Iglesian Religion and Rites

Iglesian Faith

While individuals in the Church’s Orders are called Iglesiar, those who follow the Redeemed Suns’ faith are called Solarites (Solaria in the Illustrados tongue). Not all Solarites are Iglesiar -- most are Illustrados in the government, private sector, or abroad. Some Solarites are individuals outside the Union who have found solace in the Redeemer faith. 

On the other hand, the Iglesiar are workers within the church. Not all Iglesiar are clergy -- some are layfolk who support and/or guard the Church. A custodian, bureaucrat, or sentry may be a layperson. 

Ordination makes an individual into a member of the clergy. This rite is a hallowed one, rooted in the blessings given to Santo Rivero and to other holy figures in pre-Fall and post-Fall history. The shamanic practices of the past have been written down and forged into the current traditions of the Church -- just as the oral tellings of Santo Rivero’s “Visions” were writ into scripture and dogma. 

Creation Myth

The Iglesia Solar is a faith of reflection, meditation, and self-improvement. It also has roots in several pre-fall faiths, the spiritual guides to a new era of religion. 

The founding of the Church lies less with those pre-Fall faiths than it does with the Visions of Santo Rivero. This legendary figure suffered crucible and trial in the holy mountains above Puerto Vazquez. Instead of dying, he survived these perils and emerged with dreams and nightmares in his mind.

In “Visions”, he beheld myriad spectacles and revelations. Some of these were of the divinities that would be the Solaric Orders’ foundations. Others were of things that would come to pass if the Illustrados and humanity did not band together against the horrors of the Long Fall. Some of the Visions were of the creation of the world, viewed with a lens obscure by the limitations of humanity -- these events were multitudinous and conflicting. But all of them spoke of a humanity wrought by the gods (whether by accident or on purpose), of countless ages of strife, and of a new frontier that awaited the faithful and the just. 

Prominent among the Visions (and frequently portrayed in Church literature and ornamentation) is Santo Rivero sitting in meditation (or prone and in pain) surrounded by five suns. This image would form the symbol of the faith: a sun orbited by five spheres. 

Life Rites

Birth Rite -- Earth and Sky

While it is not universal, it is tradition in many communities that a parent give birth indoors and present their child to the sky immediately afterward. Some communities have a cave wherein such a rite is performed while others style their hospital’s maternity ward or their own birthing room in such a fashion, with a nearby window for the Sky portion of the rite. Some say that this presentation resembles the bringing of life and light from a time of darkness. Others claim that this rite is an ancient one with a mythic history. The Iglesia Solar assists in the propagation of this rite, though they tend to elaborate on the Sky portion by ensuring that the extended family of the parent is there (with the parent’s consent). 

The wealthier members of the Illustrados follow this happening with a feast for all attendees, in a different room during the next day. The child is presented as a new member of the family and to the community. The expectation is that the food be of different animals and varieties, with no dish being replicated. This practice has filtered down to the other social classes, who make do with their own smaller, private celebrations.  

Adulthood -- Spirit Hunt

In the myriad communities of the Illustrados Union, one rite that the majority subscribes to is the Spirit Hunt. When a group of children reach the age of 18, their guardians take them into the wilderness or a remote but secure area. The children are then unleashed for one whole day with the goal of catching an animal 

The Spirit Hunt is muddled by history and obfuscated by local traditions. In Puerto del Encanto, it is said that the caught animal will grant a blessing to its catcher. In Ayiti island, such animals are slain in a hunt so that their aspect strengthens the hunter. In Caubano island, the animal’s spirit will aid the adolescent in their direst moments. In some parts of the mainland, the animal is slain and its skin is worn so that it protects its slayer’s soul from misfortune.

Ultimately, the would-be adults craft a unique mask called a Cara. This resembles the animal they connected with -- and they carry it everywhere with them, remaking it if they lose it. Taking or destroying someone else’s Cara is disrespectful, marking the thief or vandal as someone that cannot be trusted.

With the advance of years and the mists of antiquity, this rite has changed and lost most of its meaning from its original form. Its sanctity has fallen on the wayside. Wealthy adolescents go on safaris and are assisted by hirelings, coming back with exotic and highly esteemed Cara (e.g. jaguars,  or eagles) or even parafauna Cara. Impoverished folk make do with rats, crows, and other scavengers.

Ordination -- Seek out the Sun

A Solarite that wishes to join the clergy must undergo months, if not years of study under the Iglesia. This training is done at the Solar Cathedral, at a university, or in the hands of another Solarite Priest. The route to being a Candle-Priest is one that takes patience, discipline, and commitment. Depending on the Order that one wishes to follow, much is expected of the would-be Novitiate.

• Auroral Serpent: Path of Harmony -- Crafting something out of Earth/Metal, Rain/Water, Wind/Lightning, and Flame/Sun.

• Burning Gate: Path of Humility -- eschew most comforts and trappings, keeping only what is necessary. Through research and/or magic open one’s self to the infinities beyond this reality.

