Lancea Sanctum - Europe
The powerful influence of the Black Abbey, the establishment of The Lancea Sanctum in other cities throughout the continent, and the theological and actual battles fought in the name of Longinus left a lasting mark on the cities here that has not diminished in its importance. European Sanctified can claim possession of some of the oldest copies of The Testament of Longinus as well as volumes of other works on the subject of the Dark Prophet and the fine points of the faith. This has given The Lancea Sanctum a tremendous foundation that enables it to withstand the assault of heretical ideas and outright attack, whereas the covenant might more easily fall to such things in other parts of the world.
The greatest share of the covenant’s elders also reside here, and while their own recollection of the past may be corrupted by the inescapable fog of eternity, their presence lends a weight to The Lancea Sanctum that serves it well. Few of these ancients desire any longer to claim functional authority for themselves. By and large they prefer to allow well-suited ancillae and “lesser elders” to take on such demanding roles. However, their wisdom, subtle guidance and profound insight into matters spiritual as well as practical make them formidable assets to the covenant.
Some few of these vaunted Kindred even claim to have visited the Black Abbey and to have personally knelt in prayer with the Monachus before the Traitor struck him down. At least one boasts that she was among the chosen few to participate in the very first midnight mass held on European soil and as such, was one of the only Sanctified to have been allowed to lick blood from the Spear of Destiny as part of the service.
Because of its long history as the stronghold of the covenant, the existence and veneration of religious relics is particularly notable in Europe. Especially in the southern parts of the continent, few congregations of The Lancea Sanctum do not possess at least one treasured relic imbued with special spiritual power that they bring out for special ceremonies. Most common, of course, are spears or lances said to have been blessed by the Monachus in ritual fashion or used to smite enemies of the faith during its struggles. Many masses — not just in Europe — feature a Spear, no less prominent than the crucifix is to Christianity. Certain articles of clothing common to a Roman centurion are also common, with helmets, breastplates, and sandals enjoying general popularity. Smaller items — jewelry once worn by martyrs, styli used to pen scripture, and tokens from the Black Abbey — are usually protected by encasement in precious metal as reliquaries.
Unusual is the lack of organic relics like bones, very common among mortal religions. Given the nature of vampire physiology, however, anyone claiming to have such an item would be viewed with a great deal of skepticism. The closest thing that might ordinarily be encountered are phials said to contain the blood of various important Sanctified, including Longinus himself. Of course, in most cases the substance is no longer liquid, and since no pious believer would dare to break the seal on so precious a relic, the faithful may never know the truth of the matter. The greatest relic of all, the Spear of Destiny, is occasionally reported, but no Bishop is known to actually suggest it is in his possession. Relics and other treasures are usually kept in ornate tabernacles and only taken out when they are to be used for a ceremony.
If The Lancea Sanctum guards anything, it is the tabernacle and the sacred artifacts within first and foremost.
Second only to North America in terms of the heterogeneous nature of the covenant, Europe is awash with divergent creeds, variant catechisms, and heretical cults. Even so, the Monachal and Westminster Creeds are still able to claim a position of overwhelming dominance, with the latter primarily extant in Western Europe and in the British Isles in particular. Consequently, the covenant is highly medieval in both its structure and practices here, more so than perhaps anywhere else. Masses, for example, are usually quite long, often beginning at midnight and not ending until just before dawn.
Elsewhere, and particularly in America, any service lasting longer than two hours is likely to cause attendance to drop precipitously. Joining these major creeds are dozens of others, with larger cities often having at least one or two within the larger fold of The Lancea Sanctum. Unless they exhibit outright hostility to the Bishop, real trouble for those who ascribe to these smaller denominations is rare, though theological debates can grow quite heated. The only real danger to the peace is those persuasions that cling to ideas still considered highly heretical by the majority of Sanctified.
In Mediterranean Europe, the Icarian Heresy maintains significant influence to this night. It harbors little goodwill toward most other sects, despising the Monachals the most on account of their historical acrimony. The Livian Heresy is another relatively popular corruption of orthodoxy that has its greatest presence in Europe. Centered primarily on Italy and Greece, it has its supporters even in France and the Netherlands, even if only in isolated numbers.
Of especial interest to European Sanctified is the location of the Black Abbey and the Spear of Destiny, of course. There is no definitive evidence of either, but the quest is no less popular. A number of Sanctified sponsor small archeological expeditions (usually via their influence over universities and museums) throughout the continent in pursuit of both, hoping to be the one to finally recover such an important tie to their past and perhaps unlock some awesome power that might allow The Lancea Sanctum to prove its pedigree in the eyes of doubters. Others who do not possess the influence necessary to launch their own investigations instead peruse field reports from expeditions for anything that might hint at a breakthrough.
Tonight at least a dozen Bishops claim that their domains are closest to the ruins of the Black Abbey in order to inspire pride and devotion in their congregations, despite universal lack of evidence to back up these lofty claims. Reports of the Lance also crop up with some regularity, but few give these much credence given the long history of hoaxes and empty assertions. Still, the very fact that the Black Abbey once stood somewhere in Europe, along with the possibility that the Spear of Destiny is still somewhere in the region lends an aura of special sanctity upon the covenant here and provides spiritual strength to its devoted members.
