Stefanic Church

Holy Stefanic See Stefanic Church
The official standard of the Stefanic Church
Founder:	Stefan (according to the Stefanic faith)
Scripture:	Liber Stefanicus
Pope:	Honorius I
Patriarchs:	Patriarch Ioannes of Estos Patriarch Tsu of Ostos
Headquarters:	Tristópoli (Papal States) Vurgos
Origin:	Estos
Religion:	Stefanist

The Stefanic Church, also referred to as the Holy Stefanic See, is the largest and oldest Graal religion. As the oldest and largest continuously operating international graal institution, it has played a prominent role in the history and development of Graalian civilization. The Church is headed by the Bishop of Vurgos which is the seat of the Church itself. Furthermore, the bishop of vurgos is popularly known as His Holiness the Pope (also referred to as Pontifex Maximus).

The Stefanic Faith claims that the graal was created by Stefan Knorr. Furthermore, Stefanists (a term used to refer to those who believe in Stefan and are devoted to the Stefanic Faith) believe that Stefan is the one true god of the Graal and the savior of the Graalian race. Furthermore, through an order coming directly from Stefan, Tristam I was given the task of defending the faithful and being the unifier of the graalian race. Thus, Stefanists believe that the Church was founded by Stefan, but built on St. Tristam

Foundation

Creation of the Graal

After Stefan created the Graalian continents (Estos, Ostos and Era), he saw a good-hearted man whose goal was to defend the weakest, that being Tristam. Stefan gave Tristam a special mission during the time of chaos his creation was experiencing - a war between all graalian creatures. Knowing this, Stefan with his authority as a divine being, crowned Tristam as the Caesaropope (this title can also be referred to in the present day as Holy Graalian Emperor), thus, Tristam became the King of all Graalian peoples and unifier of the Graal.

From that, St. Tristam began its mission, where, through it, the Stefanic Church was built in order to seek Stefan's help in all its decision-making. Furthermore, during his mission, Saint Tristam defended the weaker peoples from all threats from Stephane Portha (Stefan's enemy), and above all, he watched over the divine laws written by Stefan. However, during a battle with the evil forces of Stephane Portha, Saint Tristam died. From this, the Stefanic Faith argues that Stefan took Saint Tristam to the paradise of Avalonia, and now, Saint Tristam is sitting next to Stefan.

Unification of the Stefanic Faith

Over the years graalian humanity had divided the Stefanic Faith into the Churches of Estos and Ostos, both led by Sarovian or Aurean Popes, or even rebellious branches such as the Jacobites. However, all that did not please Stefan and made him even more sad and disappointed with his creation. However, all that would change when everyone reached consensus and agreed to reunite the churches under a single neutral Pope. Thus came the first pope after the reunification of the faith. His name is Urban III (formerly known as a Joe Kyro).

Organization

College of Cardinals

The College of Cardinals is the set of Cardinals (bishops appointed by the head of state of a Stefanic nation) who are responsible for the development of the Stefanic faith in their respective nations. In addition, the cardinals have an important role to vote every two years stefanics (equivalent to two months), where the current Pope can be re-elected, or, if it is Stefan's will, a new Pope can be elected among the cardinals. This process is called the Papal Conclave. It is noteworthy that the College of Cardinals is located within the Basilica of Saint Tristam, located in Tristopoli (also known as Poltava or York) in the Papal States, which are currently under the defense of the New Sarovian Empire and Her Colonies and Dominions.

The Western and Eastern Patriarchate

During the holding of the Papal Conclave, the elected (or re-elected) Pope appoints two new cardinals to be elected (or re-elected). Thus, it is up to the Cardinals to hold a vote to approve the new Patriarchs or not. From this, the Patriarchs are responsible for the administration of the Eastern Patriarchate (Estos), and, the Western Patriarchate (Ostos). In addition, patriarchs serve concurrently with the Pope until the end of the term.

The split between the Eastern and Western Patriarchates arose due to the strong influence of the New Sarovian Empire under Estos, and the old Aurean Empire under Ostos. Thus, Pope Urban III decreed that the Patriarchate would be divided based on the two main continents of the Graalian World. On the face of it, many western patriarchs were of Aurean ethnicity, and, many eastern patriarchs were of Sarovian ethnicity.

