The Ashen Church was a relgious group that came to prominence in the 26th Centrury, an offshoot of the ancient montheistic religion of Earth.
Background
Origins
Formed in the 23rd century on frontier worlds (thought to have been founded on Stark or Jasper, one of the particularly hostile frontier worlds), the Ashen Cult, later Ashen Church was formed by orthodox christians who wanted to worship a "pure" version of their faith away from the "god-less" techno-worshipping world of the Terran Federation / Confederate Union.
It gained its name from the use of ashes to consecrate the forehead of its worshippers and to be sprinked across holy relics and items. According to founders, the ashes were from "the burned remains of an ancient cathedral on Terra."
The Ashen-Cult took a long time to gain a significant number of worshippers and was largely overshadowed by the growth in the 24th century of
Valtinism.
Growth
in 2580 On Earth, four new "Mega-Churches" were unveiled as a major expansion of the Ashen Cult. Bishop Antonio Franzelli of Milan, where one of the Mega-Churches was built, said that "The Ashen Cult speaks to a specific concern of Terrans, what are we here for? What is our purpose? But it also speaks to the need for community, connection and morality, a value that we feel has been forgotten by a society obsessed with progress at all costs."
The Mega-churches were also built in Dhaka, Chicago and Moscow, largely funded by the
Corvo family.
In 2595, a large effort led by
Father General Corvo colonized the planet of
First Light. The colonists were majority Ashen Church believers and both the planet's constitution and political system were based on the religion's tenets.
Beliefs
The Ashen Cult
The core tenets of the Ashen Cult were:
- Belief in a supreme being, God or Yaweh.
- Belief that he sent his son in "mortal form" to the Earth to redeem the humans
- That only through his "grace" can a human be redeemed.
More broadly, Ashen Cult members believed that:
- Humility and poverty are inherently "holy".
- That the worship of technology and "what is possible" have robbed humans of their uniqueness, perhaps even their souls.
- That meddling with human DNA is dangerous and wrong.
- That psionic powers are witch craft and therefore wrong.
- That sapient AI are contrary to the "design" of the universe generally somewhat socially conservative.
Reformation
After the Reformation of 2595, led by
Father General Tiberus Corvo, the core tenets of the Ashen Church of the Unconquerable Son were:
- Belief in a supreme being, God the Almighty Father, the Lord of Light and Heaven.
- Descended to Earth as the Unconquerable Son who died and rose again for our salvation as the stars rise and fall in the sky.
- That the Unconquerable Son will return to the mortal universe again someday to judge.
More broadly, Church members believed in:
Temperance: Humilty, poverty, clean living and moderation in all things. Excessive manipulation of DNA, encouraging psionic abilities, and willingly giving the body up to machinery is dangerous and wrong.
Diligence: Just as their saviour toiled, labour is an intrinsic part of the human experience. fully automated luxury, where AI and technology caters to every whim is anathema to believers, who consider such humans to be soulless. Learning and scholarship is encouraged, but provided it focuses on furthering a humanity that is ‘spiritually intact’.
Vigilance: Socially Conservative, there is a suspicion of alien species and sentient AI, however most members believe it is up to the Lord to judge whether such creatures have souls. Some members believe all other species are tests from God to see how humanity will respond. Creatures from the ‘outer dark’ such as the
Zzenddi, are most definitely agents of darkness and believers will happily lay down their lives for the glory of the Lord in battle.
The Ashen Mass
The Ashen Mass is performed twice daily, once at sunrise and again at sunset, with particular church bells being sounded to signal their commencement.
Members of the faith are required to attend the Ashen Mass at least once per week in accordance with their work, however exceptions can be made under specific circumstances.
Sunday, being a holy day for many of the Old Earth faiths remains a holy day for the Ashen Church. As such, Ashen Mass and other church services are far more popular on Sundays, with choristers and musicians to augment and enhance the act of Worship.
The Ashen Mass began with the priest and ministers approaching the altar whilst the entrance hymn was sung by the congregation and choir. On this particular occasion the entrance hymn was ‘O Holy Light’, whose refrain is as follows:
‘O Holy Light, Thy name we cry!
The night is pierced, the dawn is nigh!
From death’s domain, Thy power flows,
Invictus Son, whose glory grows!’
The priest then makes the sign of the Sun: using the right hand to briefly touch their forehead, left shoulder, lower chest, right shoulder and back to forehead to trace a diamond across their upper body before striking their heart, the center of the diamond. The congregation then does likewise.