The greatest share of the covenant’s elders also reside here, and while their own recollection of the past may be corrupted by the inescapable fog of eternity, their presence lends a weight to The Lancea Sanctum that serves it well. Few of these ancients desire any longer to claim functional authority for themselves. By and large they prefer to allow well-suited ancillae and “lesser elders” to take on such demanding roles. However, their wisdom, subtle guidance and profound insight into matters spiritual as well as practical make them formidable assets to the covenant.
Some few of these vaunted Kindred even claim to have visited the Black Abbey and to have personally knelt in prayer with the Monachus before the Traitor struck him down. At least one boasts that she was among the chosen few to participate in the very first midnight mass held on European soil and as such, was one of the only Sanctified to have been allowed to lick blood from the Spear of Destiny as part of the service.
Because of its long history as the stronghold of the covenant, the existence and veneration of religious relics is particularly notable in Europe. Especially in the southern parts of the continent, few congregations of The Lancea Sanctum do not possess at least one treasured relic imbued with special spiritual power that they bring out for special ceremonies. Most common, of course, are spears or lances said to have been blessed by the Monachus in ritual fashion or used to smite enemies of the faith during its struggles. Many masses — not just in Europe — feature a Spear, no less prominent than the crucifix is to Christianity. Certain articles of clothing common to a Roman centurion are also common, with helmets, breastplates, and sandals enjoying general popularity. Smaller items — jewelry once worn by martyrs, styli used to pen scripture, and tokens from the Black Abbey — are usually protected by encasement in precious metal as reliquaries.
Unusual is the lack of organic relics like bones, very common among mortal religions. Given the nature of vampire physiology, however, anyone claiming to have such an item would be viewed with a great deal of skepticism. The closest thing that might ordinarily be encountered are phials said to contain the blood of various important Sanctified, including Longinus himself. Of course, in most cases the substance is no longer liquid, and since no pious believer would dare to break the seal on so precious a relic, the faithful may never know the truth of the matter. The greatest relic of all, the Spear of Destiny, is occasionally reported, but no Bishop is known to actually suggest it is in his possession. Relics and other treasures are usually kept in ornate tabernacles and only taken out when they are to be used for a ceremony.
If The Lancea Sanctum guards anything, it is the tabernacle and the sacred artifacts within first and foremost.
Second only to North America in terms of the heterogeneous nature of the covenant, Europe is awash with divergent creeds, variant catechisms, and heretical cults. Even so, the Monachal and Westminster Creeds are still able to claim a position of overwhelming dominance, with the latter primarily extant in Western Europe and in the British Isles in particular. Consequently, the covenant is highly medieval in both its structure and practices here, more so than perhaps anywhere else. Masses, for example, are usually quite long, often beginning at midnight and not ending until just before dawn.
Elsewhere, and particularly in America, any service lasting longer than two hours is likely to cause attendance to drop precipitously. Joining these major creeds are dozens of others, with larger cities often having at least one or two within the larger fold of The Lancea Sanctum. Unless they exhibit outright hostility to the Bishop, real trouble for those who ascribe to these smaller denominations is rare, though theological debates can grow quite heated. The only real danger to the peace is those persuasions that cling to ideas still considered highly heretical by the majority of Sanctified.
In Mediterranean Europe, the Icarian Heresy maintains significant influence to this night. It harbors little goodwill toward most other sects, despising the Monachals the most on account of their historical acrimony. The Livian Heresy is another relatively popular corruption of orthodoxy that has its greatest presence in Europe. Centered primarily on Italy and Greece, it has its supporters even in France and the Netherlands, even if only in isolated numbers.
Of especial interest to European Sanctified is the location of the Black Abbey and the Spear of Destiny, of course. There is no definitive evidence of either, but the quest is no less popular. A number of Sanctified sponsor small archeological expeditions (usually via their influence over universities and museums) throughout the continent in pursuit of both, hoping to be the one to finally recover such an important tie to their past and perhaps unlock some awesome power that might allow The Lancea Sanctum to prove its pedigree in the eyes of doubters. Others who do not possess the influence necessary to launch their own investigations instead peruse field reports from expeditions for anything that might hint at a breakthrough.
Tonight at least a dozen Bishops claim that their domains are closest to the ruins of the Black Abbey in order to inspire pride and devotion in their congregations, despite universal lack of evidence to back up these lofty claims. Reports of the Lance also crop up with some regularity, but few give these much credence given the long history of hoaxes and empty assertions. Still, the very fact that the Black Abbey once stood somewhere in Europe, along with the possibility that the Spear of Destiny is still somewhere in the region lends an aura of special sanctity upon the covenant here and provides spiritual strength to its devoted members.
Related Organization
The Lancea Sanctum
The Lancea Sanctum
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