Theiosism

 Theiosism  is a monotheistic religion predominantly practiced within the Archonate of Theiónikos and other regions of Rathnir's central continent of Alteniquia. Its sole and primary deity is Theios who is believed to be the God of the Universe and Father of Mankind. He is most often represented by symbols of the Sun, Fire, and Light, which are each believed to be physical manifestations of Theios himself. He is also accompanied by a number of Angels, Servants, and Saints as well as the Four Prophets who are revered by Theiosists and Sakrelists alike for being the Incarnations of God.

Theiosism itself has gone through multiple stages of evolution from early tribal polytheistic religion to an organized monotheistic one. It is organised as a major branch of the Theio-Sakrelist rites, sharing a long-standing communion with the other main branch, known as Sakrelism, and multiple smaller sects. It is an extremely adaptable and stalwart faith, having survived through many periods of religious and political turmoil. It has managed to make its way into the hearts and minds of people from a variety of different cultures and ethnic groups through its enthusiasm to incorporate these groups' regional traditions and practices into its own. It is also a faith with a far greater leniency towards theological deviation. Where other religions will fight wars over minute differences in doctrine, Theiosism is one that allows for some variation in belief between its many regional jurisdictions, whose leaders will happily discuss these differences and always try to come to a consensus before drawing the sword.

Beginning
Theiosism originates with the tribal beliefs of the Lausarii people, a group of Niedene living to the far north of the region that was once the Empire of Escharia. It began as a polytheistic religion centered around the Sun God Thavijor, with a multitude of other Gods and Goddesses of other natural and spiritual domains. They believed in a great and vibrant spiritual world filled with the souls of their ancestors and many lesser animalistic spirits which was ruled over by these Gods. It held tradition in high regard and put a great emphasis on family and the unity of one's community. The Lausarii also had great respect for nature and life, attempting to protect it wherever possible. They lived humble, meager lives, taking as little as was needed to survive and thrive as a people in order to preserve life and the world around them.

When the Lausarii settlement of Kjásta was destroyed by raiders from surrounding tribes the people of the settlement would take their traditions and beliefs with them across the world, fleeing from the destruction that befell their home. Some would go to the neighboring nation of Escharia, predominantly the city of Lileanen, some would flee to other Lausarii tribes to the south and west, and some were even sold into slavery and sent across Rathnir by their captors. One of these Lausarii in particular would make his way to the Empire of Yimmu-Audal, bringing the traditions of his people with him.

Founding of the Holy City of Theiótokos
This Lausarii would be placed in the service of the Secretary of Cultural Affairs of Yimmu-Audal, and First Jagdasian Emperor StoryStudio. Under the service of StoryStudio, LethalMuffin193, the Lausarii slave, would work on infrastructure projects across the Empire of Yimmu-Audal. For long he would continue to maintain the traditions of his people, until one fateful day. As the text The Epiphany records, the God Theios would reveal himself to the slave deep within the desert at the heart of Alteniquia, where upon a great mountain top Theios would teach him of the Prophet, who in eras past once ascended the same mountain where that the slave stood. Thus, LethalMuffin put himself into the service of Theios and his Prophet, recording the will of Theios in multiple Holy Books and going on to spread the religion across the Empire which he now called home. His first act as the leader of this new religion would be to destroy all the idols to the false gods he once knew, and to erect, on the land he was graced with by the will of his Master, monuments to the Living God of the Sun. After those blasphemous objects were destroyed and new Holy Monuments built, he would then head back into the desert to begin construction on a temple that would sit atop the very mountain where Theios revealed himself. This settlement would be known as Theiotokos.

Although Theiosism would be in many ways vastly different to the religion once practiced by the Lausarii people, it still had a lot of things in common with their old folk traditions, as well as with the religion of the Niedene which previously had great influence over the tribes. LethalMuffin was told that many of the beings he once understood as gods were in fact Angels, fragments of Theios' divine power. Not only did many familiar faces continue into the new faith, so too did the extreme reverence of nature and living things remain, as all creatures were seen as creations or descendants of Theios. The religion would continue to stress the importance of family, as well as loyalty to a person's community and nation and the upholding of one's honour.

Theio-Sakrelist Communion
Then it seemed, by some act of providence, that the faith would come into contact with one of great similarity: Sakrelism. Theiosism and Sakrelism were two faiths that had developed distinctly and independently from one another, but one day a very influential member of the Sakrelist faith, TheLastSven, journeyed to Theiotokos where he and LethalMuffin would discuss the many similarities between their religions, and determined that they had in fact been following the same God, who revealed the Prophet Inirion to LethalMuffin. After this revelation the two set out to merge their religions into one. Theiotokos quickly came into communion with the other Sakrelist Sanctums, and LethalMuffin was allowed to maintain some of the minor differences in naming and Theology which made his branch of Sakrelism unique. Theiosism would then grow across the Empire of Yimmu-Audal, while its followers started the construction of temples and monuments across the whole of the Empire. Eventually Theiosism would dominate the nation and become the state religion of Yimmu-Audal's successor state, Theios-Essukdal, which itself was named for the God of the Religion Theios in the native language of the Audaladae. The direct translation of the nations name being something along the lines of "the many deserts of Theios."

Slow decline of Theíosism
In the time of Theios-Essukdal, specifically Mistic's reign over it, the faith began a slow decline in believers because of the Ecumenical Patriarch LethalMuffin becoming badly sick, and Hukar-Sharud which was the core religion of Yimmu-Audal before Theios-Essukdal argued that Theíosism and Hukar-Sharud are syncretic, leading to the decline of the faith within the land of Theios-Essukdal, causing the fall of it, and bout the same time they lost influence in the neighboring state of Anoshphey. It stopped being a branch of Sakrelism. Theíosism

Monotheism
Theiosism and Sakrelism are a faith mostly one and the same, but the Theology of Theiosism differs in many important ways. The theology and religious doctrine of Theiosism states firmly that there is a single God of Mankind, the God of the Sun and the Universe, as well as the Father of all humans, Theios. Theios is believed to have directly created all human beings in his image through the first human and Holy Mother of Mankind Hanach. He impregnated her with his divine light, meaning that all humans are a mixture of spiritual and physical and thus attributing divine heritage to all of mankind. The Lord Theios is believed to control all aspects of the Universe through his glorious and incomprehensible power, in some cases delegating control to his angels and lesser servants. This monotheistic belief is strictly enforced, with the reverence or worship of any other Gods being seen as blasphemous, idolatrous, and sinful. However, in spite of this monotheistic zeal the religion is not entirely incompatible with other faiths, as Theios told his Prophet Ataron the following:

"Many forms have I taken, many faces have I worn, and many names have I been called, but these are not my own. These forms are human creations, the names misunderstandings of the truth. My true form is unknowable, incomprehensible to the human mind, however, there are three aspects of my divinity which are unmistakable, three forms which are known to all and worshipped by many. These three visages of my being are merely fractions of my power, but true depictions nonetheless." - The Book of Truths

It is believed that the followers of other Sun deities do not follow false gods, but instead have simply misunderstood Theios. Theiosism calls for Ecumenicalism, or the unification of these faiths into a single religion devoted to the worship of Theios, this belief having been seen most prominently during the merging of Theiosism with Sakrelism. Similarly, those who are part of religions which have prime deities similar to one of the Angels are also seen as simply misguided and encouraged to adopt the faith while continuing to revere the Angels as was commanded by Theios himself:

'"Thou shalt honour the angels. No man shall dishonour the angels who are made of my power and in my image... pay to them their due tribute and revere them as you would the Lord, but not above the Lord." - The Sixteen Commandments.'

It is through this adaptability that Theiosism is able to gain momentum quickly, even with peoples from cultures and nations which would at first seem incompatible. It has evolved from an amalgamation of many different beliefs, and so it is readily capable of adapting to and adopting others into the greater Faith.

Theios and the Trinity
Theios is understood as the God of not only the Sun, but of the entire universe. The Sun is simply one of three divine visages, the Trinity. The first visage of the Trinity is the Sun, which represents Theios' might and glory, as well as the scale of his power and place as the supreme ruler of the cosmos. The second visage is Light, which represents the gift of Life granted to man by Theios as well as his holy word. The third and final visage is Fire, which represents Theios' will and divine law, as well as his wrath and judgement delivered upon those who break this law or who are sinful.

