Arathracianism

The eight-pointed Solifix represents the eight points of the sun.

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. Today any human can potentially be baptized into the Arathracian Religion.

Core Beliefs

• As Arathrax is the continuation of the son 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
• 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.

• Coming of the Yophentheans: This records 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.

• Law of the Sixteen Golden Tablets: 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

Instructional Texts

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
• 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.

Sources

Primary Sources

• Against Zebdomanius, ca. 870

Secondary Sources

• Ancient and Holy Points of the Sun, The, 2487, Midrevain dhal Tuicha Galtaha
• Archotheistic Heliolatry in the Post-Schismatic Arathracian Communion

See Also

• Aireánnau Mother of the Folk
• Arathracian (disambiguation)
• Arathracian Catechism
• Arathracian Prayers and Creeds
• Arathracian Scripture
• Arathraciot
• Arathrax
• Breviary
• Erechórebese Arathracian Church
• Gwavaliadh
• Processions of the Arathracian Religion
• Sixteen Stations of the Sun
• Skiánthra