An eight-rayed Solifix. Midjourney v6.

The religion of the Arathracian Churches of the Pallathantic and many Arathracian Sects is called Arathracianism. Although they differ with regard to leadership and some matters of doctrine, Arathracians acknowledge the special mission of Aireánnau Mother of the Folk and her Eight Sons in bringing the power and salvation of the god Arathrax to the world. Sacraments and other practices of Arathracians developed from very ancient beliefs in the third century surrounding Arathrax, Aireánnau, and her eight demi-mortal sons. Arathracians honor a body of Saints whom they recognize as having entered into the afterlife or presence of their god Arathrax. Many of the holy sites for Temples and Chapels have been held so since ancient times and some of which has supplanted earlier heritage sites to the various Isxinthion and pre-Isxinthion gods. Originally, the religion of Arathrax was practiced only by Yophentheans, particularly the Arathraciots who claimed lineal descendancy from the eight sons of Aireánnau. With the progress of the Yophenthean Empire, foreign princes and their commoner subjects were inculcated with the beliefs of Arathracianism and the doctrine expanded to accept converts from other lands. With the progress of the ages, the application of the Church expanded to become universal both in theology and practice. Today any human regardless of ancestry can potentially be baptized into the Arathracian Religion with proper catechism, vows, sacraments, and observances.

The cultural and political influence of Arathracianism persists today through custom and the theocratic power of Arathracian Churches. The church upholds the principles of the Accord of the Princes of Law and actively opposes the worship and cult practices of Chaos. The Arathracian Commonwealth is the international treaty of friendship among theocratic Arathracian states. In the aftermath of the Isbajutha, the Erechorebese and Pytharnian Churches were reunited as part of the Concordat of Ddwbha. In modern times, the Arathracian Church enjoys treaties of peace and tolerance with other religions, most notably the Incarnandist General Congregation through the Great Tambrigaline Concordat with Oliblish.

Arathracian architecture can be found in innumerable temples dedicated to the god Arathrax and in countless shrines dedicated to Arathracian saints. The domed basilica is an iconic landmark in many cities of the Pallathantic.

Artist's depiction of Arathrax driving chariot of the sun

Core Beliefs

As Arathrax is the continuation of the sun god, Amrulon, so the human race is the continuation of the divine race
The god Arathrax begot eight sons by the mortal maiden, Aireánnau
The Arathraciot priests in ancient times taught humans the will and power of Arathrax
Arathrax has enabled humans to live in the presence of the sun gods in the life-to-come
Sacred rites of washing purifies the spirit and enables one to come to a state whereby it is possible to dwell in the presence of divinity

Arathracian Scripture

Main article: Arathracian Scripture

Today the most important scriptures of the Erechórebese Arathracian Church are gathered in the Book of Arathrax. Although many modifications have been made the main order of the texts was decided in the eleventh century by the Arathracian Church.

Book of Arathrax

Coming of the Yophentheans: This record gives a very brief account of the gods, the creation of the world, the creation of the various humanlikes, the emigration of the goldenlings from Pytharnia to Erechóreb, and the rise of the Yophenths.
Ascent of Aireánnau: attributed to third century, gives life of Saint Aireánnau Mother of the Folk, including the magnificat.
Commandments of Arathrax: ca 250 to 550, revelations to the Arathraciot and Calántuvese kings, starting with Erithraigean

Ancillary Texts

These are texts which are very important to the church, but not deemed sufficiently worthy of inclusion in the Book of Arathrax. They give insight into the core beliefs of Arathracians in ancient times and in modern times.

Sixteen Tablets of Arathrax: The laws of the Yophentheans in 5th century; considered useful for understanding the Yophentheans at the time when Classical Arathracianism emerged.
Bryndydine Gloss: 700's, originally text written by a learned Arathracian priest of Bryndyd in the margin of his copy of the Commandments of Arathrax, it became an object of study in its own right. The Bryndydine Gloss explicates the meaning of the original text and is an important resource for scholars of Classical Arathracianism. The work has famously been subjected to later glosses.
Holy City of Arathrax: 1073, Theological Treatise by Saint Agostof of Delesphao.

Books of Prayer

These books are not original sources, but were and are compiled by the church for the use of priests and laity.

