The Church of the Heavenly Family is the dominant religious organization in Valoria. It is based on the teachings of Saint Ambrien, the prophet who was martyred. Empyreanism was founded by a man named Ambrien during the early days of the Valorian Republic. The church’s followers are known as Empyreanists.
The Church’s goal is to spread the knowledge of the Family to all four corners of the world and to all the races. The view of the church on non-humans is that they need saving – they are even further from the Family’s grace than humanity is. Once all people have accepted the Family and follow their precepts, the Family will return and lift the world to its proper glory.
Fire is a symbol of purity in the church, following the example of Saint Ambrien, who was cleansed of his sins as he was burned at the stake. Each church maintains a brazier lit with eternal flame in his memory; the most famous of these is the Hallowed Brazier at the Cathedral of St. Ambrien in Valoria.
Members of the church may also ritually ‘burn themselves’ by passing their hand over flame or burning a paper upon which their sins are written. In extreme cases, the faithful (or the deluded) may inflict branding or self-immolation upon themselves.
At the head of the Church is the Hierophant, who leads from his (or her) seat in the Cathedral of St. Ambrien. Below him are the Hands of Hierophant, who are his personal agents and act in his stead if he is not otherwise present. Below them are the Archbishops who are the church’s highest regional authorities. After a Hierophant dies, the Archbishops are required to travel to Valoria for the Concordance, a meeting where Church leadership elect the new Hierophant of the Church. Next are Bishops, then Abbots, and finally the priests, who are known as Brother or Sister. The Knights of St. Falco (The Order of the Sacred Flame) are a military order maintained by the Church to provide protection to the Cathedral of St. Ambrose and to the Hierophant. In the past they have been used to provide protection to the faithful and to combat those who would attempt to undermine the teachings and freedoms of the Family
Funeral rites of the Church involve the lighting of a ceremonial flame, symbolizing the burning of St. Ambrose and his spirit ascending to stand by the Throne of the Father, so too will the spirits of his followers. The practice of cremation may also be to ward off the possibility of the corpse becoming the subject of necromantic or demonic power. The areas of the empire furthest from the Church’s reach still have a hard time accepting this teaching, and it is often ignored.
Common sayings include: “May the blessings of the Family be upon you”, “May the Father protect you, Mother uphold you, and the Child bring you joy”
Church Leadership
- Hierophant
- Cardinals (Direct support to the Hierophant
- Archbishop of Aquileia
- Archbishop of Vyrantium
- Archbishop of
- Bishop of Ostwick
- Bishop of Rivain
- Bishop of Temris
- Bishop of Ellesmere
- Bishop of Kirkwall
- Bishop of Florentia