This trinity is said to encompass the only truly knowable forms of Theios, as they are his power materialized in our world. In general Theios' form cannot be know, in fact due to his shear power it is incomprehensible to the mortal mind. Because of this the Lord is limited in how he reveals himself to mortals, opting to appear to them simply by speaking through one of the Visages of the Trinity. Since each of these forms are his power and being realized in our world, the followers of Theios worship the Fire, Light, and Sun. Thus temples and monuments to Theios always either include one of these as artistic motifs, or they have a physical form of them, for example a bonfire at the foot of a monument, a window in the ceiling of a temple to allow worshipers a view of the sun at its height, or a lantern in areas which are usually host to darkness.

Creation
The Theiosist Creation Story is fairly similar to that of Sakrelism, with only a few main differences. It goes as follows:

1: In the beginning there was nothing. An eternal shadow which enveloped all of the universe. It was the Darkness, and it reigned supreme over the void before time. Yet it was not alone, for along with the Darkness existed the Uncreated One whom we call Theios. As the Darkness ruled unchallenged its terror rippled through the void and struck Theios. Upon hearing the maddening whispers of the Dark Tyrant a great sadness filled Theios’ heart, and thus He said "I witness thee, Darkness, and say unto you, let there be Light!"

2: And it was so. Theios’ voice shattered the eternal shadow, and in an instant the Light illuminated all of the void. With only His Word time had begun. Yet Theios separated the Light from the Darkness and the Light faded from all the void and rested within Him. From His being it radiated, and thus He looked upon the void and said “Let the Light have form.”

3: And it was so. He took the Light and sprinkled the void with millions of Stars. He created the Heavens and sat at their center, for He was the brightest Star amongst the Stars, the Sun. He was a beacon of Light to outshine all things. He then looked upon the Heavens from His mighty throne and saw that the void was still empty. Thus, He said “Let the void be filled with the Water, and at the Water's center let there be the Dirt and the Stone.”

4: And it was so. As His Word fell upon the void once more it formed Creation where before there was nothing. Theios brought the Water and the Dirt and the Stone into existence and created a world of eternal day where there was no suffering or sadness and food was plentiful. From the Dirt bountiful plants sprouted and littered the surface of Creation with a beautiful lush green. Yet this world was without true Life, and thus Theios gathered the Water and the Earth together and created the first animals. He breathed the Light of Life into them and said, "Spread forth and populate this world, for I see that you are good."

5: And it was so. The animals spread across the world and inhabited every place that Life could prosper and grow. From the highest mountains to the depths of the ocean animals spread, yet just as the plants this new Life was only guided by the instincts Theios ingrained within them. They were simple creatures pure of heart and soul, but without a sense of self. Theios was not satisfied with this, and thus He built a creature to be the steward of all Life, to be His child and the heir of Creation. Theios once more gathered the Water and the Earth together and created a new creature. He breathed the Light of Life into this creature, and then gave her the Divine Spark of free will and sentience. He looked upon the first of Mankind and said, "Rise my child and look upon creation! For this I have created for you to partake in and enjoy."

6: And so she did as He commanded. Hanach, the first of Mankind, gazed upon and partook in the bounty of creation. She, being made in the image of Theios, was as beautiful as the Stars in the sky and as good as the world she stood upon. Her very being a temple, the most graceful of all Theios’ creations, she lived in peace and in a state of oneness with Creation and her Creator. Yet as time marched forward she grew ever lonely in the world all by herself, and the despair of His child saddened Theios. He decided then to place within her womb a seed from which Humanity would emerge.

7: Humanity did emerge and began to spread about the whole of Creation. The Mother of All was graced with more children to nurture and raise for the glory and in the presence of Theios. Yet as Humanity continued to spread the Darkness began to lash out at the God who had banished it from Creation. Its tendrils crept about the world and latched onto the unwitting Children of God. It whispered to them horrible lies and deceptions. It emboldened their desires and said to them, ''“Let me come into your hearts so that this world might be yours. Through me free Creation from its Master, and with my power become its new rulers.”'' Many were seduced by the  Darkness and allowed it to fester in their hearts, and thus Darkness' anger and resentment towards the Light of Theios grew within His own Children. This corruption continued to spread across Creation until the Darkness was within each and every one of Hanach's children.

8: Then one day the Darkness once more whispered to them and said, ''“You must reject the Light, for in its presence we are doomed. Seek out every last vestige of the Light and snuff it out, then force its Master to flee your world.”'' Thus, they gathered together and sought out the Light, and within their Mother they saw it had not yet dimmed. So they fell upon her with rocks and clubs and bludgeoned her till the grass was red with blood. And the Light within, they thought, had been snuffed out. As the blood of His Child soaked the Earth Theios felt a horrible pain. For many days the Heavens wept as Theios fell again into a great despair, yet when the rain had passed His Children went to their Father and said,  "Go! For we reject your presence o Creator!"

9: And Theios said, "I shall do as you say, for the Darkness has infested your hearts and I may not remain here without causing you great suffering. Yet even now as I leave this world to your evil, I promise that one day I shall return to reclaim you from the Darkness. I shall enlighten you and show you the true path in preparation for the end of days when the world shall once again return to the Light that is paradise." After this Theios went to His firstborn Child and grasped at her broken form. He held her close, and He looked within her heart for the Divine Spark. Theios found a glimmer, a dim Light that still flickered, and took her breath from her. The Spark blazed anew as Hanach’s soul left her body, and thus he took the Spirit of His Child and resigned the world to Darkness.

10: For long He wept for His Creation and for Hanach and for her Children, however, Theios made another promise. He said unto the world, "Even as you have accepted Darkness and made it a part of you, the Light still endures within your hearts and illuminates your souls. During the Day I shall reign supreme and you will walk the Earth as before, but during the Night Darkness shall rule and all shall rest just as I." And so He rested along with His one pure Child, separated from the world in His Heavenly Kingdom with all His Stars. Whilst He slept the Heavens were abound with the sound of music as His servants sung for the redemption of Mankind.

11: Yet this redemption never came, and instead Humanity fell further into corruption and depravity. The world was wrought with destruction and war, plague and starvation. They fell into greater and greater corruption until one day the last remaining of Theios’ first Children finally died or forgot their Creator. The world was left without hope for Salvation from the Darkness, for in their ignorance and hubris Humanity replaced their Creator with false idols and gods for every task and domain Theios and His Angels once fulfilled. Theios saw the plight of Mankind and in His mercy He made one final promise. He said, “Hear me my Children, and watch in anticipation, for I shall grace the world with Five Mortal Messengers who in my name shall vanquish the Darkness and show Mankind the path of Salvation.”

12: Then Theios pointed to the Stars and commanded them to move, and so they moved as He commanded and formed the Key to Salvation. Thus, He said, '''“First shall come the Warrior, Seventh son of sands. He who slays the Serpent Mother of Night with Golden Blade shall reclaim Creation and bear my Will.”'''

13: And in the Stars it was so. Next Theios said, '''“Second shall come the King, son of wolves with Silver Crown. He who ignites the Shrine of Soaked Wood shall in that land establish my Earthly Kingdom and enforce my Law.”'''

14: And in the Stars it was so. Once more Theios spoke and He said, '''“Third shall come the Shepherdess, daughter of the east with Blessed Wreath. She who is born of Glade with Branch in hand shall sing my Songs and carry my Word across the world.”'''

15: And in the Stars it was so. Again Theios spoke and said, '''“Fourth shall come the Scholar, son of rags with unsoaked pen. He whose eyes once did not read shall preserve the Word and reveal my mysteries.”'''

16: And in the Stars it was so. Then one final time Theios spoke and said, '''“Fifth shall come the Saviour, son of the sky with Starry Eyes. He who was reborn of Light shall redeem my Children and Vanquish the Darkness.”'''

Salvation and Sin
Theiosists believe that Darkness is simply the absence of Light. Thus the Darkness is the antithesis of Theios. It is a force in full opposition to the one who is himself the Light of the Universe. Humans were created as mortal beings with souls of Light, but darkness was taken into their souls through their free will and sentience granted to them by Theios. In being seduced by the Darkness the Souls of mortal beings were corrupted and made impure.

It is due to this fact that humanity needs purification. Since Theios is the Light of the Universe and the opposite of the Darkness any impure human who is in his presence would feel a fiery pain as His majesty and holiness would burn away the Darkness and Evil from their souls. His presence is so unimaginably powerful that the impure would endure great suffering and torment in both their body and mind. And so Theios hopes to make Humanity pure once more, as he is their creator and wishes to again be able to be allowed in their presence without causing them great pain.

