Semelism

Semelism is an Acacian religion, the third largest in the world, teaching that there is one creator God called the Ancient of Days , and that the Ancient of Days is actually the same person as Beorn and the Heliand.
Semelism originates in the mid First Century IB in Rommark and northern Pelagasia, ascribed to the teachings of Semelcar of Kumanovo, a Romm Hierophant and popular preacher. By 90 IB, about 70% of Emuna were either explicit or implicitly Semelist. Paul Simon, the second Metropolitan, had been a longstanding opponent of Semelcar's influence, and had his teachings totally anathematized at the First Council of Berytus. Thereafter the Imperion proscribed Semelism and persecuted Semelcar's followers. Small pockets of followers continued to exist in northern Eirene until the Tolimanic Apocalypses in 467, after which Semelism expanded rapidly throughout the affected regions. Though again anathematized by the Council of Apannina in 480, its spread was not stopped until the reign of King Saint Verandus of Faraconia (r. 621–629) who instituted the Civil Institute in Faraconia. The success of this strategy was adopted by the neighboring realms, and by 700 Semelism was little more than small isolated cults. The theological similarities between Semelism and Emuna have allowed Crypto-Semelites to flourish throughout the Matre Sea region, and it is sometimes speculated that vast proportions of the aristocracy in western Eirene are in fact Semelites.
Semelism does not believe in the Sacraments, instead believing in the complete power of all believers. They practice ecstatic meditation, frequently ingesting Godsbane fungus in their religious ceremonies. To be able to enter a manic trance state is considered the highest form of faith. Because of their view of the identical personhood of the Ancient of Days and Beorn, they venerate Máni above all other creatures (her being the wife of God) and likewise do not teach against lineal incestuous marriage beyond the first degree (because the Heliand is his own ancestor). This is by no means a common or even well-liked practice among the Semelites, but its reality has resulted in the stereotype of Semelites as incestuous degenerates.

Semelism

Type

Religious, Organised Religion

High god	Ancient of Days, Heliand, Beorn
Lesser gods	None*, saints, Semelcar
Scripture	Emanations of Beorn
Magic	Thaumaturgy, Alchemy
Membership	Small cults throughout Emuna

*Like Emuna, Semelism rejects the worship of any god other than the Ancient of Days, but practices the veneration of the saints.