Celestialism
The second-oldest, but most common religion in Coromare. Celestialism permeates the city and its daily life. Many shops close in observance of the Lunar Sabbath each month, and there are temples in every district of the city.
Celestialism centers on worship of the sun goddess Maresol and the moon god Pareluna. Additionally, there are dozens of star deities, often referred to as the "little gods", which are organized by constellation.
Worship
Worship takes place at dawn, noon, dusk, and midnight. With the exception of priests and the most devout, Celestialists tend to worship once or twice each day and only observe all four services on major holidays. The New Moon is treated as a Sabbath, during which observant Celestialists cease non-essential work until the return of the moon. Celestial New Year is celebrated each year on 35 Dark Moon.
Dawn and Dusk
At twilight services, worshippers witness the brief meeting between Maresol and Pareluna in the transition between night and day. The head priests, who mirror the journey of the deities across the sky, greet each other from opposite ends of the temple’s circular dais. Worshippers offer thanks to the departing deity for the labor and prayers to the arriving deity for protection and guidance. When sunset or moonset is complete, the representative priest leaves the dais until the next moment of twilight.Noon and Midnight
At culmination services, the head priest recounts stories from the Celestial scriptures. Acolytes and lesser priests are frequently employed to take on the roles of the Little Gods in these stories. Noon worship typically focuses on stories of Maresol’s creations, while midnight worship centers around stories of Pareluna rescuing one of the Little Gods from danger. Worshippers begin services with prayers asking for the wisdom of the deity, and end by offering their thanks for the lessons imparted through the tales reenacted by the priests.Weddings
Celestial weddings are a two-day event. The two parties who wish to be wed must spend a day in the roles of Maresol and Pareluna. While the roles are traditionally split along gender lines, the only requirement is for one party to take the role of the sun and the other the role of the moon. At dawn, the sun spouse bids their future partner farewell and joins the priest of Maresol in walking the temple’s stone dais. It is a long and tiring day of fasting and contemplation. At dusk, the two partners are given a brief chance to see each other across the dais before the moon spouse joins the priest of Pareluna overnight, but they are not permitted to speak or touch the other. Family and friends often attend evening services to witness this moment of longing. At dawn the next day, the pair is finally freed from their obligations and brought together again. With their hands clasped and foreheads pressed together, the couple are blessed by the priests of the temple. They are instructed to remember their journeys across the sky - the longing they felt for their absent partner, as well as the great joy upon their reunion. Following the religious ceremony, the couple join family and friends in feasting. The newlyweds are celebrated with music and gifts. However, the couple are usually exhausted from their long ordeal, and often leave the reception early to get some sleep.Priesthood
Each Celestial temple has two head priests to represent Maresol and Pareluna, as well as a number of lesser priests to assist with the day-to-day operation of the temple and conducting of services.
Training for the priesthood typically begins at the age of ten, when a child is presents themselves as a candidate to the temple. These acolytes are educated in the rites and rituals of Celestialism. At first, they are expected to do little more than attend services and light candles. As their training progresses, acolytes are entrusted with more responsibilities, with the most experienced playing the roles of the Little Gods during noon and midnight services.
When an acolyte comes of age at twenty, they are given one last chance to leave the temple's service before dedicating their lives to the gods. If they choose to remain, candidates for the priesthood are put through a series of holy ordeals. After fasting through a complete lunar sabbath and proving their knowledge of the Celestial scriptures, rites, and rituals, a new priest is ordained and crowned with a circlet of stars.
The role of head priest is not always assigned to the oldest or most experienced priest. Instead, a head priest nearing the end of their service of the temple selects one of the lesser priests who they feel best embodies the qualities of Maresol or Pareluna. The successor is trained for a calendar year in their new role before being crowned with the solar or lunar crown.
Sects
There are three major sects of Celestialism.
- Mainline Celestialism views the sun and moon as equal. Most Celestials are mainline observers.
- Solar Celestialism holds that the sun is dominant over the moon. Observers cite the monthly disappearance of the moon as evidence of the sun's rule. Dawn and noon worship are given greater weight than dusk and midnight services.
- Lunar Celestialism holds that the moon rules over the sun. Observers point to the traditional Lunar Sabbath as evidence that the moon should be considered greater than the sun. Dusk and midnight worship are given greater weight than dawn and noon services.
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