Tethuricism is the dominant religion throughout most regions, named after the deity Ethurica. The primary institution in the Tethuric Church is the Saent Isala's Ethucary, which governs from its headquarters in Catal, an estate in Jura. Its chief priest is the Archcleric of Catal. It is the most traditional and filled with ritual. Many of the saents people have heard of are Tethuric saents.
History
Following the destruction brought about by the Great Purge, a paradigm shift ensued once the exodus began as the lands of Greater Galwyndor became inhospitable. People saw this as the result of the gods punishing the world for destroying one of their greatest gifts: magic. In response to this, new deities rose to prominence, the most popular being Ethurica, who did not deal in magic but in a more philosophical sense of being ever-present in the air, as air could be found in all places of the world. Most importantly, within all living creatures. So new gods were fashioned to replace those lost, and because of the influence of Saent Isala, the Tethuric Church gained a foothold among the royal houses. Having such affluent patronage enabled the movement to thrive, and subsequently, grow exponentially.
Hierarchy
From order of highest to lowest, the ranks of the clergy are as follows:
- Archcleric of Catal- pontiff supreme
- Counsel of Bishops - a selection of twenty archbishops, which are spread throughout various regions of the world
- Bishop - a high cleric, typically fulfilling a role as emissary or counsel to highest government
- High Priest or Priestess- the person in charge of a local temple
- Priest or Priestess- a person of rank below a high priest or priestess who is ordained and authorized to oversee rituals
- Monk - a cleric in training
- Acolyte - a monk who serves as a missionary
Saentship
In Tethuricism, saentship is the official declaration of a deceased person's holiness (only martyrs qualify) and is the highest form of honor one can achieve. Notable saents include:
- Saent Isala - the first saent and founder of the Tethuric church; the headquarters in Jura are named after her
- Saent Algo of Meath