Catholic Church (Verthandi)

Catholic Church
Latin: Ecclesia Catholica
Classification	Catholic
Scripture	Traditional Canon
Theology	Catholic theology Thomism
Polity	Episcopal
Head	Jesus Christ
Pope	Adeodatus XVII
Administration	Alpanan Curia
Particular Churches and Rites Sui Iuris	Alpanan Church, and 23 Eastern Catholic Churches
Dioceses	Archdioceses: ????? Dioceses: ?????
Parishes	??????
Region	Universal
Language	Alpanian
Liturgy	Western and Eastern Rites
Headquarters	Ecclesiastical Estate
Founder	Jesus
Origin	33 AD Solyma, Alpanan Republic
Clergy	Bishops: ????? Priests: ????? Deacons: ?????

The Catholic Church (Alpanian: Ecclesia Catholica), is the original and largest Epiphanian Church and largest organized religion in Verthandi. Founded by Jesus Epiphanes in the first century AD, it was spread and overseen across the world by grace of the Holy Spirit through the Apostles and their successors, the Bishops of the Church, administered on earth by the Vicar of Christ, the Bishop of Alpana, currently Adeodatus XVIII. The Church is spread out across the entire world of Verthandi. Over the centuries, several Epiphanian Churches have broken off, such as the Church of the East.

Name

At the very beginning of the Church, its members were known as followers of "The Way" and later as followers of Jesus Epiphanes, also known as "Epiphanians". The name Catholic (from Hellian: καθολικός, Alpanized: katholikos, Alpanian: Catholicus) signifies the universality of the Church, and came to encompass the nature of the universal authority of St. Peter and all of his successors, the Popes, over all the particular Churches as one single Church of Christ. The term was used extensively by Church fathers, and eventually became to be the particular name applied to the Church. The Four Marks of the Church, as laid out in the First Council of Penesa and the Penesan Creed, further show that the Church is One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic. It is one as the Body of Christ is one, it is Holy through being set apart by God and made Holy through his grace, it is Catholic because it is universal, and it is Apostolic because it inherits the tradition and teaching of the Apostles and has Apostolic succession.

Organization

The Catholic Church, as the Body of Epiphanes, is headed by Jesus Epiphanes, who reigns at the Right Hand of the Father in Heaven. There are three distinct states which the Church is divided into, depending on the state of the members. The Churches Militant, Penitent, and Triumphant are the the members of the Church in Heaven, in Purgatory, and on Earth, respectively. The Church Militant is the Church visible on Verthandi, and has many functions of a human institution, although it is only sustained through Divine Grace. The chief temporal steward of the Church is the Supreme Pontiff, the Pope and Bishop of Alpana.