The Holy Graalian Emperor

The Title of Holy Graalian Emperor derives from previous titles such as: Caesar of Classic, Caesaropope, among others. The Title itself is a combination of the other two titles known as Holy Eastern Emperor and Holy Western Emperor, which were created through the Papal Bull known as: Inter Coetera. In which, Pope Innocent I establishes the titles and grants them to the Holy Hanor Empire, and, to the Aurean Empire. However, after Hanor's leaders became involved in pagan movements and sects, the title was bestowed by order and consent of His Holiness Pope Clement I through his papal bull: De Sollicitus Rebus. In addition, in this same bull, Constantine IX receives the title of Holy Western Emperor due to his coronation as the legitimate Aurean Emperor. That said, Constantine IX was given absolute authority to merge the two titles together. Thus, the title of Holy Graalian Emperor was created with Stefan's will. The Holy Graalian Emperor is the unifier of the GraAl peoples and responsible for the defense of the Papal States, as well as responsible for preaching Stefan's message to all Graal continents.

The Papacy

The Bishop of Vurgos is the Pontifex Maximus, Stefan's Servant of Servants and Stefan's Vicar in the Graal, therefore he is the Pope. One of the most important attributes of the Holy Priest is his primacy among his peers. The Bishop of Vurgos is configured as the absolute and universal head of the Holy Stefanic Church, holder of the primacy of Tristan. The Papacy through the Constitutio Absoluta Dogmata was divided into the "Popes of the Age of Persecutions", and "Popes after the Edict of Vurgos". Currently, the Pontifex Maximus of the Stefanic Church is His Holiness Pope Honorius I.

Liturgy

The Stefanic Liturgy was established during the papacy of Innocent I through his Papal Bull known as: Bulla Missale Innocentinum. Where, an official format for the realization of masses is established. Based on this, many masses were held after the release of this bull that served as a great development for the Stefanic Church.

In addition to common and simple masses performed generally by Priests, Cardinals and Patriarchs. There are the Masses that are held in the Basilica of Saint Tristam in Tristopoli after the appointment of a new pope. Where one can notice the presence of newly elected (or re-elected) patriarchs, as well as Cardinals, Bishops and Priests.

The Stefanic Church subscribes to the Urban Calendar and its system of aging an individual through an age of majority concept.

Saints

There are currently twenty four saints in the Stefanic Church:

• Saïntos Tristiame (Saint Tristam) = Saint of the clergy and the nobility
• Saïntos Constaynnos (Saint Constantine) = Saint of statesmen, architects and Guards
• Saïntos Carolus (Saint Carolus) = Saint of the infantry and artillery
• Saïntos Sarolus (Saint Sarolus) = Saint of the cavalry, knights and guards
• Saïnta Helianna (Saint Helen) = Saint of charity and forgiveness
• Saïntos Tenebitur (Saint Tenebitur) = Saint of the dying or dead
• Saïntos Urbane (Saint Urban) = Saint of the Papacy
• Saïntos Davie (Saint David) = Saint of navigation and wealth
• Saïntos Torige (Saint Torygg) = Saint of music, good health and settlers
• Saïntos Caine (Saint Caen) = Saint of repentant thieves and spies
• Saïntos Ioan (Saint John) = Saint of authors, scribes and clerks
• Saïnta Naoma (Saint Naomi) = Saint of Queens
• Saïnta Lianna (Saint Leah) = Saint of mothers and families
• Saïnta Sarola (Saint Sarah) = Saint of animals and flora
• Saïntos Baendicte (Saint Benedict) = Saint of merchants, tailors and artists
• Saïntos Quime (Saint Kimmy) = Saint of entertainers
• Saïntos Aendre (Saint Andrew) = Saint of historian, librarians and linguists
• Saïntos Otovaros (Saint Otto) = Saint of businessmen, gamblers and farmers
• Saïntos Frans (Saint Francis) = Saint of policemen and investigators
• Saïntos Jeorjes (Saint George) = Saint of bankers
• Saïntos Alessaros (Saint Alexander) = Saint of politicians, archivists and attorneys
• Saïntos Abnos (Saint Abney) = Saint of sailors and travellers
• Saïntos Bruie (Saint Brucius) = Saint of clowns and comedians
• Saïntos Emaera (Saint Emera) = Saint of professors and teachers