The Church of Holy Light

The Church of Holy Light is a monotheistic religion dedicated to the god Siron, the Lightbringer. It is the largest religious practice in Karkovia, and is the official state religion.

Divine Origins

The church of light stretches back at least 1700 years, but claims to have always existed in one form or another. The current, highly-political incarnation is about 500 years old.
The scripture is Book of Radiance, which the church teaches was handed down to a variety of prophets over a 400-year period and was finally compiled some 1300 years ago.

Cosmological Views

Siron is the god of the Church of Light, and is seen as the creator and only true god. Other gods are portrayed as lesser spiritual entities, though not necessarily malignant in nature.
Sironites believe that angels are direct servitors of Siron, though the angels themselves typically decline to comment.
The Church teaches that there are two afterlives - Heaven and Hell. Heaven is populated by angel and is the seat of Siron. The faithful earn their place in heaven by good works in their mortal life. Hell is a place of punishment and the home to fiends. Testimony from resurrected individuals more or less bears this out.

Tenets of Faith

Members of the church believe that there is only one god worth worshiping, and that is Siron.
They believe in caring for the poor and disadvantaged, though execution varies.
Celibacy in singleness and monogamous faithfulness in marriage is seen as important.
Most sects abstain from intoxicants or teach that they should be consumed in strict moderation.
The religion also teaches mercy and forgiveness, but in this too the execution varies.

Priesthood

Most local clergy are Priests. They report to Bishops, who in turn report to the Pontiff.
Outside the normal hierarchal structure are monastic orders.
Clergy can be male or female but are forbidden from marrying. They serve in blocks of 10 years until they reach the age of 50 at which point they may retire from service at any point they wish. Retired clergy are permitted to marry.

Granted Divine Powers

Clerics of the Church of Light can wield the Life, Light, Knowledge, Protection, Prophecy, and Elder Sign domains.

Type

Religious, Organised Religion

Demonym

Sironite/Sironites

Deities

• Siron

Controlled Territories

• St. Davin's Cathedral