Svetostrov
| Realm of the Holy Island | |||
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| Capital | Sabor | ||
| Largest city | Dionisija, Petrovo | ||
| Official language(s) | Krasnocorian, Reunian | ||
| Official religion(s) | Orthodox Nazarene
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| Demonym | Svetostrovan | ||
| - Adjective | Svetostrovan | ||
| Government | Realm of the Order of the Holy Lakes | ||
| - Viceroy of the Holy Island | Đorđe Babić | ||
| - First Minister of the Holy Island | Emzsar Kodorishvili | ||
| - Legislature | Holy Synod | ||
| Establishment | 19.III.1728 AN | ||
| Area | 1,343 km2 | ||
| Population | 181,152 | ||
| Currency | gold, silver | ||
| Calendar | Norton | ||
| Time zone(s) | CMT-3 | ||
| Mains electricity | 240V–60Hz | ||
| Driving side | right | ||
| Track gauge | none | ||
| National website | svetostrov.sv | ||
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| Abbreviation | SV, SVE | ||
Svetostrov or the Holy Island (Krasnocorian: Светостров; Reunian: Isla Sacra, both meaning "holy island"), officially the Realm of the Holy Island (Krasnocorian: Светостровска Држава, Svetostrovska Država; Reunian: Realmo de la Isla Sacra), is an island in north-western Apollonia, covering the island of the same name which previously was known as Réunion. It was a sovereign state under the name of the Holy Community of Svetostrov (Krasnocorian: Светостровска Света Заједница, Svetostrovska Sveta Zajednica; Reunian: Comunidad Sacrada de la Isla Sacra) from 1728 until 1734 when it was incorporated as a realm of the Order of the Holy Lakes.
The realm shares a maritime border with Craitland.
History
Before Svetostrov
Svetostrov was initially settled by Treesians in the antiquity period, and being under their rule up until 1514 AN. The Republic of Mania was based on the island from 1523 to 1542. In 1550, the Holy Empire of Réunion declared its independence and ruled over the island. Not many things are known about this period, which lasted until 1727, due to the isolationism of its government and residents.
Emergence of the Holy Community
The idea of a theocratic Orthodox Nazarene community has been a topic within the Corian Orthodox Church since the Sylvanian National Awakening.
Order of the Holy Lakes
In 1733 – on a visit to Northern Coria to visit church patriarch Kiril Mitrovski, Bishop Ioanicius officially applied for integration of the island into a realm of the Order of the Holy Lakes.
The reasons were several. Among them was a financial situation, with much of the church money being pushed into a growing administrative bureaucracy of the island – forcing priests to deal with issues such as garbage disposal, recycling and updating plumbing – over actual theological and ministerial tasks. The church felt drained. The people of the island, living in poverty, began expecting more and more of its new rulers after having lived lawlessly following the fall of the Empire of Réunion. Moreover, there was a movement within the church to focus more and more on ecclesiastical matters, theology and contemplation, rather than dealing with the daily tasks of running an actual country. With already the good relations between Svetostrov and the Order of the Holy Lakes, and with the cultural and religious kinship between the church and the realm of Northern Coria, Bishop Ioanicius thought the best way to secure a good future for the people of the island and for the church, would be a full-scale integration of the island into Hurmu.
Knjaz Velibor Jovanović-Smičić – newly elected to the next Senate of the Lakes – brought it up with the outgoing Secretariat of State, gaining its approval. The cultural and religious kinship between the church and Northern Coria, along with the experience of the Order in integrating new lands into Hurmu, helped further the Secretariat's agreement. Moreover, the island had strategic value – located close to the Order's Xäiville Convention partners Craitland and Senya. Additionally, it was an easily accessible island for Hurmu, just cross the north pole from Samhold. Following the inauguration of the Thirteenth Senate in early 1734, the first bill of the new Secretariat of Tsatse Vaykok was the bill to admit Svetostrov to the Order of the Holy Lakes as a realm thereof. The Senate of the Lakes unanimously adopted said bill on 10.V.1734 and it became effective immediately.