Therefore, no such thing as Hell exists. Instead of Hell it is simply the difference in experience, as all mortals eventually ascend to Theios' Heavenly Kingdom when they die. It is a place filled solely with Theios glorious Light, and while the pure will enjoy a beautiful and glorious realm, those who are impure suffer greatly within this place as His Light burns at the Darkness within their hearts. This Kingdom was itself created by Theios to contain his Light and all his servants, Angels, and the Mother of Mankind after Humanity rejected and replaced Theios with the Darkness. When one looks to the sky and sees the Sun or at night the stars and the Moon they see this Kingdom. Just as the Sun is one of Theios' visages so too are all the stars physical manifestations of His servants and Angels within the mortal world. During the night Theios sleeps and his servants watch over creation, while during the day Theios reigns supreme over all the world and showers the land with the Light of the Heavens.

Theiosists believe that to be purified one must cleanse themselves of this darkness within and walk instead upon the path of the Light in service of their Lord. This is done through prayer, sacrifice, asceticism, and striving to do good. If an individual strives to be pure of heart, mind, and body, and to be one with their creator then Theios will work in their hearts to gradually purify them so that when they are in the presence of his full glory they will not suffer as is the fate of the impure.

If someone decides to do the opposite and chooses to turn their back on Theios and strive towards the Darkness then his presence will be like an eternal fire and the guilt of their actions will be a torturous suffering that mercilessly gnaws upon their mind. However for those who for one reason or another did not get the chance in life to choose between the Darkness and the Light then Theios grants them this chance in death to make the choice for themselves.

For those who wish to be one with Theios but are not pure enough to be within his presence, Theios uses his Divine Fire to slowly burn away at the Darkness in their hearts so that they might one day become pure enough to stand before him. This state of purification before ascension is a very painful process, but it is one which Theios, a merciful God, sees as necessary as it is another opportunity after death to allow his faithful children to become pure and live with Him in his Heavenly Kingdom instead of eternally suffering in his presence. However for those who similarly are in-between impurity and purity but do not wish to be with the Lord they are offered a chance to avoid the torment and suffering by choosing to be put to rest in a dreamful state of final death and unconscious existence.

The Kingdom of Heaven
The Kingdom of Heaven is Theios' Kingdom of pure Light. It is a realm in which Darkness cannot exist. It is here that Theios resided during the Dark Times alongside the Holy Mother of Mankind. It was created after the Darkness had seduced the majority of Humanity and thus prevented Theios and His Light from remaining on the world without causing his Children great harm. The Kingdom itself is divided into three Domains of Theios' Divine servants. The First Domain consisted of the most powerful of Theios servants, the Angels. The Angels are beings of great power second only to Theios himself, from whom all the Angels' power is derived. They are each fragments of Theios power, with their forms being highly varied except for a few specific traits that are common amongst all, these being eyes of blinding light, crystalline bodies, and wings. The Angels themselves are split into two groups, the first being the Created Angels. These are Angels created by Theios from a fragment of His power and each have a specific duty and purpose. Having been designed by Theios for these particular purposes their overall personalities are subdued, and they act generally with greater stoicism. The second group is the uncreated Angels. These are Angels who still derive their power from Theios, but who were not expressly created by Him. They simply have existed as His servants since the beginning, and thus they have much greater free will and have more independent personalities. The Angels are led by the Archangel Treiur, who is the most powerful of them all.

The second Domain is the Emissaries. These are the messengers of Theios that will go to the mortal world and spread his word and truth. All Emissaries are created beings, and they are the most common servants for humans to see, usually coming in a few specific forms. One of the more common forms for Emissaries to take is the form of a bird. They might choose to be an eagle, a hawk, a seabird, or even some smaller birds like robins or sparrows. They will usually hold in their mouths a piece of paper with an important message that can be read by a human before it subsequently evaporates into light. The second common form they take is that of a floating orb of light. This orb of light can sometimes be accompanied by two eyes made of fire, but either way the orb will speak to whomever the message is for in a wispy and quiet voice before dissipating or rapidly floating away. The third common form is that of a Holy Fire. This fiery form can come in many different colours and can either be grounded or float gracefully through the air around a specific location. They will lure an individual to a location with a disembodied voice, usually in their ear, before then speaking to them in full and loud voices once they arrive at whichever location the Emissary perceives as safe and private.

The third Domain consists of the Swords and Thrones. These are the divine soldiers and guardians of Theios that protect his Kingdom and followers. The Swords are specifically the hosts of soldiers lead into battle by the Angels, and will go out to protect the followers of Theios, as well as his Prophets or mortal messengers from spiritual and physical threats. The Thrones are the protectors of Theios' Heavenly Throne and in general his Kingdom. They are defenders of any location deemed important by Theios or his Angels. Just as the Emissaries, all of the Swords and Thrones are created beings, with them possessing the most subdued and least independent personalities of all Theios' servants. Their forms are also the most human-like, with Swords appearing as winged humans bearing swords of light, shields, spears or bows, and clad in simple armour. The Thrones are slightly different, having two pairs of wings and carrying swords of fire, clad in crystalline armour similar in appearance to the bodies of the Angels, and also wearing circlets of light around their heads. Of all the stars in the sky the Swords and Thrones are the most common.

The Darkness
1: There was but one being that ruled the void before time. It named itself Bahtemoch, the King of Shadow, and it was a cruel King indeed. The Darkness was the eternal shadow, and in the time before Theios’ Word was spoken its reign was absolute. In those times there was no life, there was no Creation, there was nothing but itself. The Darkness revealed greatly in this truth, for if none existed then none could challenge its rule. And thus for long a vile corruption festered in the void as the Darkness’ whispers echoed across all of existence.

3: It was not a simple insult levied upon the Darkness during these times; it was a complete humiliation. All of the power in existence was erased in moments, and a once cruel and tyrannical King reduced to an afterthought. Thus, the Darkness filled up with hatred and contempt and these things soaked the Earth. It watched from below with malice and spite, vowing to curse Theios’ Creation, a vengeful desire which would be fulfilled in time. The Darkness continued to observe the happenings of Creation, and watched as Theios created the Firstborn Child. She was of the Earth and the Water, but had a heart so pure that Bahtemoch’s tendrils could not approach without being repelled and destroyed. So it continued to wait, and watched as the First Children were born.

4: The Darkness realized that the hearts of the First Children were not as pure as their Mother, and that just like her they were made of the Earth and the Water. Thus, it skulked towards the weakest amongst them and the Darkness seeped through their feet, up their legs and chests, then into their hearts. Its hatred and contempt, anger, and wickedness all grew within these First Children whose Lights were dimmer, then through them it influenced their Brothers and Sisters. Those of weak will were easily controlled, but those of strong will resisted. They refused to permit it entry into their hearts, minds, and bodies until the Darkness spoke to them and said, “Let me come into your hearts so that this world might be yours. Through me free Creation from its Master, and with my power become its new rulers.”

5: This convinced many, who allowed the Darkness to flow through and bestow upon them its curses. But even as many turned to join The Darkness many more remained pure, so it used the voices of their Brothers and Sisters to deceive them. It spoke and said “Do not refuse the shadow's gifts, for we have partaken in them and found that they are good. Take them for yourselves, and do not resist the presence of this one, for we have allowed it within our hearts, and through this we have found that it as well is good. Join us so that there should not be conflict amongst us, Brothers and Sisters; join us in this that we might be united in our dominion over this world.“

6: Those who remained pure were pressured by their kin to give in and accept the Darkness, and all eventually submitted. Either by their own choice or out of fear for what conflict might arise should they refuse, all capitulated to the ever encroaching Darkness. For much time the Darkness festered there within the hearts of First Children, all the while it slowly overtook the plants and animals of the once sacred land that was the Heart of the World. It led Theios’ creations to rebel against their Creator, and when it decided the time was right the Darkness whispered to each of them again and said, “Now you have reconquered these lands, but you must reject the Light, for in its presence we are doomed. Seek out every last vestige of the Light and snuff it out, then force its Master to flee your world.”

7: Thus, they gathered together and sought out the Light, and within their Mother they saw it had not yet dimmed. So they went and tore up the land, collecting rocks from the ground and tearing limbs from trees, then they fashioned these limbs into horrible weapons, and fell upon their Mother with these rocks and clubs and bludgeoned her till the grass was red with blood. And the Light within, they thought, had been snuffed out. She had crumpled to the ground, her bruised and bloodied body completely still and lifeless, with a look of panic and despair fixed to her face. The once lively, joyful, and graceful Mother of All was drained of her vigor and essence as her blood drained out of her form. They had killed her in the very field where she had carried and birthed them, without mercy or hesitation.