Breviary

Sacraments and Performances

Daily Purification by ritual washing in the echteal of the Temple of Arathrax
Animal Sacrifice in behalf of the community to the god Arathrax, performed outside of the Temple of Arathrax
Rites of Arathrax
Temple rites performed at sunrise, sunset, high noon; special versions performed on Winter Solstice, Summer Solstice, Spring Equinox, and Autumnal Equinox
Personal Prayers and Temple Prayers
Aireannavese Rite
Solification of a Saint, performed by the Sunfather and the Arathracian College
Anointing of a new priest or an existing priest into a higher office
Sollevation of the deceased, today reserved for priests

Arathracian Priesthood

Main article: Arathracian Clergy

The Arathracian Priesthood is the body of men who are priests of Arathrax in the Church. In the Erechórebese Arathracian Church, they acknowledge the hierarchy supremacy of the Erechórebese Sunfather over the earthly church.

Arathracian Temple

Main article: Arathracian Temple

An Arathracian Temple is a great edifice of imposing beauty, essential for many sacraments and performances of the Arathracian Religion. Arathracian Temples have existed since roughly the fourth century.

Arathracian Liturgy

Main article: Gonchambadh

Prescribed worship as a community is performed in Arathracian Temples according to the Arathracian Liturgy for the gonchambadh.

Arathracian Religious Motifs

Arathracian Cycle

The Theft of the Golden Horses of the Sun
The Rescue of Rhio from the gods of Chaos
The defeat of the gods of Darkness

Skiánthran Cycle

The Descent of Skiánthra to Aireánnau
The Baptism of Aireánnau by Skiánthra
The Ascent of Skiánthra

Aireannavese Cycle

The Visitation of Skiánthra to Saint Aireánnau
The Seeding of Saint Aireánnau's Bath
The Parturition of Saint Arathracius
The First Visitation of the God Arathrax to mother and son
The Struggle of Saint Aireánnau (struggle with father the king)
The visitation of the solar gods in disguise
The Transformation of Saint Aireánnau
The Rapture of Saint Aireánnau

Erithraigean Cycle

Extra-Canonical

Arathrax Rescues Rhio from the gods of Chaos

Chronology of Arathracianism

Main article: Chronology of Arathracianism

Ancestral Arathracianism

ca 250 to ca 480, ca 230 years

Begins with Aireánnau Mother of the Folk

Arathrax is tribal god; other gods also important and propitiated.

Also High Mandonism (ca 500’s AI): mystical, philosophical monotheism; Philosophers (Vimalian, Ithatian, Ebinóëse)

High Arathracianism

ca 480 to 867, ca 387 years

ca?, monolotrous/henotheistic

779, Establishment of the Consistory of Erreach

867, Edict of Culfarran, Rites of Arathrax extended to any human who submitted

879: During the reign of the Yophenthean Priest-King Mamarra, the clerics of the church throughout the empire gathered in Aglidice to participate in what became known as the Council of Aglidice and established the Aglidicene Creed which defines the nature of the godhood of Arathrax and the centrality of his mission to the salvation of humans.

Transitional or Imperial Arathracianism

867 to 990, ca 123 years

Begins with Edict of Culfarran, 867

Adaptation of principles from High Mandonism

Ecclesiastical Discord sparks relapse to Old Religion

990, Council of Galtaherra ( Supreme Church Council of Rhafyx )

Ecumenical or Transcendent Arathracianism

990 to ?,

996, Ecumenical Council of Trevirs

1023, Fólmagaline Principle

1083, Bambdringotine Principle

Sources

Primary Sources

Against Zebdomanius, ca. 870
Book of Arathrax, complete version no longer extant
Book of the Wars of Arathrax
Bryndydine Gloss, ca 700's
Commandments of Arathrax, third through sixth centuries, part of Book of Arathrax
Eregioadine Sacramentary, 2231, compiled during reign of Eregioadh IV, 2,226 to 2,334
Holy City of Arathrax, The, 1073, Agostof of Delesphao
Sixteen Tablets of Arathrax, fifth century
Prince's Obligation, 1753, Encyclical of Sunfather Cambadheal I
Sons of Erithraigean, 419, Taspha dalc Pholmagailna

Arathracianism

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