jesus on earth." The Church structure, therefore, is important in continuing the good work of Christ and Pope Pius II. Interestingly, in keeping with the traditions of Terran Catholicism, the Orthodox Catholic Church allows all clergy and laymen to marry and raise a family.

Ville de Saints
Ville de Saints is the Church's official centre, located in between Rildanor and Kanjor, and home to the Pope and the Curia.

The City was founded around AD 750 as a stop along a migration route for nomadic herders who called the place L'Eau curative des Saints(Healing Waters of the Saints), named after the small spring in the hills said to have healing powers. In 1834 it served as a border stop between the two neighboring nations and a large Christian Cathedral was built on the site to accomodate the religious practices of the differing garrisons of the town; the Church was agreed to be the only place where both sides attended unarmed.

After the Catholic Schism of 2143, the City's Church became a both a point of unity and disagreement between the governments of Kanjor and Rildanor; with both sides rejoicing in their shared religious identity and expressing conflicting claims of legitimacy over the Cathedral. As the new Orthodox Catholic Church began looking for a new headquarters, and to separate themselves from the Terran Catholic Church. The Church settled on the grand Cathedral in the city and gathered funds to begin lobbying the governments of Kanjor and Rildanor for the donation of the city as their headquarters, which was duly granted in 2340. The Church headquarters was completed in 2375.

Expansion
The growth of the Orthodox Catholic faithful was consistent over the past few centuries, winning over converts outside of southern Seleya, particularly in northern Seleya, southern Majatra, and Darnussia.

Orthodox Catholic Popes
Title: His Holiness, Bishop of Saints, Vicar of Christ, Successor of the Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Holy Church, Sovereign of the State of the City of Saints, Servant of the Servants of God, and Patriarch of Terra. (French: Sa sainteté, évêque des saints, curé du Christ, Successeur du prince des apôtres, Pontife suprême de l'église sainte, Sovereign de l'état de la ville des saints, Domestique des domestiques de Dieu, et du patriarche du Terra.

Pope Pius II


Pope Pius II was a Deltarian national born L'ubomir Bátory on 5 December 2108. L'ubomir was the son of Terran Catholic Pope Pius I and followed his father into the Church. L'ubomir rose quickly within the ranks of the Terran Church and obtained a position serving as his father's most trusted assistant upon his election to Pope in early 2134.

Pope Pius I fought crippling depression throughout his life and suffered a severe episode during the late summer of 2134. On the evening of 24 August 2134, as L'ubomir began serving dinner his father grabbed a knife from the table and attempted to slit his throat. From his account, L'ubomir "wrestled with the old man for possession of the knife, wounding his face in the process, but he broke away from me and subsequently stabbed himself several times in the chest". L'ubomir explained that these wounds failed to kill his father and so the Pope stumbled upon the sharper knives of the dinner cart and finished the job with a slash to his throat. Amongst the dead Pope's papers was found a document stating that his son, Liubomir Bátory was to become the new Pope.

L'ubomir reluctantly accepted the position and after a month long period of worldwide mourning he was proclaimed Pope Pius II.

As Pope, the newly-christened Pius II brought about many administrative changes through his edicts and theological writings. He declared the Castle Kachetovo near Darali as the new Vatikan, Holy See, and headquarters of the Terran Catholic Church. When they refused to support his administrative and theological reforms, Pius II excommunicated the High Synod in retaliation. However, later he reconciled several of those who had "displayed a heartfelt penitence".

Pius II served eighteen years as Pope before voluntarily abdicating the in favor of his rival, Igor Nádašdy. In his retirement, Pius married the Barona Ivanka Nádašyova. However, in 2154, only two years later he died of a massive stroke at the age of 46. A state funeral was held with religious and state leaders from all over Terra in attendance.

Pius II's eternal rest would be anything but peaceful. Within eight months he became the first victim of the infamous Cadaver Synods on the orders of Pope Innocent I, thus throwing Pius and his body at the center of the great Catholic Schism of 2154. In a clear attempt to reconcile the warring factions of the Terran Catholic Church after the Cadaver Synods, newly-appointed Pope Francis I decreed Pope Pius II a "Saint and Eternal Pontiff" of the Terran Catholic Church but by this time the damage to the Church's reputation was irreversible.

