High Phœnissa of Aurice
The High Phœnissa is the priestly and ecclesiastical head of the Aurician Cult of the Golden Phœnice which is the state religion of the Noble Republic of Aurice. The cult was instituted by Grand Duke Stalcast Bijäl in the year 2576. The priestess of the dwarven cult of the dragon-phœnix was brought from the Jaggudorns and ordained Mekarna, wife to Stalcast, in 2576 to be the first High Phœnissa of Aurice. She then organized the first priestesses of the same in 2576, choosing principally from her daughters and the daughters of Stalcast's two concubines. The High Phœnissa serves for life, unless she is removed from office by the Noble Senate.
Succession
During the Grand Duchy of Aurice, the sitting High Phœnissa chose her successor who was approved by the Grand Duke. After the revolution, the Noble Senate assumed the power to select the successor from the College of Phœnissæ, considering first the recommendations of the deceased High Phœnissa. In two instances in the early 27th century, the successor has been the daughter of the previous High Phœnissa. Due to perceived corruption, the Noble Senate by custom and precedent will not choose a daughter of the previous High Phœnissa to succeed. However, the daughter will still be eligible to be a member of the College of Phœnissæ and usually is. The Noble Senate has power to remove the High Phœnissa from office only for betraying the Noble Republic or for a serious crime. This has occurred only once in the history of the office.
Duties and Privileges
The High Phœnissa presides over all observances of the cult. She approves candidates to become members of the College of Phœnissae. She governs the College of Phœnissæ and appoints its members to various offices and functions pertinent to the cult. She also selects the man who will be the Captain of the Phœnician Guard who is usually her legal consort. She becomes a senatrice with the rank of duke by virtue of her station as High Phœnissa and may sit enthroned with the Noble Senate on the Mensary. The High Phœnissa is governess of the temple and can legally bar any person from entry including Noble Senators. By means of this, the High Phœnissa in the past has provided sanctuary for persons. She selects from the College of Phœnissæ women to be priestesses of the Temples of the Golden Phœnice throughout the Aurician Empire. She is supreme judge of any matter in Aurician law which directly pertains to ecclesiastical law of the cult. This is limited in practice to members of the College of Phœnissæ and offences done within the sanctuaries of the Golden Phœnice, but can also apply to high officers of the Noble Republic who make any grievous public offense towards the cult.
Conditions Applicable to Marital Status
After the Aurician Revolution, the Noble Senate upheld the officially recognized status of the cult. The High Phœnissa continues to be chosen from among the female descendants of Stalcast Bijäl by his wife Mekarna and his two concubines. She is always considered a senatrice in rank. By custom and later by law, she is not married to a husband, but to a consort whom she customarily selects to be the Captain of the Phœnician Guard. In law, she is regarded as an 'inactive' queen and consequently any man who would marry her as her social equal in rank would legally be the King of Aurice, that is pretending to the office of monarch of Aurice, such as a king or a grand duke.
See Also
- Aurician Cult of the Golden Phœnice
- Dragon-Phœnix
- List of the High Phœnissæ of Aurice
- Temple of the Golden Phœnice (Aurice)
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