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.

Fylkirate

The powers of the Fylkirate in the Forna Seders förbundna kyrka are as follows:

• The Fylkir has the authority to call for a Great Holy War and lead the faithful in battle.
• The Fylkir has the power to appoint Temple Holders and oversee their activities.
• The Fylkir has the power to make decisions on matters of doctrine and practice.
• The Fylkir has the power to establish rules and regulations for the church.
• The Fylkir has the power to communicate with other religious communities and organisations.

The members of the Thing provide advice and guidance to the Fylkir and help to ensure that the church is run in accordance with its religious and spiritual principles.

The bureaucracy of the Fylkirate rests in the following core offices:

• The Steward: The Steward is responsible for managing the financial and administrative affairs of the church, including budgeting, accounting, and fundraising.
• The Scribe: The Scribe is responsible for maintaining records and documents related to the church, including the Sagas, religious texts, and the records of the Thing.
• The Skald: The Skald is responsible for composing and performing poems and songs in honor of the gods and goddesses, as well as for recording and preserving the history and traditions of the church.
• The Seer: The Seer is responsible for interpreting the will of the gods and goddesses, as well as for providing guidance and advice to the Fylkir and other members of the church.

These administrative offices play an important role in supporting the Fylkirate in the exercise of its powers and help to ensure that the church is run smoothly and efficiently. They are essential to the operation of the Forna Seders förbundna kyrka and play a crucial role in maintaining its religious and spiritual traditions.

Overall, the Fylkirate of the Forna Seders förbundna kyrka is a powerful and influential religious institution that plays a central role in the lives of the faithful and the wider community. It is responsible for maintaining the traditions and teachings of the faith and ensuring that its principles are upheld and promoted.

The Thing

Under the Fylkir, the governing body of the Forna Seders förbundna kyrka is known as the Thing. The Thing is composed of representatives from each of the Temple Holders and Galdrs, as well as other members of the church who are chosen by the Fylkir or by a council of religious leaders.

The functions of the Thing include:

• Advising the Fylkir on religious and spiritual matters
• Making decisions on matters of doctrine and practice
• Establishing rules and regulations for the church
• Overseeing the activities of the Temple Holders and Galdrs
• Communicating with other religious communities and organizations
• Promoting the principles and teachings of the faith

The Thing plays a crucial role in the governance of the Forna Seders förbundna kyrka and helps to ensure that the church is run in accordance with its religious and spiritual principles. It serves as an important link between the Fylkir and the rest of the church, and helps to foster a sense of community and unity among the members of the congregation.

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.

Sacred landscapes

Neophytes, those undergoing initiation into the ranks of the faithful, are exposed to the sacred landscape. Forests, mountains, rivers, lakes, and the seashore, each is sacred and has a ritual significance which is explained as being the places where gods and goddesses dwell.

The forests are considered to be sacred not because they are the realm of the Vanir, but because they represent the natural world and the cycle of life and death. The neophytes are taught to respect the forests and to seek the blessings of the gods and goddesses who dwell there by offering sacrifices and performing rituals in their honor.

The forests are also considered to be sacred because they are the source of many of the materials used in religious rituals and ceremonies, such as wood for the altar and fire, herbs for incense and medicine, and animals for sacrifices. The neophytes are taught to respect the forests and to use their resources wisely and with gratitude.

In addition, the forests are considered to be sacred because they provide a refuge and a place of solitude for the neophytes, who can seek guidance and inspiration from the gods and goddesses in the quiet and solitude of the natural world. The neophytes are taught to respect the forests and to use them as a place of spiritual renewal and connection with the divine.

The mountains are considered to be the realm of the Aesir, the gods and goddesses of war and wisdom. The neophytes are taught to respect the mountains and to seek the blessings of the Aesir by offering sacrifices and performing rituals in their honour.

The rivers and lakes are considered to be the realm of the Norns, the goddesses of fate and destiny. The neophytes are taught to respect the rivers and lakes and to seek the blessings of the Norns by offering sacrifices and performing rituals in their honour.

The seashore is considered to be the realm of the gods and goddesses of the sea, such as Njörd, the god of the sea, and Rán, the goddess of the sea. The neophytes are taught to respect the seashore and to seek the blessings of the sea gods and goddesses by offering sacrifices and performing rituals to propitiate them.

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

Ritual of the Blot

The steps of the Blot ritual are as follows:

1. The Temple Holder or Galdr who is conducting the ritual prepares the altar or special location, placing the offerings in an orderly manner.
2. The Temple Holder or Galdr lights a fire on the altar and begins chanting or singing in honor of the gods and goddesses.
3. The Temple Holder or Galdr offers the offerings to the gods and goddesses, speaking their names and asking for their blessings.
4. The participants in the ritual join in the chanting or singing, offering their own blessings and praises to the gods and goddesses.
5. The Temple Holder or Galdr thanks the gods and goddesses for their blessings and ends the ritual by extinguishing the fire on the altar.

The Blot ritual is an important part of the religious tradition of the Forna Seders förbundna kyrka and is conducted by the Temple Holders and Galdrs on special occasions or at the request of the faithful. It serves to connect the church to the gods and goddesses and to strengthen the bonds of community.

Galdrs

The esoteric traditions of the Forna Seders förbundna kyrka include the practice of secret spells known as galdrs, the interpretation of the will of the gods and goddesses through divination and prophecy, and the use of herbs and other natural substances for spiritual and medicinal purposes. The galdrs are closely guarded secrets that are passed down from generation to generation and are only revealed to the most skilled and trusted practitioners of the faith.

The galdrs are considered to be powerful spells that can be used to influence the course of events and to gain favor with the gods and goddesses. They are closely guarded secrets that are taught only to the most skilled and trusted practitioners of the faith.

The interpretation of the will of the gods and goddesses is an important part of the esoteric traditions of the church. The Seer is responsible for interpreting the signs and omens that reveal the will of the divine, and for providing guidance and advice to the Fylkir and other members of the church.

The use of herbs and other natural substances for spiritual and medicinal purposes is also an important part of the esoteric traditions of the faith. The Galdrs and other practitioners of the faith are knowledgeable about the properties of different herbs and other natural substances, and use them to create potions, ointments, and other remedies for spiritual and physical ailments.