‘In the name of the Almighty Father, the Holy Mother, and the Unconquerable Son’
‘Ad Solem’ is the response.
Next, the priest formally greeted the congregation with the following words and response:
‘May his light shine upon you’
‘And upon your spirit’
Next the Penitential Invocation is introduced by a priest.
‘Brothers and Sisters of Ash: Let us humble ourselves before the Unconquered Son, that His light may purify what is dark within us.’
‘O Holy Lord of Light, we confess our failings before you: In thought, in word, and in deed. We have turned from Your brilliance
And sought shelter in shadowed ways.
For this, we kneel in humility and cry:
May the fire of Your mercy cleanse us,
May the warmth of Your glory renew us,
And may the dawn of Your triumph guide us to grace.
Unconquered Son, whose crown is the eternal blaze,
You who vanquish the dark and scatter the evildoers and unclean spirits,
Grant us your pardon, that we may rise with You.
In the light, we seek rebirth,
In the fire, we find forgiveness,
And in His ascent, we are made whole.
So it has been,
So it shall always be.’
Next after the Penitential Act is the Gospel Reading.
An example of the verses below is from book of Ascension:
‘The lands lay in shadow, and the hearts of mortals grew cold and heavy with doubt. The Unconquered Son beheld the sorrow of the earth and spoke, saying:
’Lift your faces toward the horizon, for the First Light approaches! Be not afraid of the shadows, for in my presence they are as insubstantial as ash!
I am the Light that cannot falter, I am the Fire that does not fail!
To those who wander, I shall be your guide. To those who stumble, I shall be your strength. To those who despair, I shall be your renewal. For as I rise, so too shall you rise, if you trust in the power of the Lord of Light.’
And so the Unconquered Son ascended, scattering the darkness. The world turned in harmony beneath him, and all who walked in His light were made whole.”
The Ashen Creed
Generally read at all Ashen Mass events by the priest:
‘We believe in the Unconquered Son, beacon of mankind’s salvation. Child of the Almighty Father, born of the Blessed Mother, conceived by the Holy Spirit.
The Sun of Righteousness, who for the renewal of all things, descended into the realm of shadows, and rose again with the dawn in glorious victory over darkness and death.
The Invincible Son, prophesied to come again and serve as judge, showering the faithful in boundless radiance, and casting those found wanting far into the outer dark.
We believe in the church most holy, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the cleansing power of fire and ash, Ad Solem.’
Offertory Hymn & the Rite of Communion
At the end of the mass, the congregation gives donations to the church, the priest and accompanying attendants ready the altar for the climax of the Ashen Mass, the Rite of Communion.
Firstly, the priest placed the specific offerings inside the large ceremonial burning bowl, reciting the following:
‘O Unconquered Son, Eternal Flame,
We bring before you this threefold offering,
Our gift of gratitude and devotion.
Behold the gold! majestic and bright!
Behold the frankincense! fragrant and purifying!
Behold the myrrh! bittersweet and holy!
Three sacred gifts: gold, as to a king; myrrh, as to one who was mortal; and incense, as to a God.’
The torch bearer stepped forward, and with the lit torch ignited the parcel in the bowl, allowing it to silently burn for a time.
‘As these gifts are consumed by flame,
May their essence rise to You, O Lord.
Accept this offering, and in return,
Grant us strength in shadow, clarity in light,
And the courage to walk always in Your radiance.
For You are the Light Unyielding,
The Flame Eternal, the Unconquered Son,
Now and forever.”
‘Ad Solem’
It’s worth noting that in situations where such elaborate equipment is not available, pre prepared pellets of incense and portable burning equipment are used
The priest will then descend from the altar down to the front of the congregation, holding a chalice of cooled ash from previous rituals.
Row by row, the congregation are required to rise and form a queue before the priest, to receive a blessing and the symbol of the Sun upon their foreheads in ash before retaking their places for the official dismissal and Recessional Hymn.
Once the congregation are seated once more, the priest announces:
‘In the name of the Almighty Father, the Holy Mother, and the Unconquerable Son’
‘Ad Solem’ the churchgoers responded.
‘May his light shine upon you’
‘And upon your spirit’
‘Go now, the Mass has ended’
Once the Recessional Hymn is complete, the priest and attendants will proceed from the altarand into the sacristy, the congregation are free to leave the church, or remain seated in prayer.
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