First, the official statement in the By-Laws on religion.

ARTICLE XIII: POLICY ON RELIGION

Religion and spiritual life were very important to the people of the middle ages.

While this usually implied the Catholic Church, in the 14th Century there is evidence that Pagan faiths survived in many forms. Further, the current resurgence in devotion to those requires a policy on religious and magical usage, these shall be as follows.

A. CEREMONIAL PERFORMANCE

Any ceremony performed in a court or in any setting that creates a captive audience shall be sufficiently ecumenical in nature that the majority of those present shall not be offended or have their own religious views belittled or disclaimed. The exception of this rule is a ceremony of Knighthood in any Roll. It shall be the right of the Knight candidate to be dubbed to the service of any deity(s) and have the ceremony run by any (or no) religious leader, save that the accolade shall be bestowed by a Knight. The Knight holding a ceremony involving a particular religious belief must have that fact announced by an attending herald to advise the populace of the religious leanings, if any, of the ceremony.

B. PARTICIPATION

No ceremony shall be held in such a way as to force participation by an unwilling party or parties.

C. RESTRICTION OF EFFECTS

No ceremony shall be conducted that will cause magical or psychic affects to a person or persons who has not knowingly agreed to be subjected to those affects.

D. CLERICAL PERSONAE, TITLES, AND CONSENT

Any member shall have the right to have a religious or clerical persona, however no member shall assume a title that implies nobility without consent of the Imperial Crown regardless of their rank or station in a religious society, group and/or body.

[End quote]

While we all agree that we choose to belong to a re-creation society that does not require religious conformity, the first statement of Article XIII ("Religion and spiritual life were very important to the people of the middle ages.") highlights a lack in the structure of other medieval organizations. Religion was very important; the Church (i.e. Roman Catholic Church) dominated much of life for much of the Middle Ages. (The Protestant Reformation is in our period.) Yet, other groups "re-create" the Middle Ages as if the Church never existed.

In the late 1980's/early 1990's the Imperial Estates chose to supply the lack in our game. By Estates Writ, the Church of Adria was created. Its purpose is to help provide the pomp and ceremony that would have been attendant at coronations, investitures, etc. in the Middle Ages. Of necessity, there could be no content, dogma or doctrine; the Church must be adaptable enough to accommodate providing grandeur to any and every State event. Thus arose the popular saying that the Church believes everything and nothing. (Or, as some put it, "We believe everything, so we'll believe anything.)

As originally conceived, the Church was also to be a means by which a person could choose ecclesiastical titles rather than secular ones. One of the problems with the development of the Church of Adria has been that most of the leaders of the Church have also been deeply involved in secular "politics" (i.e. running subdivisions, the Empire, etc.). Thus, promotion and development of the Church has languished somewhat. For example, I have served as the Patriarch (titular head of the Church; chosen instead of "pope" for a variety of reasons) for several years, even during the time that I wore the Crown of Emperor. (At one coronation ceremony I also served in place of the chancellor; thus, for one brief moment, all power both secular and sacred rested upon one individual. Scary, isn't it?)

There is also a mechanism for creating "saints" in Adria. The idea was to develop a calendar that would have feast days, etc. based on the Game rather than upon the Roman saints. This has undergone some modification, but the mechanism still exists.

For much of its existence, the Church of Adria has very much been the handmaiden of the Imperial Estates and still pronounces its blessings in the name of the Church, the Imperium and the Populace of Adria. About two years ago the Imperial Estates affirmed the right of the Church to order its own internal affairs. Since then some changes have been made, and others are "in the works."

At the present moment, the following hold true.

The structure of the Church is being modified slightly. A subdivision is entitled to one Bishop per 30 members (irrespective of houses, estates or political alliances). For every three Bishops, one may be elevated to the rank of Archbishop. NEW: For every three Archbishops, one may be elevated to the rank of Cardinal. The Church retains for retired Patriarchs the designation "titular Cardinal." This will allow for continued growth within the subdivisions, and those who wish to pursue the churchly path may do so. In addition, anyone may assume a clerical or religious persona. Currently, I am in communication with a group that wishes to organize itself as a religious house. (We have "ships" as houses on the Estates, why not a "monastery"?)

