Agon: /* Bishop */

2010-02-12T21:02:35Z

Bishop

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:02, 12 February 2010
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	=== Bishop ===		=== Bishop ===

	Bishops are often called princes of the church, and being made a bishop is an initiation into the highest halls of power. There divisions between lesser priests fall away, here - all bishops, by virtue of their rank, reside in a cathedral, with rare exceptions. Elevation to a bishop comes from the planetary archbishop and one other consenting bishop who must be present for the rite, and must be confirmed by the Metropolitan - or the Patriarch, on a Patriarchal world. Autocephalus archbishops do not need their appointments confirmed. According the rites of the Sacrament, it is technically possible to ordain a bishop with any two other bishops, but the granting of a see requires approval and such a 'rogue bishop' would be brought to trial for contravening the strictures of the Church - though even if ~~convincted~~, he would still be bishop. Episcopal ordination (like all other sorts of ordination) cannot be revoked.		Bishops are often called princes of the church, and being made a bishop is an initiation into the highest halls of power. There divisions between lesser priests fall away, here - all bishops, by virtue of their rank, reside in a cathedral, with rare exceptions. Elevation to a bishop comes from the planetary archbishop and one other consenting bishop who must be present for the rite, and must be confirmed by the Metropolitan - or the Patriarch, on a Patriarchal world. Autocephalus archbishops do not need their appointments confirmed. According the rites of the Sacrament, it is technically possible to ordain a bishop with any two other bishops, but the granting of a see requires approval and such a 'rogue bishop' would be brought to trial for contravening the strictures of the Church - though even if convicted, he would still be bishop. Episcopal ordination (like all other sorts of ordination) cannot be revoked.

	Cathedrals are generally located within cities, usually the centerpieces of earldoms or counties, making them important regional centers of faith. The political power of a bishop's see is substantial, as it becomes one of the few institutions to cross fief lines - the bishop's see will generally encompass the earldom and several neighboring baronies, formalizing the regional unity a marquessate court creates. This also prevents border disputes between those clusters of fiefs, as bishops (understanding that boys will be boys) would far rather direct the aggressive energies of his flock towards a neighboring see, where he might gain more parishes and consequently increase his influence. The planet's bishops are all members of the planetary Bishopric Council, which advises the planetary archbishop, and it is in this council that many of the planetary intrigues of the Church occur.		Cathedrals are generally located within cities, usually the centerpieces of earldoms or counties, making them important regional centers of faith. The political power of a bishop's see is substantial, as it becomes one of the few institutions to cross fief lines - the bishop's see will generally encompass the earldom and several neighboring baronies, formalizing the regional unity a marquessate court creates. This also prevents border disputes between those clusters of fiefs, as bishops (understanding that boys will be boys) would far rather direct the aggressive energies of his flock towards a neighboring see, where he might gain more parishes and consequently increase his influence. The planet's bishops are all members of the planetary Bishopric Council, which advises the planetary archbishop, and it is in this council that many of the planetary intrigues of the Church occur.
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	There are, as mentioned above, a few exceptions to the general place of bishops within cathedral sees. The first applies to mitred abbots, who - apart from ruling from an abbey rather than a cathedral - behave similarly in many ways to a normal bishop. The only real difference is that abbeys are feudal powers in their own rights, with tenants and serfs like a noble lord, and that abbeys do not hold sway over lesser parishes - though they do often appoint priests as stewards of villages on their lands in the manner of a parish priest.		There are, as mentioned above, a few exceptions to the general place of bishops within cathedral sees. The first applies to mitred abbots, who - apart from ruling from an abbey rather than a cathedral - behave similarly in many ways to a normal bishop. The only real difference is that abbeys are feudal powers in their own rights, with tenants and serfs like a noble lord, and that abbeys do not hold sway over lesser parishes - though they do often appoint priests as stewards of villages on their lands in the manner of a parish priest.

