Ezra’s clergy, regardless of position in church hierarchy, are called anchorites. Anchorites act as guardians and healers, serving as personal emissaries of their Goddess. They pray for their spells at sunrise. Once every fifth day, at noon, services consisting of hymns and sermons are held to renew Ezra’s vows of protection over Her congregation. Layfolk who do not attend services for longer than five days risk stepping beyond Ezra’s spiritual reach until they return. When attending services, lay worshipers are expected to dress entirely in white, while clergy don ceremonial robes of green with white trim, the wider the visible trim, the higher the anchorite’s position within the church.
Hiearchey of Anchorites
Praesidia
The Praesidius (male) or Praesidia (female) is the leader of
The Church of Ezra and is often referred to as Ezra's Champion. There is but one praesidius. The title belonged initially to the church's founder, Yakov Dilisnya, and it was passed subsequently to his successors. The
Praesidius is drawn from the ranks of the Home Faith and consequently may be expected to be lawful neutral. This privilege pleases not at all the other sects of the church. To qualify for the position, an anchorite must be able to demonstrate that Ezra will personally watch over and guide him or her safely through the Mists of Death.
Bastion
The title of bastion initially belongs to the founder of an officially recognised sect of
The Church of Ezra . The title is then passed on from chosen successor to chosen successor. Since an anchorite must be able to manifest the Shield of Ezra as part of winning official recognition for a sect, the initial bastion of a sect always has the Mist Domain. For the present, there are only four bastions: the Bastion of the Home Faith, the Bastion of Mordent, the Bastion of Dementlieu and the Bastion of Darkon.
The bastions gather in Levkarest at the Bastions' Councils to discuss vital issues affecting the Church as a whole. The degree to which the office of the Praesidius wields influence, official or otherwise, over these councils is unclear. The current Praesidius Levin Postoya is, and Praesidius Alexei Raskolka was, also the Bastion of the Home Faith. Although the Praesidius is always chosen from the Home Faith, it may not be the case that he or she necessarily also holds the office of Bastion of the Home Faith.
Bastions find themselves in a curious position. They have the authority of unchallenged leadership over their respective sects, yet bind themselves, in principle at the very least, to the decisions of the Bastions' Council and recognise the greater authority of the Praesidius . The resulting tensions are especially great in the case of the Bastion of Mordent, the Bastion of Dementlieu and the Bastion of Darkon, for they are out of step with the lawful neutral alignment of the Praesidius and the Home Faith. Although the Bastion of the Home Faith does not suffer from this tension, they may be subject to a different one, due to the probably well-founded sense that he or she does not enjoy the same degree of autonomy as the other bastions, which is an argument for holding the offices of both bastion and praesidius.
Sentires
In the hierarchy of
The Church of Ezra the title of Sentires holds a position of significant responsibility and authority. The Sentires is entrusted with the oversight of a large temple and/or a region that encompases several smaller temples, ensuring that all aspects of religious services and clerical duties are carried out smoothly and efficiently.
The Sentires is responsible for coordinating and overseeing the scheduling and execution of religious ceremonies, rituals, and services within the temple. This includes ensuring that all necessary preparations are made, such as procuring ritual supplies, arranging seating arrangements, and coordinating with clergy members who will lead the services.
Toret
The leader of a specific temple within
The Church of Ezra
Warden
Wardens are the lowest members of the clerical hierarchy, who act as traveling members or in more basic activities in the temples.
As a senior figure within the temple hierarchy, the Sentires oversees the activities and duties of the clerics and other temple staff. This may involve assigning tasks, providing guidance and support, and addressing any issues or conflicts that arise among the personnel.
The Sentires plays a key role in managing the financial affairs of the temple, overseeing budgeting, fundraising efforts, and financial transactions. They ensure that funds are allocated appropriately to support the temple's operations, maintenance, and charitable activities.
The Sentires is responsible for ensuring that the temple facilities are properly maintained and cared for. This includes overseeing repairs, renovations, and maintenance tasks, as well as ensuring that the temple grounds are kept clean, safe, and welcoming for worshippers and visitors.