8: None had seen blood, much less spilled it, so as the First Children realized what they had done many were filled with dismay and regret, yet those few fanatical followers of the Darkness riled up their Brothers and Sisters and led them to finish their task. But before they could do this the Heavens became dark and gray as they opened up and great rains fell across the land. The rains raised the seas and the rivers and flooded their coasts and banks for a time. It impeded them, and forced them into shelters, but eventually the rain passed and the water receded, so they continued onward to fulfill their wicked quest.

9: Thus, the First Children went to their Father, and said to Him, "Go! For we reject your presence o Creator!" And for their own sake Theios obliged, but He promised to one day return and bring back the Light of Paradise. His Children, however, did not heed His Words. Their spite and hatred grew uncontrollably, for in their hubris they blamed their Father for Hanach’s death, for their plight and that of the land. Thus began the struggles as the more sensible blamed each other for their Mother’s death and the less sensible blamed their Creator, a raging conflict which led the First Children to grab the bloody clubs and rocks and wield them against one another. They attacked and killed each other and split into warring tribes, all whilst the Heavens weeped and the Darkness revealed in its victory.

10: The Darkness had achieved dominion over Creation, and thus began to unleash its curses. It twisted and corrupted many plants and animals, morphing them all into reflections of its long destroyed monstrosities, then looked to the First Children. It molded its followers into horrible beasts, and sent plagues and afflictions to punish those who rejected it. They suffered greatly and many died, and as the bodies of the dead piled up the Darkness saw an opportunity. It filled up the rotting corpses and bleached skeletons and used its newly gained power to raise them, turning these decrepit forms into the first undead. Across the world the tribes of the First Children battled with each other, the monstrosities, and the undead until the rains stopped and Theios returned once more. He created the Day and the Night, and told His children that He shall reign supreme during the Day, but that the Darkness shall rule during the Night. Thus, the undead were destroyed when the Sun rose, but when it set they returned to terrorize the land and its inhabitants.

11: Even with this blessing, the world was still in chaos. Each Day the First Children fought, then at Night they cowered in fear of what lurked in the Darkness. As time went on and the conflict continued the First Children bore their own children, a new generation which had never known the world before the Darkness. The chaos continued and new generations were born, until eventually all of the First Children had died or forgotten their Creator. Thus, the Second Children rose and became prominent across the world, especially at its heart, but these Children knew not of Theios or the Creation of the world. They were ignorant to the Truth and understood little about the Heavens above or the world below. Greatest of all their ignorance was of the nature of the Darkness, which they did not know as a Dark Tyrant but as a friendly gift giving force.

12: The Second Children idolized and worshiped the Darkness and its monstrosities. They created false gods and spirits in their minds, and gave praise to animals and all manner of inanimate objects, creating images and idols of these beings. They replaced Theios and His Angels and everything in the Heavens with these things, using them to fill the gnawing hole left in their hearts by the Darkness’ corruption. These false gods took the roles left empty by the God and Angels which their ancestors had rejected, and as many of these beings were inspired by the abhorrent lies and repugnant monstrosities of the Darkness, so too did they inspire within the Second Children depraved and wicked things. They engaged in unspeakable acts of debauchery, all the while war continued to rage and chaos reigned over the world. Humanity had fallen, and it seemed there was no hope for redemption.

13: Theios saw the plight of Mankind, and even in spite of the evil acts to which He bore witness, He still showered His Children in compassion and love. In His eternal mercy Theios bestowed upon them the Key to Salvation, and imparted them with the knowledge that one Day His Mortal Messengers would arrive to lead Humanity out of the Darkness and into the Light that is Paradise.

The Final Night
The Final Night is believed to be the time when Theios returns to the world and merges it his Heavenly Kingdom, effectively returning the world to the state it was before the Dark Times. When this time comes the whole of the world will be full of the glorious Light of Theios and the Darkness will be banished even during what once was the night. All of the Darkness will be banished beyond the world along with any of its servants, and all people who still are impure of heart, mind, and body will be damned to the eternal suffering and torment brought upon them by the total scorching of the Darkness within their souls by the full majesty of Theios' Divine Light and power. It is thus an extremely important part of the Theiosistic faith, as the faithful wish to purify themselves of their internal Darkness, and also seek to help others find the path to salvation before it is too late. Not much is known about when such a day may occur, or what exactly will herald this event's coming. It is known only that Theios commanded the Prophet Ataron to forewarn his followers of the Final Night so that they might prepare themselves for its coming. The following quote about the Final Night is recorded in the Book of Truths:

The Angels
Theios is not the only powerful being within Theiosism, although he is the only God. Theios is accompanied by his servants and angels, which are each created from or granted fragments of his power in order to more efficiently enforce his will across the universe. They are bound and fully subserviently to Theios, but they are not slaves in the traditional sense, instead they were gifted portions of his power in exchange for their undying loyalty and servitude. They perform their roles diligently and are highly respected by Theios for their great service to creation. Followers of Theios revere these angels and often choose to give tribute to one in particular as their patron angel, just as Theios had commanded mortals to do. There are eight angels, each with their own domain and purpose, they are as follows:


 *  Treiur  - Angel of War and the Archangel of Theios. The Archangel is the right hand of Theios, the most supreme of all the Angels, and his duty is to bring strength to the followers of Theios and deliver victory to those who fight in his name. He constantly watches over Theios Earthly Kingdoms and protects them from any foe they might face. He is the Patron of Soldiers, Warriors, Guards, Watchmen, and Generals. He is represented by a chalice filled with blood, or a golden sword plunged into the earth. During the Red Heresy of Yimmu-Audal he was misrepresented as the "Blood God," with the sign of the Red Sun, meant to be a blessing in the wars to come, having been misconstrued by the so-called Prophet Nabiin as a sign of the One True God. Nabiin the Apostate lead his followers astray from the ancient worship of Theios into the worship of the Blood God, blinding them to the Sun God's light and truth.


 *  Asria  - Angel of Nature. Asria serves Theios across the physical world where she is the caretaker of plants, animals, and the earth alike. She protects nature and brings good health to those mortals who do the same. She acts as a mother of nature, representing and guiding both the beautiful, kind, and orderly aspects of nature, as well as the more ugly, cruel, primal and chaotic parts, guiding them each along a path of development and growth. She is the patron of farmers and herders, as well as gardeners, foresters, and explorers. Above all else she values those who treat plants and animals with the proper respect and reverence, and will protect any who devote themselves to defending the sanctity of nature. Asria is often represented by a tree with a halo of stars surrounding it.


 *  Wullan  - Angel of the Moon and Light. Wullan is Theios' light bearer, ensuring that the Lord's divine light shines over the world even in the darkest of night. He protects the world from the darkness and shines over the followers of Theios wherever they may go while the Lords visage has set. He is also known to help redeem sinners by giving them strength and conviction through his light to fight against their mortal sins, and helps to guard the graves and tombs of the dead from darkness and corruption. He is the patron of travelers, pilgrims, monks, lightkeepers, and cemetery caretakers. Wullan is often represented by a crescent Moon over a star cross, or sometimes just a moon.


 *  Hanach  - Mother of Mankind. Hanach was the first human created by Theios and would be the mother of the first generation of humans. She ascended to Theios' side in the Heavens above and serves as a sort of demi-angel. She is not quite divine like an angel would be, yet not quite mortal as a human would be, and is instead referred to as either and the first Saint Hanach or Mother Hanach. Her name can be spelled in a few different ways, including Hana, Hanach, Hanna, and Hanne. She is the patron of mothers, apothecaries, doctors, and nurses. She also protects the youth and children, born and unborn alike. Hanach is most often depicted as a olive skinned woman with fair dark hair. She is laced in fine cloth with the sun set behind her head and light emanating from her hands.


 *  Garath  - Angel of Water and knowledge. Garath serves Theios through the protection of water, which is believed to be one of the modes of life. He protects both the animals of the ocean and the people who live nearby, while being a keeper of divine knowledge and often a messenger of the Lord's will to his prophets and followers. When acting as a messenger he usually appears in the form of a Golden Bird of some kind that holds either a fine piece of cloth with a written message, or like the wind whispers words into the ears of Theios' followers. Garath is the patron of fishermen, sailors, writers, messengers, priests, librarians, and scholars. Garath is often represented as a tome over the sea, a blue cross with a scroll at its center.


