Forna Seders förbundna kyrka

Neophytes engaged in communal outdoors worship.

The Forna Seders förbundna kyrka is the Norse community folk congregation in the Benacian Union that is governed by the United Ecclesiastical Corporation of Benacia. The faith, brought into compliance with the Union Covenant, worships the Aesir as being manifestations of the Archonic powers and the celestial temple, bound in service to the Highest Divinity.

The congregations of the faith in former Shirerithian Benacia were subjected to state led purification efforts after the Auspicious Occasion of 1651 AN, so as to cleanse the surviving worshippers of the Vanic taint brought on by long association with Stormark. As such, the worship of the Vanir pantheon is prohibited under the threat of the most severe penalties for all concerned. In the modern era, the congregations tend to emphasise their historic association with Normark as a means of asserting the Humanist doctrinal purity of their religious system.

Governance

Hierarchy

The hierarchy of the Forna Seders förbundna kyrka is as follows:

1. The Fylkir: The Fylkir is the religious head of the church and has the authority to call for a Great Holy War and lead the faithful in battle.
2. The Temple Holders: The Temple Holders are priests who can inherit titles and marry. They are responsible for leading the faithful in worship and performing religious rituals.
3. The Galdrs: The Galdrs are practitioners of secret spells and are considered to have a special connection to the gods and goddesses.
4. The Faithful: The faithful are the members of the church who follow the faith and attend religious services.

Organisation

The organisation of the Forna Seders förbundna kyrka allows for the Temple Holders to establish their places of worship in the sea and river ports of Elwynn and Normark, where they can serve the local communities and promote the traditions of the faith. It also provides for the coordination of activities and the dissemination of religious teachings among the members of the church. The Galdrs assist the Temple Holders in conducting religious rituals and providing guidance to the faithful.

Each Temple Holder is assigned to a specific sea or river port in Elwynn or Normark, where they establish a place of worship and serve the members of the local community.

Doctrine

The Forna Seders förbundna kyrka is a religious tradition that originated in Norse mythology and has been revived in modern times. It is characterised by a belief in multiple gods and goddesses, as well as a focus on moral authority and war.

The religious head of the Forna Seders förbundna kyrka is known as the Fylkir, who is currently Dyre V. The Fylkir has the authority to call for a Great Holy War and to lead the faithful in battle.

The Forna Seders förbundna kyrka has a holy book called the Sagas, which is written in nunes and contains chapters on the creation of the world, the gods and goddesses, the end of the world (Ragnarok), and secret spells known as galdrs. The faith also has a standardized liturgy and a formal hierarchy of priests, known as Temple Holders, who can inherit titles and marry.

The high god of the Forna Seders förbundna kyrka is Geirr, and other important gods and goddesses include Thor, Odin, Frey, and Tyr. However, there are also evil gods and goddesses such as Loki, Hel, Fenrir, and Jörmungandr who are seen as enemies of the faithful.

The Norse faith allows for the raiding of infidel neighbours, specifically in the Benacian context those who have not bund themselves to the Union Covenant for loot. It also permits men to take up to three concubines and to marry close kin in order to preserve ancestral Lineages. Women are also allowed to own Temple Holdings.

The Fylkirate, the position of Fylkir, is held by an appointee of the United Ecclesiastical Corporation of Benacia and can be destroyed or created by that same authority. The faith also allows for holy close-kin marriages and encourages its followers to follow the Norse principles of adventuring and seafaring.

Education and indoctrination

The process of initiation and training for each of the grades in the hierarchy of the Forna Seders förbundna kyrka is as follows:

The Fylkir: The Fylkir is the highest position in the church and is appointed by the United Ecclesiastical Corporation of Benacia. The candidate for Fylkir must undergo a rigorous process of initiation and training, which includes studying the Sagas and other religious texts, learning the liturgy and rituals of the faith, and demonstrating their knowledge and skills in various areas. They must also prove their leadership abilities and their commitment to the principles of the faith.

The Temple Holders: The Temple Holders are priests who are chosen by the Fylkir or by a council of religious leaders. They must undergo a process of initiation and training, which includes studying the Sagas and other religious texts, learning the liturgy and rituals of the faith, and participating in religious ceremonies and rituals. They must also demonstrate their knowledge and skills in various areas, such as chanting and singing, and their commitment to the principles of the faith.

The Galdrs: The Galdrs are practitioners of secret spells who are chosen by the Fylkir or by a council of religious leaders. They must undergo a process of initiation and training, which includes studying the Sagas and other religious texts, learning the secrets of the galdrs, and participating in religious ceremonies and rituals. They must also demonstrate their knowledge and skills in various areas, such as chanting and singing, and their commitment to the principles of the faith.

The Faithful: The faithful are the members of the church who are initiated into the faith through a process of learning and participation. They must study the Sagas and other religious texts, attend religious services and ceremonies, and demonstrate their knowledge and skills in various areas. They must also show their commitment to the principles of the faith and their willingness to follow the guidance of the Fylkir and other religious leaders.

Rituals

The Forna Seders förbundna kyrka follows the rituals of the Norse faith, which includes the Blot.

The Blot is a religious ritual that involves the offering of sacrifices to the gods and goddesses. This can be in the form of war captives, convicts, animals, food, or other objects. The offerings are placed on an altar or in a special location and are believed to be accepted by the gods and goddesses, who grant their blessings in return.

Other rituals of the Forna Seders förbundna kyrka include:

The Sumbel: The Sumbel is a ritual of toasting and drinking, in which the participants offer toasts to the gods and goddesses and share stories and poems in their honor.

The Sumbelring: The Sumbelring is a ritual of joining hands and forming a circle, in which the participants offer their blessings to each other and to the gods and goddesses.

The Galdr: The Galdr is a ritual of chanting and singing, in which the practitioners of secret spells use their special connection to the gods and goddesses to invoke their power and receive their blessings.

These rituals are an important part of the Forna Seders förbundna kyrka and are conducted by the Temple Holders and other members of the church. They serve to connect the faithful to the gods and goddesses and to build a sense of community among the members of the congregation