• Giving Star: Path of Charity -- give away all but your most precious possessions. You will be sent to help those in need and/or in dire peril.

• Lucent Crown: Path of Inquiry  -- Through intense research, experimentation, investigation, or exploration. Discover a secret truth about the world, an alternate form of a spell, and/or create a thing of great wonder/beauty.

• Radiant Eagle: Path of Loyalty -- Defend Solarites against peril. Conquer those who would attack the faithful. Weed out corruption within the Church.
  
  
  

After the would-be Novitiate performs these tasks, they are ordained by a Beacon-Priest (or higher) into the Church of the Redeemed Sun. 

Marriage -- Joining of Sea and Sky

Weddings among the Illustrados are loud affairs filled with family and friends. There is typically a short rite, ministered by clergy (and of a higher position if either celebrant is also clergy). The minister assists the marrying couple in their declaration of love and affection for each other. In some of the Illustrados, they are styled as the earth and sky coming together while they are the sun and moon or sea and sky in others. Tokens of love are then exchanged, such as rings or amulets. This rite is followed by raucous celebration, with singing, dancing, hired entertainment and the like.

It is common to add local customs to one’s wedding. Some among the Keymakers appease the spiritual world with the ritual sacrifice of an animal or the controlled destruction of a treasured possession. Others ensure that certain foods are served or offered to the heavens during the feasting portion of the ceremony. Among the Suncrowns and Lightbearers, a single bite of meat and a single bite of vegetable is exchanged in addition to the marital tokens.

Funeral -- Return to Earth

Ideally, the deceased members of the Solarites are ritually cremated according to Church tradition. Their surviving bones are ground into the ash and placed in a funerary gourd, typically hung on a wall or placed upon a hallowed portion of a household. The cremation itself is a solemn one, where prayers for the spirit’s wellbeing and eulogies of the deceased’s deeds are performed. Preparation of the body and management of the ceremony is primarily done by the priesthood, with assistance from the family. 

For those who have served the Church in a legendary capacity, their funerary gourds are interred in the Solar Cathedral’s catacombs (maintained by the Keymakers). With the family’s permission, they are placed among the other holy folk and legends where they may watch over the faith and guide the future toward humanity’s true destiny. 

The Hallowed Sunrise

This is a winter holiday preceded by a month of fasting (having only one big meal a day). This commemorates the descent of Santo Rivero from the holy mountain to Puerto Vazquez. It is believed that he arrived back in town just as the sun rose from the horizon. 

After a short ceremony wherein his “Visions” are read aloud and reflected upon, the remainder of the day is spent on feasting and festivities. Despite the name, the ceremony no longer occurs at the dawning of the sun but at noon, when the day is warmest. 

The Hallowed Sunset

One of the fall holidays of the Illustrados is the “Hallowed Sunset”. Occurring in early November, this is a time of reflection for those that have passed and a celebration of their deeds. During the day hours, it is prayer and reflection. At night, this turns into songs, dance, and feasting loud enough for the dead to know that they are remembered.

View of the Afterlife

In ancient times, each faith had their own beliefs on what happened after death. In the time after the Long Fall however, it is known that the spirits of the dead linger after their passing. Near the time of death, they can even be detected by the perceptive. However, as time goes on, one’s spiritual essence fades into intangibility until there is nothing left of it.

With the fracturing of reality and of belief, the gods that once held reign over what happened to the dead have lost their power after the Long Fall. The official belief of the Church is that these spirits pass on to a life beyond this one, neither heavenly or hellish. That said, evil deeds can warp the spirits of their doers, tethering them to this world and turning them into monstrous specters. Bats and owls are considered fell omens and resembled these fell entities.

View of Magic

Solarites see magic as a gift of the Solaric Icons. For most of the Church, spellcraft is an ability that is “natural” for post-Fall humanity, though it is a Skill easier and/or more accessible for some than others. What differs from one Order to another is how this magic is harnessed, the Starcatchers and the Suncrowns harness conflicting and harmonious energies to weave their whims unto reality. For Lightbearers and Firehawks, magic is wrought by a matter of will and emotions, whether it is nurturing compassion or a protector’s fury. Keymakers differ from their fellows in that their Arcana is literally secret lores and/or metaphysical loopholes that they have obtained by their own meditations on cosmic truth.

With these methodologies and the Solaric Tenets in mind, it is little wonder that most Solarite Arcanists follow the Animantic tradition — specifically the Shamanic perspective of it. The Talismanic tradition is used by more than a few Starcatchers and Suncrowns. The Diabolic tradition is largely unseen among the Iglesiar though it is suspected that some Keymakers use it, instructed in its access by their enigmatic Icon.

In a similar vein, the Order of the Burning Gate are also the only Igesiar users of the Xenotheurgic Anchor. This allows their minds to peer into the maddening chaos between worlds and use their insights to enhance their magic. The rest of the faith adheres to Deotheurgy, while Necrotheurgy is taboo - its association with darkness and death is believed to blight one’s soul permanently. Only the eccentric Keymakers would dare endanger their divine gift.