 *  Turin  - Angel of Death and Justice. Similarly to Treiur, Turin is an Angel of War, however this comes in the form of justice or divine wrath. Instead of being the warrior angel, Turin is depicted as the judge. He deals out the wrath of Theios upon sinners, infidels, and blasphemers, leaving only death in his wake. At the gates of the afterlife the Prophet Temion brings the sinful and corrupted before Turin to face the wrath of God. Since he judges the actions of mortals and acts as the enforcer of the divine law, he is thus the patron of judges, lawyers, inquisitors, executioners, and kings. He is often represented by a silver sword soaked in blood, in contrast to the golden blade of Treiur, or he may also be represented by a skull with a golden halo crown.


 *  Monath  - Angel of Holy War and Penance. Monath is one of three Angels of War including Treiur and Turin, but he is seen as Theios' Holy Warrior against the darkness. Where Treiur brings strength to the followers of Theios, and Turin unleashes his wrath upon the sinful, Monath directly engages in war against the dark foes and malevolent forces that stand in opposition to Theios' Divine Light. He strikes at the heart of darkness, smites its unholy worshippers, and the daemons they serve. He is also a guardian against the Darkness for the Followers of Theios, protecting them at night from all sorts of undead and demonic creatures. He is often a patron of Holy Warriors, Witchhunters, Demonslayers, and Divine Champions. Monath is depicted in a few different ways, but most often as a large Mothoid Creature, and is believed to be an uncreated servant of Theios, unlike the other Angels who were directly made by and of the Lord. He is often represented by a pale white sword plunged into a black corrupted heart with light radiating out from its punctured center.


 *  Reina  - Angel of Hunting and the Wild. Reina serves alongside Asria as an Angel of nature, but her domain is that of the wild, protecting all people and creatures against great monsters and beasts. Her symbol is the a great bow, and she is depicted as a great huntress that acts as the guardian against the most vile and chaotic forms of nature, even more evil than that which Asria protects. She hunts down these legendary creatures, putting a limit on their destructive power. She is thus, the Patron of hunters, guardsmen, and adventurers. It is believed that the Angel Reina is interpreted as the Legendary Huntress Ryn in many Caedan epics and stories, where she is immortalized through their oral tradition. It is also believed that Reina was once a mortal indirectly serving the Lord Theios who in death gave her a level of power similar to that of the Angels for her great service to the world. Due to this the Caeda have converted to Theiosism, but they still worship Reina to a level higher than any of the other Angels, to the point that they often reject the tribute of the other Angels and solely revere Reina.

The Four Prophets
Just like the Sakrelist faith there are Four Prophets in Theiosism who each helped lead humanity down the Holy Path that Theios set out for them, as well as teach them many important skills, techniques, and knowledge which had been lost after humanity's fall from Theios' Light. Each of the Prophets was lifted out of great sin and depravity by one of Theios' Angels which he sent to purify and forge the Prophets into his greatest and most pious servants. They would prescribed themselves to this particular Angel as their Patron and begin worshipping Theios as their Lord and spreading his word across the world. The following are the Four Prophets listed chronologically:


 * Inirion (Smith): Inirion is the first of the four Prophets and is usually referred to as The Smith, as he taught mankind how to forge, invent, and create all manner of new things. He also constructed the Sun Forge at the heart of the catacombs under modern day Theiotokos. He is thus venerated by craftsmen, smiths, artisans, and often times warriors due to him following the path of the Angel Treiur. He is known to have lead the first faithful settlers to the town of Theiotokos and participated in many wars for the defense of the faith. He also created a host of Holy Orders, including the Order of the Sanctifos, the Theiosian Templar, and the Sentinels of Theiotokos, each of which played a different role in these conflicts. After these conflicts he decided to turn Theiotokos not only into a religious site, but also a great tomb to the fallen holy warriors who had fought by his side, as well as his own disciples, many of whom would go on to become saints. To this day he is entombed beneath the ancient city of Theiotokos along side hundreds of others who were slowly added throughout the course of centuries, and in death it is said he leads the the Heavenly Armies of the Lord Theios as the right hand man of the Archangel Treiur.


 * Temion (Arbiter): Temion is the second of the four Prophets and is known as The Arbiter or The Judge. He followed the path of the Angel Turin and had brought to the chaotic and lawless peoples of Rathnir law and order. He is believed to have founded the Kingdom of Sironia and wrote the holy text known as the Divine Law. It was through this Divine Law revealed to him by Theios and his Angel Turin that he brought order through strict laws and fair punishments. This religious law would be the base for much of the structure of the governments of Theiotokos and the future Duchy of Theiónikos, and would help to maintain peace where once there had been rampant crime, civil war, and succession crisis. He is known as the Arbiter as during his time he both acted as a moderator between conflicting parties and also personally put down multiple heresies before they could lead the followers of Theios astray. He acted as the divine wrath of God on the mortal plain, and the enforcer of his will. He is thus revered by judges, lawyers, and executioners, as well as many of the faiths most zealous clergymen and warriors. In death he is believed to have been brought to the gates of the afterlife alongside Ataron where he brings the sinful before the Angel Turin to receive the judgement of the Lord Theios.


 * Asala (Custodian): Asala is the third of the four Prophets and is known as the Custodian or Stewardess. She had followed the way of Hanach, the Mother of Mankind, as well as the Angel Asria, and thus taught to the true and faithful about the natural world, life in all forms, agriculture, domestication, and medicine. She showed her followers that the beauty of the natural world must be protected and that all followers of Theios should show kindness, mercy, and love to all living beings just as their Lord did. During her time she used her medicinal skills to care for the sick and injured, and also used her vast knowledge of nature to help in its conservation and protection. She led her followers to help those in need and fought against natural disasters which threatened to destroy Mankind and nature. She is revered by all sorts of people from doctors, physicians, and nurses to farmers, gardeners, stewards, explorers, and cartographers. In death she is depicted as an almost angelic spirit that heals the sick and injured and helps mothers give birth to healthy children.


 * Ataron (Scholar): Ataron is the last of the four Prophets and is referred to as the scholar. He was a collector of books, scrolls, and all manner of artifacts, and followed the way of the Angel Garath. It is said he taught Mankind much about salvation and the afterlife, as well as how to approach and communicate with Theios and his Angels. He had a hand in writing many sacred religious texts such as The Book of Truths, and created the clerical hierarchy as well as establishing a large portion of the modern faith's dogma and doctrine. It is believed that after his death Theios took him to wait at the gates to the afterlife alongside Temion in order to pick out those who can still yet be saved, their souls purified of what corruption remains from their mortal lives. Due to his place as divine knowledge keeper and the guardian of the gates he garners a great deal of reverence from scholars, scribes, priests, historians, archivists, archaeologists, and librarians. The Holy Order known as the Order of Ataron was formed after his death by his surviving disciples and students. It is an order devoted to the protection of knowledge and history, and continues to uphold his legacy and teachings to this day, with their archives being the home of hundreds of texts and scriptures from all different nations and faiths.

The Saints
Within the Theiosistic faith there are those true and faithful deemed so virtuous and pure that they are canonized as Saints. Usually Saints are canonized when they have done some great work in Theios' name, or became a martyr of some kind. They may also arise simply from being the most influential when it comes to their theology and education, or from being humble and virtuous servants of Theios. Above all they each exemplify the ideals of the faith, and are held in high regard amongst its followers. Just as the Angels many followers of Theios will choose a specific Saint to be their spiritual guide. There are many such Saintly figures, all of which originate in different places and who followed different paths, but the following ten are the most recognizable and highly revered among all:


 * Saint Sofia of Kjásta: Saint Sofia is arguable the most well know of the saints, sometimes being called the Sword of Temion and the Shield of Theiotokos. She was the first Lausarii to convert to Theiosism during the time of the Prophet Temion, and would thus put herself into his service. As a disciple of Temion Sofia followed the path of the Angel Turin, and made it her mission to route out crypto-pagans from conquered lands, especially in the Prophet's new Kingdom of Sironia, and to help the him put down heresies. She was known for her loyalty and the strict sense of honour from her cultural traditions, even being known as quite the zealot of her new faith. As a convert she knew what it was like to be a pagan, so although she was merciless in tracking them down she still showed mercy to those who would sincerely convert to the faith. Throughout her life she upheld the ideals of the faith, even remaining unmarried and a virgin until death since she devoted herself fully to an order of Holy Warriors known as the Order of the Sanctifos. She would die at the young age of thirty seven in battle against the warriors of the a historical heresy known as Monomorphism. Their armies threatened the Old Temple of Theiotokos, and so Saint Sofia brought the full force of the Sanctifos Order in the defense of the Temple, however she died before she could see her forces inflict a devastating defeat against the heretics killing more than half their warriors and executing their leader Akiros the Fallen. She was interred within the ancient catacombs beneath the Temple she died defending, along side the Prophet Inirion and many other Saints and Holy Warriors, and was canonized not long after. It is sometimes proposed that Saint Sofia herself may have been a Living Saint, with the Lord Himself flowing through her and giving strength to her soul at all times. Her sometimes supernatural or inexplicable abilities sometimes being seen as divine power gifted to her by Theios, although this is for the most part speculation, with such claims likely being due to her great renown and the myths which have formed around her life and times.


