| Agathism | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Theistic philosophy | Dualism |
| Supreme divinity | God of the Heavens |
| Major Prophets | Onuphrius, Aurelianus |
| Holy City | Argona |
| Region | Selucia, Alduria, Kanjor, Rildanor |
| Founder | Archbishop of Argona |
| Founded | 11th century |
| Separated from | Holy Apostolic Hosian Church of Terra |
| Merge of | Yazdism, Hosianism |
| Liturgical language | Selucian |
Agathism is a syncretic and dualist religion originating from medieval Majatra, combining Zamāni dualism with a Hosian theology. Agathism has its roots in the spread of Yazdean dualistic beliefs in Majatra, establishing a foothold in Selucia where they were championed by the Archbishop of Argona, constituting a direct challenge to the power of the Holy Apostolic Hosian Church of Terra until the religion was almost completely destroyed as a result of the Sadarian Crusade and the Sadarian Inquisition. The religion has small numbers of adherents today, mostly in Selucia and in Canrille.
History[]
Origins[]
Yazdism and related religions were the dominant religions in Seleya due to rule by the Kemokian Empire, and during late Antiquity Yazdean beliefs spread to Majatra, constituting one of the early competitors of rising Hosianism. After the Council of Auroria most of Majatra was brought under the religious authority of the Holy Apostolic Hosian Church of Terra. However, Yazdean beliefs continued to be practiced by the population, often with Hosian forms, and in Selucia the two syncretized to give birth to the new religion of Agathism.
Archbishopric of Argona[]
The old Yazdean beliefs were later officially readopted in Selucia under a Hosian guise by the Archbishopric of Argona. The Archbishopric, governed as an absolute monarchy and under the hereditary rule of the House of Boleus, was only formally part of the Holy Apostolic Church. Wishing to preserve independence from the Church hierarchy, the Archbishopric slowly adopted popularly followed Yazdean beliefs in order to increase the House of Boleus' popularity with the local Selucians. The Archbishop's followers, while considering themselves full and faithful members of the Holy Apostolic Hosian Church of Terra, began calling themselves Agathists (from Kalopian Ἀγαθοί Aɡatʰói, "the good"), adopting a separate identity from that of mainstream Hosianism.
While at first the Holy Apostolic Church turned a blind eye to the increasingly heretical teachings of the Archbishop, as the Archbishopric had been carving out a de facto kingdom on the mainland, appointing nobles and lesser nobles, the growing power of the Archbishopric in Sadaria brought it into conflict with the other more orthodox Selucian states.
Suppression[]
The Bishops in Sadaria banded together against the Archbishop, and after sending a famous letter to the Arch-Patriarch stating abuses of power and heresy of the Archbishop, they called for a Crusade to bring the Archbishop down. The Arch-Patriarch reacted by granting a Crusade, calling on all good Hosian nations to join, thus sparking the Sadarian Crusade.
Sadarian Crusade[]
The Sadarian Crusade (1204-1221) was fought between the followers of the Holy Apostolic Church against the followers of the Archbishop of Argona. Although the Arch-Patriarch had called on all Hosian nations to take part in the crusade against Argona, Artanian nations were by far the most enthusiasticm, leading in time to the establishment of Artanian feudalism on the island. After a 17-year struggle, the conflict ended with the victory of the crusaders and re-imposition of the Church's control over the island following a violent Inquisition.
Inquisition of Sadaria[]
At the beginning of the Crusade the Holy Apostolic Hosian Church of Terra established the Inquisition of Sadaria as an ecclesiastical tribunal aiming to eliminate the heresy of the Archbishop of Argona. An estimated 250,000 people would become victims of the inquisition; including one king, two princes, one duke, nearly all the nobility, the entire Sadarian clergy, and thousands of average people. The Inquisition was successful in almost completely eradicating the Agathist heresy from the island, especially amongst the nobility. However, the peasantry proved the hardest to re-convert and over one-third of them were killed by military forces; although most peasantry did not oppose efforts at re-conversion, debate still rages as to whether these people continued heretical worship in secret, at least during their lifetimes and possibly the next generation.
Beliefs[]
- resurrected concept of Demiurge Gods and "Hidden Messiah" & Reincarnation
- two Gods developed over time; originally believed that Elyahu was "adopted" into position after proving that his holiness
- believed that there were two Gods; one "God of the Earth" (Odiosus - The Hated-One) who hated mankind and ruled the physical world, & the "God of the Heavens" (Custos - The Guardian) who ruled the divine or spiritual world, loved mankind and wished to save them from suffering
- "God of the Earth" was later defeated by "God of the Heavens"'s chosen son Eliyahu during his temptations in the wilderness and became Satanil therefore paving the way for "God of the Heavens" triumph
- but victory was only temporary, and evil continued unless the Hidden Messiah, or "Redeemer" was found
- the "Hidden Messiah" was continual reincarnation of Eliyahu, given title of Sanctus Redemptor (Saintly Redemmer) or Occultus (The Hidden); first known was Sanctus Redemtor Onuphrius, a peasant
Sanctus Redemptor[]
- Redeemer kept the "God of the Earth" form unleashing his full forces upon the planet
- all suffering was responsibility of this god; as long as Redeemer remained hidden, evil would roam Terra
- the "Third" Redeemer, Aurelianus, granted the Archbishop of Argona, the House of Boleus; express power and responsibility to determine who the new Redeemer was after the current Redeemer passed on
- Third redeemer was the last to be found; Archbishop preached his word and many converted to his new ideas
Organization and practices[]
- initially led by Archbishop of Argona and organized into Bishoprics
- after Holy Wars, only distinction is between the ascetic boni (Good Men), who take all the vows required by the religion, and the credentes, laypeople who did not take the religion's vows but still participate
- men and women are considered equal, and both can become boni and lead the Church
- there is only one sacrament, the illuminatio, undertaken before one is to become a bonus; the sacrament can only be administered by another bonus, and once administered, the believer is required to become a vegetarian and celibate
- many credentes undertake the illuminatio on their deathbeds
- there is also an extreme fast, usually undertaken by the terminally ill, that requires the believer to starve themselves to death