The banner of arms of the Order of the Holy Lakes was raised over the residency of the Honourable Company in Petrovo at dawn on 11.V.1734. This moment marked the commencement of the Hurmudan deployment to Svetostrov, which would see contingents of the Hurmu Constabulary and the Fyrð transferred to the island over the course of the next five months.
Geography
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The climate of Svetostrov is subarctic. Winters last at least ten months, with the temperatures staying below freezing point during most of the year. In the summer, which lasts two to five months, the average maximum temperatures usually range between 15 and 20 °C. There is no permanent ice, but on higher altitudes, there are some permanently frozen lands.
The island is ablong. The distance between the easternmost and westernmost points is 26.18 kilometres, while the distance between the northernmost and southernmost points is 77.84 kilometres. As such, the island is roughly one third as wide (east to west) as it is long (north to south).
Politics
Law
Holy Synod
Administrative divisions
Foreign relations
Svetostrov's foreign relations, as an independent state, were mainly with Hurmu, due to the heavy link and cooperation between North Coria and Svetostrov with view to shared language, ethnicity and religion. Hurmu-based organisations such as Society of Yeshua are active in Svetostrov, as is, of course, the Corian Orthodox Church.
Svetostrov had an embassy in Huyenkula and a consulate-general in Mitrovska. Hurmu has an embassy in Sabor. Hurmu was the only country with meaningful relations with Svetostrov during its independence.
Defence and Security
Subsequent to its annexation, the island of Reunion was provided with a modest garrison by the Fyrð, brought together as the Svetostrov Detachment. The main component of the force being a collection of 434 volunteers brought together from Fyrð regiments stationed in Transprinitica, supported by limited contributions from the Sea and Air Departments, these being, respectively, three Sindbad-class auxiliary cruisers and a heavy attack rotorcraft adapted for maritime patrol work.
Policing on the island is the responsibility of the 2nd Division of the Hurmu Constabulary, comprised of the 2nd Command & Control Regiment and the 9th Circuit Regiment which were both made available following the integration of the constabulary in the former Southern District into the 1st Division of the newly expanded Lake District.
Economy
Harsh climate, poor infrastructure conditions and minimal economic potential led to simple manufacturing and alternative methods of agriculture. Production of candles, icons, wine brewing, fishing and production of mostly preserved food in heated greenhouses are the main focus of the local economy.
Svetostrov relies a lot on foreign donations, mainly coming from pilgrims.
Tourism
The religious pilgrimages are the main branch of Svetostrovan tourism. Churches present on the island organise pilgrimages to the religious sites of the island.
Infrastructure
Compared to other countries across the world, Svetostrovan infrastructure is very poor, and requires serious measures in order to improve the quality of life.
Energy
Svetostrov relies on coal power plants, powered by the island's coal mining industry. There are plans of energy diversification, specifically by introducing solar and wave power, but also research of the island's geothermal energy potential.
Transport
Transport infrastructure is mostly limited to roads and pathways. Major roads in Svetostrov are paved with cobblestone, while many of the others are unpaved. The difficult climate conditions resulted in main means of transportation being animal-drawn vehicles and snowmobiles.
Ports in Svetostrov are generally ice-free due to the favourable currents, and are the backbone of connection with the rest of the world.
There are no airports in Svetostrov, but a very limited helicopter transport is present.
Construction of a landing strip for the Hurmu Fyrð began on the southern portion of the island in the second month of 1735 AN.
Demographics
Upon Svetostrov's integration into the Order of the Holy Lakes, the new authorities, led by Đorđe Babić and Emzsar Kodorishvili, conducted a census and recorded 181,152 people on the island.
Ethnic groups
| Ethnicity | Population | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Reunian | 133,987 | 73.96% |
| Krasnocorian | 44,095 | 24.34% |
| Lontinian | 919 | 0.51% |
| Norse | 802 | 0.44% |
| Craitish | 277 | 0.15% |
| Senyan | 33 | 0.02% |
| Others | 1,039 | 0.57% |
| Total | 181,152 | 100.00% |