 * Saint Theodisi, Patriarch of Theiotokos: Saint Theodisi was a Patriarch of the Temple of Theiotokos during the time of Ataron. He was a great administrator and religious scholar, and disciple of the Prophet Ataron. He is known to have work on cataloging all the religious scripture, holy books, and texts, and creating large libraries and archives to house protect them. For his service to the faith Ataron had made him a Patriarch of Theiotokos, which allowed him to further archive texts from across the region and organize the many Libraries and Archives into a formal system. After the death of Ataron Saint Theodisi founded the Holy Order of Ataron, through which he and many of Ataron's other disciples and students helped to continue the Prophet's teachings and protect the holy texts of the faith. This order was used by Theodisi to further consolidate and centralize the Archive system, of which he would be the first Grand Archivist. His work to help protect and spread knowledge, as well as the creation of the highly influential Order of Ataron which helped to make information much more widely available to the members of the faith, all garnered him serious renown. Near the end of his life he stepped down from his position as the Grand Archivist and allowed his students to elect a new leader of he Order, but continued to administer the Eastern Temple as a Patriarch until the time of his death. Only a few years after he died he was canonized with his remains placed in the crypt below the Temple of Theiotokos.


 * Saint Eresu the Martyr: Saint Eresu was a Audaladae Priest during the time of Ataron some two hundred years ago. He lived within a small and isolated settlement of Theiosists on the fringes of the Empire Yimmu-Audal called Aeonisa. He is known to have been a dutiful and courageous man, always standing up for what he believed in and protecting his friends, family, and all his fellow Theiosists. He is best known for being a Martyr of the faith during the the Red Heresy which swept across the Audaladae Theiosists of Urnu-Arrak and the capital region. These new Blood Cultists lead by Nabiin the Apostate launched a brutal and merciless campaign against the Theiosists of Yimmu-Audal, committing mass atrocities and making human sacrifices in the name of their new blood god. Saint Eresu and his followers quickly began to evacuate the population as the Holy Orders from Theiotokos they had called to aid would not arrive in time to stop the onslaught of Nabiin's cultists. The warriors of the town organized defenses whilst Eresu helped the sick, injured, elderly, and children escape. Fortunately they managed to get the majority of the population to safety, however when Nabiin and his forces arrived they decimated the defenses and quickly overran the settlement, taking the Priest and any surviving warriors prisoner. The men who would not convert to the heresy were made into blood sacrifices to the perverted god of the heretics at the temple in old Urnu-Arrak, Eresu being given the bloodiest execution of them all for his undying faith in the Lord Theios. He was canonized about ten years later after his remains had been retrieved and placed in the crypt underneath Theiotokos.


 * Saint Karina, Archpriestess of Theiotokos: Saint Karina was the first Archpriestess of Theiotokos and was one of the disciples of the Prophet Inirion. She served under Patriarch Gregorios and was one of the greatest missionaries of the Theiosistic faith, helping to convert a large portion of the native Audaladae of the region as well as travelling across the world along side the armies of Inirion to help convert local populations they came across along their journey. Often times she was able to convert entire villages and even cities to the faith all at once. It is believed that Karina converted so many individuals to the faith that much of the traditions of the conversion ceremony were first taught by her to the Priests under her jurisdiction. She was said to have been an exceptionally pious and charismatic servant of the Lord, able to command crowds with her skill for oration, which is likely something she used as a missionary to convince large groups of people from foreign cultures and religions to convert to the faith. She was also one of the most renown liturgists and preachers of her day, with many of the Priests preferring to have her lead the rites whenever possible as she was able to so fill the followers of Theios with great conviction and faith through her words. She was canonized only months after her peaceful death in her sleep at the Temple at Theiotokos, and was subsequently buried in the crypt beneath. It remains one of the fastest canonizations due to her great renown and piety, as there was no doubt in the minds of the clergy that her deeds were so integral to the faith and that she herself was such a pious individual, all it took was the proper rites and creation of a burial site.


 * Saint Varisteos the Travelled: Saint Varisteos was a travelling missionary during the time of the Prophet Asala. He was known to have been a far travelled man, having explored much of Vastallos and Alteniquia. On his travels he brought with him Holy Texts that he gifted to the leaders of towns and cities that he stayed, slept, or resupplied at, helping to spread the faith on his explorations of the known world. He also brought with him maps and cartography equipment, with which he mapped out large portions of the continent previously unexplored, maps which he then gave to the clergy and religious scribes to recreate and distribute when he returned. Another object in the possession of the clergy is Varisteos' journal which he kept on him during all his journey and recorded his findings as well as coordinates to important locations, ruins, or natural sites which he found interesting. He is known to have been a soft spoken and quiet individual, usually keeping to himself and focusing on his writing or on improving his craft. He lived an ascetic life, and focused everyday to improving himself, expanding his knowledge, or that of the clergy. He was a pious individual, but his piety was not expressed in such a grandiose manner like some of his fellows, rather he was pious in his humility and wisdom. The maps, journals, and drawings he gave to the Eastern Temple served to greatly increase their knowledge and that of the native peoples who benefited greatly from the newfound geographical knowledge, and although he was not as influential a missionary as Karina his distribution of Holy Texts to foreign groups helped to lay the foundations for their future conversion, or even the integration of their faiths into Theiosism. He died whilst meditating at the Temple of Pyriad, but after the breaking of the Triarchy his remains were carefully moved to the Eastern Temple of Theiotokos. It took some forty years for him to be canonized within the faith, but he is nonetheless regarded as a great and influential Saint in his own right.


 * Saint Gregorios, Triarch of Theiotokos: Saint Gregorios was the Triarch of Theiotokos during the time of Inirion. He was the most loyal disciple of the Prophet so when he first founded the Temple of Theiotokos Gregorios was made the Patriarch. He diligently administered the temple and all of the lands devoted to Theios until eventually the first temples were established by Inirion in Audal and creating the first Triarchy of Pyriad in the south, old Urnu-Arrak in the East, and Theiotokos in the West. After the Triarchy was established Gregorios became the Triarch of the Western Temple of Theiotokos and continued to act dutifully in the name of the Lord Theios and the Prophet. He personally helped the Monks maintain and expand the Temple, wrote many works on the nature of his faith and of God, and held conversion ceremonies for many new members of the faith. He did not do anything that could necessarily be considered extraordinary, but through his virtuous actions even during the mundane activities of everyday life, as well as his devotion to maintaining the Temple and protecting all manner of scripture helped to establish a precedent for all future Triarchs and eventually the Ecumenical Patriarch of the Western Temple, and for this he is revered as being the father of the modern Temple and an example to all future Theiosists of how they should conduct themselves in their day to day lives. He was canonized some twenty years after his death, and his remains are still currently interred under the Temple of Theiotokos alongside the Prophet Inirion and the other saints.


 * Saint Bivoy the Lard: Saint Bivoy was


 * Saint Sostoreos of Audal: Saint Sostoreos
 * Saint Daria the Preserver: Saint Daria
 * Saint Takirukos of Gebel: Saint Takirukos
 * Saint Athanasia the Hallowed: Saint Athanasia

Prayer
Prayer is described by Theiosism as a conversation with Theios. It is through prayer that Theios' followers are able to speak with the Lord, and prayer itself can either be spoken aloud or silent in one's head, alone at one's home or in a group of people. It can be set words as written in scriptures or a person's own words or thoughts. Prayer can be done during specific times or even during a period of meditation or rest. Any way that a Theiosist can converse and connect themselves with Theios is seen as a form of prayer and the way prayer is done is specific to each individual. The only time when prayer should be uniform is during an organized religious event or ceremony, during which time the Sanctum's procedures should of course be followed.

