The Faith

The faith has long been a core element of Sayinia's society, whether holding a prominent place with royal support or whether a less popular religion among the less influential, depending on the century.

Lisveth folded her arms and barreled through the courtyard, crossing the circles of Love, Joy, and Peace as if there were a prize for finishing first. Halfway through Patience she nearly plowed through a robed junior priest, who recoiled at their collision and began an apology.

Temple yards generally are marked with large circles representing the Virtues. These may be used for personal contemplation, walking the lines of Kindness, for example, and they also serve as symbolism, as visitors pass through the circles en route to the temple buildings, thereby immersing themselves in virtues as they enter.

Ethics

There is a more complex theology which is the critical core of the faith, of course, but the visible ethics can be most easily seen in the honored Virtues. The faith emphasizes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, steadfastness, gentle spirit, and self-control.

Worship

Many of the faithful rubbed the portal post as they entered the temple gates. Some kissed their palms and then pressed them to the wood, passing on the kiss. It was a custom he had not seen in the Heel, though the obeisance was easy enough to recognize.

The most devout practitioners will kiss the palm of their hand and then press it to the gate post as they enter the temple grounds. (The kiss was originally delivered directly to the gate itself, a practice which continued for centuries, but priests began encouraging the modern alternative during an outbreak of plague in 746.)
At a typical temple, worship is conducted in group services up to three times a week, and priests are available for private instruction or counseling on other days. Services may be reduced at rural temples with few priests. Worship consists of group singing, meditation, and a discourse on the day's holy writ.

Political Influence & Intrigue

Many temples hold treasures, gifts from patrons or remnants from previous wars, or relics which have material value as well as cultural. This has made the temples an attractive prize for rulers and nobles seeking to augment their own failing treasuries.
At times, a king has announced an enhanced devotion in an attempt to gain access to temple treasure rooms, and on one occasion a king (Gregor IV) declared himself a high priest who therefore owned all temple property. This poorly-judged act led to riots in the streets, as adherents protested the royal takeover, and King Gregor was forced to have a(nother) high priest publicly direct him to a more ceremonial role to save face while in effect renouncing his greedy attempt.
The high priests have occasionally advised royalty on policy, generally staying true to the faith's precepts but there have been cases of unscrupulous behavior.

Type

Religious, Organised Religion