	The second is for itinerant bishops, who have no fixed cathedral seat but rather a broader realm of authority. These come in fact in two sorts. The first sort recieves a geographical area as his see, and travels throughout, in effect moving his cathedral seat from town to town. This is done most often when there is no central location to raise a cathedral, to better serve the flock. The second sort is a decidedly more political animal; attached to an archbishop, metropolitan, the Syneculla or the Patriarch himself, this 'Bishop of the Faith Itinerant' is appointed to serve the Church as a whole, with no fixed Cathedral but rather a set of duties. Such bishops are often found as Patriarchal Legates or other powerful emissaries. ~~Occaisonally~~, they may recieve a purely titular see somewhere on Holy Terra for prestige and increased income, but these cathedrals are honorific, and rarely issued to plain bishops. (But see cardinals, below, when discussing archbishops.)		The second is for itinerant bishops, who have no fixed cathedral seat but rather a broader realm of authority. These come in fact in two sorts. The first sort recieves a geographical area as his see, and travels throughout, in effect moving his cathedral seat from town to town. This is done most often when there is no central location to raise a cathedral, to better serve the flock. The second sort is a decidedly more political animal; attached to an archbishop, metropolitan, the Syneculla or the Patriarch himself, this 'Bishop of the Faith Itinerant' is appointed to serve the Church as a whole, with no fixed Cathedral but rather a set of duties. Such bishops are often found as Patriarchal Legates or other powerful emissaries. Occasionally, they may recieve a purely titular see somewhere on Holy Terra for prestige and increased income, but these cathedrals are honorific, and rarely issued to plain bishops. (But see cardinals, below, when discussing archbishops.)

	The final exception is for auxiliary or adjunct bishops, who are assigned to assist a bishop or archbishop in the administration of his see. Planetary archbishops almost always have an auxiliary bishop, who administers their actual cathedral and its immediate diocese while the archbishop tends to the spiritual needs of the planet and its politics. Certain powerful bishops are also given an auxiliary bishop, usually because they are called into Church service away from their see (usually of a diplomatic or theological nature, though during the wars certain warrior-bishops were called into more martial service) or because their diocese contains a court of significant stature that their time is required by the local lord.		The final exception is for auxiliary or adjunct bishops, who are assigned to assist a bishop or archbishop in the administration of his see. Planetary archbishops almost always have an auxiliary bishop, who administers their actual cathedral and its immediate diocese while the archbishop tends to the spiritual needs of the planet and its politics. Certain powerful bishops are also given an auxiliary bishop, usually because they are called into Church service away from their see (usually of a diplomatic or theological nature, though during the wars certain warrior-bishops were called into more martial service) or because their diocese contains a court of significant stature that their time is required by the local lord.

P at 20:22, 8 February 2010

2010-02-08T20:22:17Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:22, 8 February 2010
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	Two additional special classes of clergy remain - confessors and chaplains. Both confessors and chaplains are assigned either to individuals or military units to minister, exercising the normal powers and duties of a priest with his parishoners. They are special because often - especially with smaller units or less-important nobles - they are not in fact priests, but are instead canons or deacons who have recieved special dispensation from their superior, empowering them to serve as proxy priests to their charges. This is especially common with confessors, as almost every noble counts one among his household and it is impractical to 'waste' an ordained priest on some knight and his four retainers.		Two additional special classes of clergy remain - confessors and chaplains. Both confessors and chaplains are assigned either to individuals or military units to minister, exercising the normal powers and duties of a priest with his parishoners. They are special because often - especially with smaller units or less-important nobles - they are not in fact priests, but are instead canons or deacons who have recieved special dispensation from their superior, empowering them to serve as proxy priests to their charges. This is especially common with confessors, as almost every noble counts one among his household and it is impractical to 'waste' an ordained priest on some knight and his four retainers.

			[[Category:The Church]]

P at 19:44, 8 February 2010

2010-02-08T19:44:08Z

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P: New page: Religion is a daily part of life in Fading Suns; unlike the modern era, faith is not a question, it is merely a part of living, much like breathing or eating. The Universal Church of the C...

2010-02-08T19:40:33Z

New page: Religion is a daily part of life in Fading Suns; unlike the modern era, faith is not a question, it is merely a part of living, much like breathing or eating. The Universal Church of the C...

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Religion and the Church - Revision history

Agon: /* Bishop */

P at 20:22, 8 February 2010

P at 19:44, 8 February 2010

P: New page: Religion is a daily part of life in Fading Suns; unlike the modern era, faith is not a question, it is merely a part of living, much like breathing or eating. The Universal Church of the C...