There are also many kinds of prayers with different purposes. Firstly there is the simple veneration. This kind of prayer is defined by giving praise to Theios for his greatness and glory or giving great reverence and respect to any of his Angels, Prophets, or Saints. The second kind of prayer is confession or admission during which an individual

Followers of Theios are supposed to pray for three periods of the day, during each of which they give reverence and tribute to their Lord. The First Prayer is early in the morning just after they wake and usually before breakfast. During this prayer they will ask Theios for protection throughout the new day and forgiveness of the sins of yesterday. Sometimes this first prayer accompanies breakfast, in which case Theios will also be thanked for the bountiful gifts bestowed upon his followers. The Second Prayer commences at noon or midday when the Sun is at its highest in the sky. During this time followers of Theios will study Holy Scriptures, recite the Divine Law, sing hymns, and make a large tribute to Theios through sacrificial burning. It is a Holy period where followers exalt their Lord and sing his praise across the land, and it is also a time when most missionaries will be active. The Third Prayer is at dusk just before the Sun sets and usually before dinner. During this time followers will pray for good rest and protection during the night, as well as for forgiveness for that day's sins. They will also take this time to thank Theios for the bountiful feast that is dinner, and will give one final tribute or sacrifice before the Sun sets.

Sacrifice and Tribute
When giving reverence or prayer it is always given to the Lord Theios, to the Angels, to the Prophets, and to the Saints in that order. The Lord is offered tribute and prayed to before the subsequent three, with different offerings for each. Theios is offered all manner of items as tribute, gemstones, gold, iron, meat, plants, fruit, and any other valuable items. At least one of these items will be thrown into a fire so that they will be received by their Lord and as a sign that remaining devoted is more important than material possessions. For the Angels the offerings are specific to each one:


 * Treiur: Cooked meat from an animal slain by a ceremonial golden sword (This is the same way that meat should be offered to Theios).
 * Asria: Plants or Flowers (Preferably a Poppy or a Dandelion but tulips will do fine). The earth shall return to the Lord which created it.
 * Wullan: A lantern and an Oxeye Daisy. The Light shall be given back to Theios that it can be gifted once more to Mankind.
 * Hana: A Golden Crown. The Mother and Queen of Man must be recognized by the followers of Theios.
 * Garath: A book and a splash bottle of water. A feather and some gold nuggets are also sufficient. The gift of knowledge and life of water shall return to he who granted them, or the feather of the Golden Messenger be sanctified by the Holy Flame.
 * Turin: A lamb which will be killed by a special sacrificial iron sword. The blood of the innocent must be spilled as payment for sin.
 * Monath: A piece of flesh from a corrupted creature slain by a sacrificial diamond blade. The flesh of the corrupted shall burn by the Holy Flame of the Lord.
 * Reina: A pile of bones from a beast slain by a sacrificial iron axe or sword. The bones of the vile and beastly shall be cleansed and sat above the Lord's Heavenly Throne.

The Prophets can be given a variety of items as tribute, but usually they will each be given a specific tribute. Inirion is usually precious metals of some kind, Temion is given cooked meat, Asala is given flowers or saplings, and Ataron is given a book or paper. The Saints are given tribute simply through the sacrificing of food. It can be any type of food so long as it is well prepared and of worthy quality and quantity for a tribute.

The Sakrements
The Sakrements are the most significant Theiosist religious ceremonies and rituals through which it is believed that the Divine Grace and Favour of Theios is bestowed upon his followers. It is the creation of connections between the physical Creation and the Heavenly Kingdom in which Theios presides, and through these connections Theios' power is made manifest in Creation for all to witness. There are a total of Sixteen Sakrements recognized and performed by Theiosists, which are themselves separated into four categories. Each of the categories pertains to the Prophet who first taught those Sakrements to the followers of Theios. There are the Sakrements of Initiation, taught by the Prophet Ataron; the Sakrements of Service, taught by the Prophet Temion; the Sakrements of Healing, taught by the Prophet Asala; and the Sakrements of Battle, taught by the Prophet Inirion. All sixteen of the Sakrements and their categories are listed below:

Sakrements of Initiation

 * Baptism:
 * Confession of Sin
 * Declaration of Faith
 * Purification of Soul
 * Restoration of Self
 * Ablution of Body


 * Confirmation
 * x
 * Rite of Ataron

Sakrements of Service

 * Matrimony
 * Ordination
 * Holy Orders
 * Rite of Temion

Sakrements of Healing

 * Absolution
 * Anointing
 * x
 * Rite of Asala

Sakrements of Battle

 * x
 * x
 * x
 * Rite of Inirion

Holy Days and Events
There are a many Holy Days or Holidays which are recognized by the followers of Theios and during which different rituals are performed and celebrations are held.


 * Summer Solstice: When the Sun is at its height and the days are longest, the followers of Theios will have a celebration upon the dawning of the Summer Solstice. They will perform great rituals and pay tributes to the Lord, while also burning massive Pires and constructing great works of art in the name of the Living God, as well as holding great Church assemblies across the Triarchy.


 * Winter Solstice: During the Lowest point of the Sun and the longest day of winter, the followers of Theios will go out and set bonfires across the land to bring warmth and light to the Earth, praying for salvation and the protection of the Lord through the harsh winter. They will make sacrifices and give tribute to Theios that he might bless them during harsh times.


 * Moon's Height/Full Moon: When the Moon is at its fullest in the sky the followers of Theios pay tribute to his Angel Wullan that he might continue to protect them during the darkest of nights. They host greats feasts and celebrations to the Angel throughout the night and into the dawn.


 * Moon's Retreat/New Moon: When the moon has disappeared from the sky the followers of Theios make sacrifices to the Lord and give tribute to the Angel Wullan that he shall return by the next dusk. They keep their lights on throughout the entire night and wash their door and window frames with holy water to protect against the darkness.


 * Prophet's Day: This is the day when the Prophet Inirion returned from the mountain after Theios spoke to him. Celebrations are held and the Prophet's words are exalted to the highest degree, then the followers of Theios shall pray to their Lord for knowledge and salvation.


 * Saints' Day: On Saints' Day the followers of Theios celebrate each of the Saints, creating artworks in their image and praising Theios for blessing the world with the most holy lives and deeds of the Saints. They shall fast until the night then feast in their names.


 * Mother's Day: On this day the Mother of Mankind, celebrating the divine birth of humanity and praying for the protection of the youth and the blessing of the mothers which raise them.


 * Aesternalia: Once an old Lausarii holiday celebrating the Nature Goddess Æstúrna, this holiday now celebrates the Angel Asria. It focuses on the natural world, plants, animals, and usually takes up the first week or two of Spring.

Religious Terminology
There is a lot of religious terminology that someone should know in order to best understand the Theiosist Faith. Below is a quick list of religious terminology and clerical titles that will help to understand how the faith is organized.

Jurisdictions

 * Patriarchate: A large religious jurisdictions which covers entire regions or nations and which is led by a Patriarch
 * Ecumenical Patriarchate: The premier and most important Patriarchate which is led by the Ecumenical Patriarch.
 * Diocese: A regional religious jurisdiction within a Patriarchate which usually covers multiple towns or cities, and which is led by an Archpriest.
 * Archdiocese: The premier Diocese within a Patriarchate which is led by the chief Archpriest known as a Photarch.
 * Parish: A small religious jurisdiction within a Diocese which consists of a single Temple, Sanctum, or Monastery, and which is led by a Priest.

Clerical Titles

 * Ecumenical Patriarch:
 * Patriarch:
 * Photarch:
 * Archpriest:
 * Priest:
 * Monk:

Buildings

 * Temple
 * Sanctuary:
 * Monastery:
 * Monument:
 * Shrine:

Organization Overview
The Theiosist Faith is organized in a very distinct way. The Temple of Theiotokos can still trace its succession back to the Prophet Inirion, and thus is led by the Prophet-Descendant of Inirion, however the title used by Theiosists is the Ecumenical Patriarch. This is because the faith is organized into a system of Patriarchates, large religious jurisdictions which can cover entire regions or nations. The greatest among these Patriarchs, or the First Among Equals, is the Ecumenical Patriarch. They are the Patriarch of Theiotokos who comes from a direct line of succession all the way back to the founder of the Holy City, the Prophet Inirion himself. The clergy are themselves further organized into a strict hierarchy that goes all the way from the Ecumenical Patriarch themselves, to the individual Priests or Monks within a Patriarchate.