Pope Pius II's body currently resides in the Holy Shrine of the Ville de Saints, headquarters of the Orthodox Catholic Church located between Kanjor and Rildanor.

Pope François I
Franchesko Fabianski was born in Dissuwa, Deltaria in 2145, but not much is known of the youth of young Fabianski. However, it is clear that his parents were strong supporters of Pius II and worked in secret to preserve his legacy. In 2155, the Fabianski family fled to Quanzar to avoid persecution at the hands of the Terran Catholic Church and thus became some of the earliest members of the Orthodox Catholic Church. The young Franchesko made the decision to become a Orthodox Catholic priest.

After more than five years in seminary, Franchesko became a priest where he moved up the ranks quickly; attaining a Bishop and then a Cardinal position before the age of 40. In 2195, more than forty years after the death of Pius II, Fabianski was crowned as the de facto first Pope of the Orthodox Catholic Church in a large Papal Coronation ceremony in Saint-Claire, Martois, Kanjor as Francis I.

As Pope, his first act was to anoint Pope Pius II a "Saint and an Eternal Pope of All Humanity".

List of Popes
† As a rule, Pope Pius's name is not repeated because of his historical importance as the theological founder of the Church.

†† After Pope Pius's death, the Church spent nearly forty years debating the need for a Papal leader. During this forty-year period the Church was led by Church elders.



Captain-General of the Holy Church
Title: His Excellency, Protector of the Holy Church, Leader of the Papal Armies, Grand Crusader, and Faithful Servant of God. (French: Son excellence, protecteur de l'église sainte, Amorce des armées papales, croisé grand, et domestique fidèle de Dieu.)

The rank of Captain-General is currently held by Francesco Cesare de Borja. The Papal Guard of the Orthodox Catholic Church are known to fight over ranks, Pope Pius II decreed that a new rank of Captain-General of the Holy Church shall be created in order to restore order in the Papal Armies. The Captain-General is regarded as an important rank for anyone who wish's for adventure and respect from the Catholic Community.

Structure


The Structure of the Church takes place in a framework of an absolute theocratic monarchy, in which the head of the Orthodox Catholic Church, the Pope, exercises full power over the Orthodox Catholic Church and Ville de Saints.

Patriarchs
Countries with established populations of Orthodox Catholics are granted a patriarch to lead the faithful within their borders. While the Pope heads the universal church, the Patriarchs head the national churches; these Patriarchs are the front runners in the replacement of a deceased Pope except in Kanjor where the Patriach is the sitting Monarch. There are five Patriarchs as of 2672: Rildanor, Kanjor, Alduria, Lourenne, and Quanzar/Solentia.

Cardinals
The cardinals are senior members of the Church who advice the Patriarch and the Pope and aid the selection of the two upon resignation or death. There are a total of 30 cardinals:


 * Rildanor: 5
 * Kanjor: 5
 * Kalopia: 5
 * Solentia: 5
 * Alduria: 2
 * Lourenne: 2
 * Quanzar: 2
 * Darnussia: 2
 * Keymon: 1
 * Other: 1

Bishops
The bishops, who possess the fullness of the priesthood, are as a body (the College of Bishops) considered the successors of the Apostles and are constituted Pastors in the Church, to be the teachers of doctrine, the priests of sacred worship and the ministers of governance. These bishops play an important role in the administration of the individual national churches and the local communities within them, as well as advising the national Patriarch on all matters of faith and administration. There are 80 bishops located around the world:


 * Rildanor: 20
 * Kanjor: 20
 * Solentia: 14
 * Alduria: 7
 * Lourenne: 7
 * Quanzar: 7
 * Darnussia: 5
 * Keymon: 2
 * Other: 5

Affiliated Parties

 * Kanjoran Catholic Traditionalist Party
 * Parti d'Aristocratie
 * Parti démocrate-chrétien de Kanjor
 * Democratic Socialist Party of Beiteynu