Cathedral of Avacyn
The spiritual center of Innistrad is Thraben's towering cathedral, home of Avacyn's church and, indeed, the archangel herself. The cathedral stands perched on a sheer cliff, with the waters of the Lake of Herons rushing around it before plummeting down to the sea in ribbons of water and great sprays of mist. The towers of the cathedral itself rise almost as high above the city as the churning sea lies below. Shining angels wheel around the highest spires. All the power of the church is concentrated in this enormous building, like a sun whose glaring light spreads over all the lands around.
The cathedral has a forked shape reminiscent of Avacyn's spear, with two wings forming a triangular courtyard just above the Kirch Falls. At first glance, the courtyard resembles an ornate garden with stands of fruit trees and gold-and-white flowers that are cultivated with painstaking care. At the heart of the garden, the trees fall away, leaving a view of a curious object: The Helvault. Most people don't know the courtyard exists. Only the most powerful bishops are permitted to set foot in it.
The cathedral was never a place for daily worship, except by the clergy and cathars who live on the grounds. Each district of the city has its own parish church for everyday functions. Outside of Thraben, churches are quite rustic, constructed from rough planks and often containing only a single room. The Cathedral is opulent by comparison. The Cathedral's structure symbolically divides the wealthy and poor of the world. Each class has its own designated place to worship:
Chapel of Noble Peers
The opulent, gilded chapel that is reserved for the high levels of clergy and titled members of society.Midvast Hall
The larger, less opulent hall for ordained fellows and lesser clergy.Common Cloisters
The covered corridors along the edges Midvast Hall where commoners stand during worship. There are only certain holy days when the commoners are permitted to enter the Old Cathedral.Architecture
A massive cathedral with three wings and a network of cloisters, courtyards, outlying schools, and forges. There are well-kept gardens and substantial training grounds for cathars.
Type
Cathedral / Great temple
Parent Location
Included Locations
Owning Organization
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