Illuminated Church of the Golden Sun
Once a great world power, the Illuminate Church was well into a state of stagnation and decay before the
The Big Shift descended upon the world. The rise of technology has largely usurped the superstitious hold the religion had on entire generations, the modern youth instead worshipping corporations and the material greed they represent. Even in Europe where once a full two thirds of the population adhered to the scripture of Illumination, only a fraction of that comprised mostly of the elderly and their guilted children follow the church. Their once massive flow of cash has turned into a trickle, and the large estates and investments have dwindled to almost nothing.
The Illuminate Church operates out of the once glorious Kyr Poli in the country of Alba. Across Europe, cathedrals and monasteries dot the country side. In the early 20th century, they made huge inroads in North America, and every large city has a decaying cathedral stashed away in the older portions of town. Many of these have been bought out from under the church, turned into condos or cleverly named nightclubs. Exceptions exist, such as in Edge City , where the diocese are rumored to have made mysterious deals with the less reputable organizations to keep their organization afloat. Even here the church is only really visible to the downtrodden, who are more vulnerable to prosthelytizing. Orphanages, soup kitchens, and homeless shelters can be found in neon lit back streets, the golden sun dirtied and fading.
Culture
In popular culture, the church is considered somewhere between a historical footnote and a cautionary tale of the world before the Shift. Some of the more popular modern vids feature the Church as the antagonistic force, with a villainous businessman revealing himself to be a Confessor looking to assassinate the mayor. This has lead to social disenfranchisement of the faithful, and in some cases outright hate crimes. Some show Sisters of the faith sympathetically, as pathetic lost souls for whom the protagonist can show his heart by protecting them revealing the error of their ways.
Public Agenda
The Illuminated Church publically seeks to bring the light of the Golden Sun to all of humanity, so they might spend eternity in the light rather than sink into shadow.
Mythology & Lore
The Scripture found in the Book of Light tells the tale of the redemption of Lady Anastasia tou íliou, and how she discovered the Light in her time of need.
Anastasia was a minor lord who stood at the head of a small army overwhelmed by a large barbarian force, attacking unprovoked with no motivation but laying waste to her people. Her forces routed, she was struck down and left to die. As the sun rose, she found herself immobilized staring into the rising sun, who spoke to her about the Golden Sun and its war to raise humanity out of shadow and into a Golden age of purity. It told of the Shades, beings who like parasites hung on the souls of good women everywhere. These Shades whispered into their ears, causing them to seek material gain and betray their friends and families, with the goal of dragging all of humanity down into the Well of Shadows in order to consume them.
Anastasia lay dying in the sun for seven days, and it was only after passing that the survivors of the war found her and returned her to the ruins of her citadel. There, at the break of dawn, she rose from the dead, and spoke to them of her newfound faith and the truth that the Golden Sun had given her. These Mothers and Grand Mothers were charged with spreading the word, to cease the descent into Shadow and bring all into the Light.
Cosmological Views
The Illuminated believe that the world started in darkness, where the Shades would feast on primitive mankind. Out of this suffering the Golden Sun was born, and at the first dawn the Shades were burned from the earth, those that survive sheltering the well of souls unable to ever return. Only at night can the Shades whisper in the ears of humanity, nudging them towards materialism and ill deed.
The Illuminated often find themselves sliding into Shade, and can cast this off and return to the light by confessing to a sister before the congregation. Without this cleansing,
According to the Church, The Big Shift is a major effort on the part of the Shades to return the world to darkness. Shifters have been tricked into accepting their power, to act as their agents and swing humans swung to their side. The official stance of that those who are redeemed by the Light lose their powers. As long as these powers lurk the Shades whisper to them.
Tenets of Faith
Strict illuminates observe the following:
- Thou shalt not work on the Sun day, for this is the day the Golden Sun saved humanity from eternal Shade: Many Illuminates are forced to work week round in order to make ends meet, this is usually done with great shame. It is considered to be extremely shameful to be indoors when the Golden Sun shines down on this holy day. The St Maria Cathedral of the Golden Sun is equipped with such a massive solar lamp that makes the church appear to be in constant sunlight when the actual sun is not visible, and more affluent members have special rooms which allow them to be in sunlight throughout this holy day, usually nude.
- Thou shall rise with the sun, and set with the sun: An ideal day involves starting the work day as the sun rises, and ceasing work when it sets to return home. True adherants won't go out at night, and sleep with the lights on.
- Thou shall not imbibe alcohol or smoke, for having ones vision obscured inevitably lead to Shade: This extends to use of any drugs, including pain killers under any circumstances.
- Thou shall not consume creatures and plants born in darkness: This includes seafood and mushrooms, and is often seen to extend to any artificially produced food such as Gunk.
- Thou shall not mar your body in any way that will block the sun: This is usually read as body work such as tattoos, which in mideval times was considered barbaric.
- Thou shall respect your elders, for they have stood under the sun longer than you: This is often cited in reference to doing what church elders tell you.
Worship
The Illuminated are baptized by staring directly into the sun. These ceremonies has sometimes lead to blindness, but more often than not are just a test of endurance and faith. The places of worship for the church are often brilliantly lit by series of mirrors reflecting the sun about. Sunglasses are not allowed. This has lead to the derogatory name of 'Blinders', born from the idea that the Illuminates blind their children intentionally out of zealotry.
Strictly adherant Illuminates are found praying daily, giving praise to the rising sun. They also pray for protection as the sun sets. This ritual of supplication is done regardless of if the sun is visible, such as on overcast days or when underground.
Priesthood
The Illuminate Church is matriarchal, with all holy positions held by women. The Grand Matriarch is currently Anna Benvento the First, ensconced away behind her private guard The Golden Band in Kyr Poli. Under her there are a council of 'Grand Mothers', once considered more powerful than the Grand Matriarch herself, though through clever manipulation Anna has seeded the council with those loyal to her. Global diocese are lead by high ranking priests known as 'Mothers', with individual churches lead by 'Sisters'.
Men in the church can serve as low level functionaries, assisting the women in power. The church is largely dismissive about the capability of men to lead, historically touting women as head of family, backing female politicians, and offering prestigious scholarships only to young women. More progressive reform branches have been known to have male priests, still known as Sisters, though these are unrecognized by the church itself.
The church is rumored to have secret police and spies littering the globe, known as the Twilight Confessors, keeping the clergy in line and trying to regain some presence in the global halls of power.
Sects
A secret heretical sect known as the Nightstalkers was rumored to stalk Shadows as if they were actual beings who walk the earth, rather than allegorical figures. They seek to bring Shifters who abuse their power to justice.
The church as a whole believes the Nightstalkers were eradicated long ago.
Inspiration
The Illuminated Church was hugely inspired by the anime En En no Shobotai, and their Church of the Holy Sol.
"stin elafriá: ygeía, stin elafriá: alítheia, stin elafriá: asfáleia"
Founding Date
-22 BCE
Type
Religious, Organised Religion
Demonym
Illuminates, Sun Gazers, Blinders (derogatory)
Leader
Subsidiary Organizations
Divines
Controlled Territories
Related Myths
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