Meren Kirkko
In the city of Jwmala on the island of Ahvenan is the Meren Kirkko, or the Cathedral of the Seas. It is one of the most significant religious sites in the entire Great Ring, and sits directly upon the shores of Tyhjä Bay where the tide can wash over the temple's floor and fill the sacred pools. Large stained glass windows create a vast dome overhead, filtering the light so that the whole room feels underwater, and glass columns of water filled with bioluminescent jellyfish fill the chamber with shifting light.
The Meren Kirkko is an eclectic temple, one of several that can be found around the Great Ring. Instead of being dedicated to a single family of gods like most places of worship, this building is dedicated to all of the spirits of the oceans. The largest pool is sacred to Ahvto, the Haltijat King of the Seas, for Jwmala is within the domain of the Haltijat gods. But there are sacred pools dedicated to gods from many cultures here. Silakpak has a pool decorated with seals and orca, while otters sport in the place set aside for Lirnach the Sea Mother. Levi'aku has a place, and the Laut, and Suyeon, and Zoí Ypovrýchia. There is even a pool dedicated to Mòr Cuan Cailleach, the goddess of the sea trow. Every god and spirit of the oceans that the priests could find is represented somewhere within the great dome.
Like other eclectic temples, the Meren Kirkko exists to provide a place where these disparate gods who share the seas can meet and discuss. The echo of the temple in the dream realm is open to all the spirits of the sea by virtue of its mission to worship them all. This enables the gods to congregate here as equals, although Ahvto does hold the authority and responsibilities of the host, a burden he bears gladly as it supports his claim to be the King of all the Sea Gods (although it should be noted the other gods do not acknowledge him as king, solely as the host of the conclave). When the gods of the ocean wish to confer, they come to the Meren Kirkko in the Dream to do so.
Meren Kirkko is also the place where sailors go when they wish to worship. Some seek a place sacred to the seas of their homelands, while others believe in the practicality of staying on good terms with all the oceanic gods. The temple is busy day and night with those who wish to pay their respects to the gods. Priests of the Meren Kirkko are always present to guide supplicants in the thousand different ways to properly worship the gods of the sea. The temple draws its priests from all over the islands as it does their gods, and only the Order of the Lightkeepers has a more diverse clergy.
Excellent! I love the union of different faiths in the name of community.
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Thanks! It grew out of my desire to have all small gods, so there’s no one god of the whole sea (or sky or whatever)