Ranks of the Church

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Excerpt from the Canonum Ordinis Ecclesiae Dei

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“Of the Ranks Within the Church and the Hierarchy of the Faithful Servants”

Recorded and Approved by the Sacred Office of Ecclesiastical Order, Year 212 After the Fall

“Just as the heavenly host marches in order, so too must the Church on Earth walk in ranks, from least to greatest, all bound in service to God.”

— Doctrina Hierarchiae, Book I, Verse 7

I. The Supreme Authority of the Faith

1. The Great Pontiff (Summus Pontifex)
   Also known—though never in formal address—as the Vicar of Christ, the Great Pontiff is the spiritual and administrative head of the Church of God on Earth. He alone interprets divine will for the masses and speaks with authority equal only to the angels. His word is law.
2. The Priest King of Malta (Rex Sacerdos Melitae)
   The most trusted servant of the Pontiff. He governs the Fortress-Cathedral of Malta, the holiest of military sites, and commands the Pontifical Fleet. His power is second only to the Pontiff—and he may never inherit the Throne of Saint Peter.
3. The Swordbearer of God (Gladius Dei)
   A theoretical office written into Church law, yet never granted. This figure, were they to be named, would hold absolute command over all military arms of the Church. Debate exists among theologians if this title should be created only in times of apocalypse.

II. The Governing Clergy of the Realms

1. The College of Cardinals (Cardinales Sanctae Ecclesiae)
   There are ten in number, drawn from the ruling clergy of the great provinces of the Hegemony. Each Cardinal governs a large religious territory and oversees subordinate Bishops, Abbots, and Priors. Upon the death of the Pontiff, they alone may convene a Conclave to elect his successor.
2. Bishops (Episcopi)
   Appointed by Cardinals to oversee dioceses—large regions including cities and towns. They govern local clergy, approve appointments, oversee Church courts, and serve as both religious and administrative authorities.
3. Abbots (Abbati)
   Heads of great monasteries, cathedral cities, or fortified cloisters. They may answer to a Bishop or directly to a Cardinal depending on jurisdiction. Abbots are often masters of both faith and record-keeping, and are known for their influence in scholarly or monastic communities.
4. Priors (Priores)
   Regional leaders placed above Priests, but below Abbots. Priors typically govern notable towns or serve in remote areas where a Bishop’s hand cannot reach. They often coordinate between local clergy and the higher orders.
5. Priests (Presbyteri)
   The lifeblood of the Church. Each Priest shepherds a single flock, serving in villages, hamlets, or smaller townships. They perform sacraments, oversee confessions, and administer daily liturgies.

III. Servants and Keepers of Holy Ground

1. Nuns (Sorores)
   Holy women of the Church who live in service and devotion. Their duties mirror those of monks, though they often serve in female cloisters or as educators, healers, and spiritual caretakers.
2. Monks (Monachi)
   The workers, scribes, healers, and keepers of the Church’s spiritual and physical estate. Monks tend to the land, copy sacred texts, and often serve silently in great cathedrals or rural monasteries. Though humble, their lives of devotion are considered noble.
3. Beatus Servi (Blessed Servants)
   These are individuals who, either as penance for their sins or as an act of holy dedication, pledge their lives in labor to the Church. Some are criminals who seek redemption; others are poor who offer service in exchange for shelter and salvation.
   They may only be released or redeemed by decree of a Bishop or higher.

“Let no man rise above his station without earning it. Let no one fall from theirs unless by heresy or disgrace. The body of the Church is a living order, and every rank a sacred trust.”

— De Ordine Sacro, Canon Law V