Patriarchates
Each Patriarchate of the Theiosist Faith is headed by an individual Patriarch and operates mostly autonomously from the other Patriarchates. Due to the large areas covered by Patriarchates and the vast distance between them it became necessary that each Patriarch was able to act with a large amount of freedom, instead of relying on the clergy in Theiotokos to make the decisions. Although the Patriarchates are mostly autonomous, they still work together to spread the faith, and they must abide by the edicts and decisions of the Ecumene Council. Every Patriarch of every Patriarchate is given a seat on this council, and is allowed to vote on decisions which affect the whole of the faith. The Ecumene Council itself is lead by the Ecumenical Patriarch, who effectively acts as the chief executive and has the right to break ties, lead the discussion, approve Ecumenical Edicts and decisions, and in rare instances outright veto a decision made by the Council. It is on this council, which meets periodically in Theiotokos, where theological debates are had, disputes are settled, Dogma and Doctrine are established, Holy Orders are created, Saints are canonized, scripture is added or removed from the Orthodoxy, and even where the decision to establish brand new Patriarchates is made. It is a very important aspect of the faith and helps to keep the distant and often secluded Patriarchates theologically aligned and focused on their mission to spread the faith across Rathnir.

Dioceses
Within a Patriarchate there are usually three subdivisions known as Dioceses that are each led by an Archpriest. The Archpriest of a Diocese organizes and leads all of the Priests within a particular region or province, with each of these Archpriests being organized into a system very similar to the Patriarchs. All of the Diocese are led by Archpriests, however one of these Archpriests is the successor of their Patriarch, and are thus the "First Among Equals" of the Archpriests. This individual gets the special title of Photarch and leads what is called an Archdiocese. An Archdiocese operates in effectively the same fashion as a regular Diocese, except just like the Patriarchates this Diocese is host to what is called a Diocesan Council, which is just like the Ecumene Council and is led by the Photarch. Diocesan Councils help regional religious leaders make decisions, organize events, distribute resources, build temples, fund projects, and much more.

Parishes
Within each Diocese there are varying numbers of Parishes depending on the Diocese's size and population. There can be as many individual Parishes as there are towns or cities, or there can just be two or three. A Parish is led by a Priest, however the word Priest is more of a catch-all term for the lowest tier of Ordained Clergy. In this tier there are the Priests in charge of Temples, the Clerics in charge of Sanctums, and the Abbots in charge of Monasteries. Thus a Parish consists of an individual Temple, Sanctum, or Monastery as well as the local surrounding area, which is usually just the town or city within which one of these religious buildings is located. The purposes that these three buildings have in Parishes vary just as much as the individuals who own them, but essentially these buildings act as the foundations of the faith while their clergymen perform the most basic religious tasks and interact directly with the faithful in daily prayers, religious ceremonies, and sacred rituals.

Clerical Titles and Hierarchy

 * 1) Grand Triarch/Ecumenical Patriarch (Full title): His Most Divine All-Holiness the Beatified Grand Triarch of the Western Temple and Ecumenical Patriarch of Theiotokos (name). [Grand Triarch is no longer a term used by the faith, but for historical reasons remains apart of the Ecumenical Patriarch's official title]
 * 2) Ecumenical Patriarch (Full title): His Most Divine All-Holiness the Beatified Ecumenical Patriarch of Theiotokos (name). [Used synonymously with title 1.]
 * 3) Triarch (Full title): His Holiness the Beatified Grand Triarch of the Temple of (jurisdiction) (name). [No longer in use]
 * 4) Patriarch (Full title): His Beatitude Father (name), Patriarch of (location).


 * 1) Archpriest (Full title): His Most Divine Eminence Father (name), Archpriest of (location/jurisdiction).
 * 2) Priest (Full title): His Grace Father (name), Priest of (location).
 * 3) Monk (Full title): Brother/Sister (name), servant of (location/jurisdiction).

Holy Orders and Organizations

 * Order of the Sanctifos:
 * Order of the Theiosian Templar:
 * Order of the Sentinels:
 * Order of Ataron:
 * Order of the Custodian:
 * Order of the Inquisition:
 * Order of the Golden Hand:

Holy Sites
There are three main Holy Sites of Theiosism which correspond to one of the three Patriarchates of Theios-Essukdal. Along with the three Primary Holy Sites there are a plethora of other Holy Sites which play important roles in the Theiosistic Faith.


 * Ecumenical Patriarchate of Theiotokos: Declared the Holy Land of Theiosism by the Ecumenical Patriarch himself, Theiotokos is a settlement founded far in the deserts northwest of Yimmu-Audal proper. It is home to the Historic Western Temple of Theiosism and is ruled by the current Ecumenical Patriarch LethalMuffin193. The settlement itself contains a grand cathedral to Theios along with a small town focused on metal and textile production. This Patriarchate was the last surviving of the three Temples of the Triarchy, and is now the primary seat of power for the Theiosistic faith within Alteniquia, presiding over the newly formed Patriarchates and hosting the Ecumene Council.


 * Patriarchate of Urnu-Arrak: Urnu-Arrak was the Capital of the Empire of Yimmu-Audal and is considered a Holy City by the followers of the faith. It is where the Patriarch's home was located as well as the location of multiple monuments and shrines. It was the seat of Imperial and home to the Capital Temple of Theiosism which was ruled over by the Triarch and Emperor of Yimmu-Audal before the breaking of the Triarchy and Escharia's Conquest of the Empire. As the primary rulers of the Empire they held a large degree of influence, and so where given a position within the Triarchy that they might help to limit the power of the clergy and help create better religious relations between the Imperial Government. It was also done in the hopes of one day converting an Emperor and subsequently the Empire to the faith. The city of Urnu-Arrak itself is host to grand and beautiful architecture, as well as a massive populations living within the vibrant city scape. It is the main seat of power in the Duchy of Yimmu-Audal and even Alteniquia, as well as once being the home of the High Council of Theios-Essukdal. Most of the Clergy of the Capital Temple are also temporal leaders, predominantly from this aristocratic council.


 * Patriarchate of Pyriad: Pyriad was an ancient Audaladae settlement that worshipped Theios in times past. During the Red Heresy it and many other southern settlements were lost and forgotten to time, with their populations slowly dwindling until fading to none. The city was once home to the large Southern Temple of Theios, with the Triarch of Pyriad presiding over the region, but it was left unkept for many years until the restoration of the town at the birth of the Kingdom of Theios-Essukdal. It is now under the rule of a new Patriarch and has been reclaimed in the name of the faith and the nation. The settlement itself is known for its vast and intricate architecture, and is seen as quite a mysterious place hidden within the dunes. It was made at the heart of an oasis in the southern most regions of Yimmu-Audal, and is one of the scarce regions where vegetation grows free in the harsh deserts of the surrounding continent.


 * Holy City of Amos: The city of Amos was considered a Holy site due to the great hospitality shown to the Patriarch both during his time as a slave, as well as during his Great Pilgrimage. It was the part of the Capital Region of Yimmu-Audal and was the home to a small Theiosistic Temple which of course fell under the jurisdiction of the Triarch of the Eastern Temple, which at the time was the Emperor of Yimmu-Audal. The Temple of Amos was host to shrines and other monuments to Theios, and was the northern neighbor of the Capital City and Capital Temple Urnu-Arrak. The city and temple's architectural style was also similar to Urnu-Arrak, with a great many beautiful buildings and monuments dotted about the old town. The temple there fell alongside the city which had been slowly degenerating for some time due to its population dying off or fleeing for other settlements. When the time finally came that the city was completely void of population it and the temple were then formally disbanded by the Triarch of the Western Temple and Ecumenical Patriarch LethalMuffin193.

Holy Texts
There are many Holy Texts of Theiosism, but they are not compiled into a single book. Theiosist Holy Texts encompass a variety of religious scripture from across the history of Theiosism, including lists of commandments, stories and testimonies of Prophets and Saints, revelations, rituals, appraisals, and other theological works. It is thus one of the many duties of the Clergy to sift through their large libraries of scripture, transcribe and translate the works, carefully copy them down and distribute them to all the Sanctums and Temples in need. Although there is not a single codified book there are some Holy Texts which are extremely prominent and important to the everyday practice of the faith, greatest among these being The Book of Truths, the 16 Commandments, The Epiphany, the Divine Law, The Living God, the 16 Sakrements, The Sidhor, and the books of Inirion, Temion, Asala, and Ataron. These are some of the most important works in all of the Theiosist Faith, and are often displayed in temples or at shrines for visitors and pilgrims to read. There is a library containing all these books and more in Theiotokos, which is where the most devoted clergymen, monks, and scribes work tirelessly to produce more copies for the use of the Followers of Theios.