The recognition of saints has also changed. Originally, the Church was to recognize as a saint anyone who had performed either three "miracles" or three "diabolical acts." During our Time of Trouble, it became apparent that many of those who had been awarded sainthood in the past were unworthy of the title. Additionally, the Synod of Bishops did not want to populate our calendar with live saints walking around. After all, in the Middle Ages, one had to be dead in order to be declared a saint. In seeking a solution, the Church realized that an example was already at hand in the Cult of St. Bela. Now, rather than proclaiming those who "perform" a miracle or diabolical act to be saints, the Church recognizes that these events were done for the benefit of said person by the saint. After attestation of at least two miracles or diabolical acts and application by the individual or group seeking recognition for their "saint," the Church considers declaring the person worthy of veneration (i.e. "venerable"). After a year the Church will consider beatification (i.e. "blessed"). After another year and attestation of at least one more miracle or diabolical act (for a total of three), the Church will consider canonization (i.e. sainthood). At that point, the Church will officially recognize the cult of the saint, and the person or group on whose behalf the miracles have occurred may regularize the cult of the saint. Of course, official recognition often lags behind popular recognition (both in the Middle Ages and in Adria). Many times a person is called "saint" by the masses long before recognition by the Church. (Remember, the Church does not *make* anyone a saint; she merely recognizes that status.)

Currently there are four saints recognized by the Church of Adria; two of them are anomalies. St. Bela is recognized by the Church. For more information, I would refer you to the Premier Paladin of the Order of St. Bela, Sir Stefan Belsky. (I hope I got the spelling right, Sir Stefan.) St. Alquis is also recognized by the Church. For information about St. Alquis, address yourself to Sir Jéhan. From before the reorganization comes St. Ce'Wolf. Little has been done on his behalf, and he is our only living saint. The final instance is probably the most notorious of the cases: St. Warhammer.

For many years Sir Johan Warhammer had been trying to get recognized as a saint under the old system. His case did not proceed because of the many disturbances within the Empire during this time. Before he could be canonized, the system changed, and a living person could not be proclaimed a saint. In frustration Sir Warhammer tried to secede from the Church of Adria. [N.B.: Since Imperial Writ recognizes only one Church within Adria, there can be only one.] For this act, the Archbishop of Terre Neuve declared Sir Johan a schismatic and excommunicated him. The Patriarch affirmed the excommunication. At the same time, now that Sir Johan was "dead to the Church," there was no impediment to his canonization. Therefore, at the same time the Church promulgated the decree of St. Warhammer. ("Maccabeus sanctus est.")This created the situation of an excommunicate being a saint of the Church. It is wonderfully ironic and redolent of the complexities of the Middle Ages. [Stop and think: should Sir Johan ever recant his schism and be received once again into the bosom of the Church, he will no longer be "dead" and therefore no longer qualify for canonization. At the same time, the Cult of St. Warhammer will always be part of the Church of Adria. In fact, the Church maintains as holy relics a lock of hair and some teeth from St. Warhammer. Most recently the Patriarch displayed them at Banner War in Umbria.] The Cult of St. Warhammer also illustrates the fact that a following and adoration may well precede official recognition by the Church.

In Aragon, there has been activity on the part of the "Cult of St. Bovinus." At the Bishops' Synod last Imperial War, Bovinus was not accorded recognition because of lack of attestation of any miracles or diabolical acts. Other groups have their own "patron saints" and are invited to submit their names with attestation for consideration by the Church.

I hope this hasn't gotten too long and involved for you.

There are two matters pending that merit special attention. In conjunction with the Imperial Sovereign of Arms, the Church is developing a "Book of Ceremonies" for use at coronations, investitures, oath takings and rituals of various sorts. We would like to include regional variants, customs and traditions. So, if anyone has anything to contribute, please forward them either to Sir Nigel or to Sir Jéhan. [Click above to get Sir Jéhan's e-mail address.]

The other work in progress is development of ecclesiastical heraldry.

Currently the Church of Adria does not have a website. However, if you have questions feel free to contact me. (Sir Jéhan; the Patriarch. E-mail by clicking on name in heading.)

Yours in Service to the Good,

Sir Jéhan
Patriarch