Sotirianity

An artist's depiction of the Crucifixion of Jesus, a major event in Sotirianity. The Cross became an important symbol of Sotirianity.

Sotirianity is a monotheistic religion based on the teachings of Jesus, who is considered the Son of God and as Sotiras. It is the most practiced religion in the world with over 1.5 billion adherents, known as Sotirians, comprising over 30% of the world's population. Its beliefs and practice varies considerably between its many different denominations, but most generally hold that Sotirias preached, was executed on a cross, and rose from the dead to redeem mankind from transgressions merited through original sin.

Sotirianity emerged from Atudism during and after the life of Jesus, around two millennia ago, in modern day Tsabara in the Solarian Empire. In the first century, conflict between Jesus's principal followers, the twelve apostles, and his self-proclaimed son Ezekiel resulted in the split of early Sotirian communities, which came known as the Great Schism. The Apostolic Church continued in Adunis before spreading to Euclea under the influence of Saint Paul and moving to Solaria under Saint Peter, while the Ezekielite Brethren Church remained in Bahia and in other communities before being largely repressed in the fourth to sixth centuries. The church of the apostles, continued through their sucessors known as bishops, was persecuted throughout the Solarian Empire, yet grew and spread in spite of persecution until they eventually became the state religion of the late Empire. Other groups during this time also claimed to be Sotirian in origin, such as the Eclectism, also existed, but were considered as heresy by many bishops. In the following centuries, major controversies over the nature of Sotirias would cause conflict in the Church, leading to several ecumenical councils of bishops from all over Sotirianity, which led to the development of conciliar Creeds, or statements of belief, which would prove definitive in the solidification of mainline Sotirian dogma. Disputes over spiritual authority and theological and liturgical practice between the Churches in Eastern Euclea and Western Euclea began to develop and manifest themselves throughout the later centuries. In the fourteenth century, the division became entrenched during the Iconoclast Crisis, which saw the Episemialist Church seperate from the Solarian Catholic Church in the Lesser Schism in 1385. In the sixteenth century, the Amendist Reaction would see Solarian Sotirianity divided once more, causing bloodshood and political conflict throughout northern Euclea, with Amendism become a prominent branch of Sotirianity. Sotirianity would spread to much of the rest of the world during the rise of colonialism, where it was introduced by Euclean colonisers to native or slave populations, and has also spread through missionary work. In the modern era, other branches of Sotirianity or syncretic religions with Sotirian elements arose, such as Sapientianism.

Sotirianity was a major source of cultural and intellecutal development in Euclea and around the world, being instrumental in the development of philosophy, education, art, music, architecture, and health care. It continues to remain a prominent religion in many nations and is growing in certain geographic areas of Bahia and Coius, although its influence has been readily declining in traditionally Sotirian Euclea. The four largest branches of Sotirianity are Solarian Catholicism, followed by Episemialism, then Amendism, and lastly the Brethren Church.

Etymology

"Sotirianity" is based on the word "Sotiras", which is the epithet attached to Jesus, coming from the Ancient Piraean σωτήρ ("soter") and meaning "saviour", in recognition of the belief that Jesus Sotiras redeemed humanity by his death.

History

Sotirianity was and is.

Early Sotirianity and the Great Schism

Traditional accounts of Sotrianity, held by most Sotirians, hold that historically Jesus Sotirias preached a new message called the "Gospel", suffered and died around the year 33 after being crucified by Atudite and Solarian authorities, rose again from the dead, and ascended into heaven after appearing again to his followers. Most scholars agree that Soritias is a historical figure around the rough time period held by traditional Sotirian historiography, although the nature of precisely what he preached and did is debated, or to what extent he was trying to found a new religion. Sotirias did not leave behind any writings, but writings about him exist from those who were, or at least claimed to be, his disciples.

A few years following the ascension, in about 46 AD, and despite early Sotirian persecution from local authorities, conflict between the twelve Apostles and Ezekiel over the nature of Sotirias' teaching and structures of authority. Ezekiel and his followers claimed that he was the Khristos and the son of Sotirias and Mary Magdalene, which the Apostles rejected, saying that both Jesus and Mary Magdelene were celibate. This formed a schism, sometimes called the Great Schism, in the early Sotirian community. According to traditional accounts of the Ezekielites, Ezekiel is believed by to have gone into hiding (occultation) in 47 AD, and for the next 12 years, until AD CE and his ascension, communicated to his following only through the Pulon. Mainstream Sotirian churches, who deny Ezekiel’s claimed lineage from Sotiras, believe that he died in 47 CE and his death was covered up by his followers, and instead claim descent from the churches founded by the Apostles.

The Twelve Apostles

Of Sotirias' followers, the principal there were a group of twelve Apostles, also called the "Twelve", who were tasked with spreading the Gospel to all nations. Traditional branches of Sotirianity hold them to be the authorities of the early Church from which Bishops and priests are descended from, forming a continuity with the earliest Church called Apostolic sucsession. Peter was held to be their principal leader, but it is disputed whehter or not his successors deserve more than mere symbolic pride of place. After the Amednist reaction, Amendist scholars tend to lessen their distinction from the other elders of the early Church, and downplay the authority of Peter's successors. One of the original twelve, Judas Iscariot, betrayed Sotirias and committed suicide, but was soon replaced in his office by Matthias. In addition to the Twelve, a thirteenth apostle, Paul, was an important missionary in the early Church who was the first apostle to really journey to Euclea, branching out from the Atudite community towards the other. Much of the details surrounding the early church are hard to verify historically, so much of the details about the apostles outside of the Holy Scriptures falls to sacred tradition, recorded in the table below.

Image	Apostle	Apostolic Sees	Notes
	Simon Peter	Solaria	Brother of Andrew. Considered the leader of the Apostles and the head of the early Church; traditionally said to have been martyred head downwards in Solaria in the between 64-68.
	James the Great	Santiago Réquiescia	Son of Zebedee, brother of John. First of the apostles to be matyred by decapitation as is recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. According to tradition, his remains are buried in Paretia at the city of Santiago Réquiescia, Visega, and that he preached in Paretia before his matrydom in Adunis.
	John	!Ephesus?, Istros	Son of Zebedee, brother of James. Traditionally held to be the writer of the Gospel of John, three Epistles and the Book of Revelation. Preached in Piraea before being exiled from the Empire to the city of Istros. The only Apostle traditionally held not to suffer martyrdom, on account of his presence during the Crucifixion of Jesus.
	Andrew	Arciluco	Brother of Peter, also called the First-Called, traditionally held to have preached in Piraea and Amathia. Held to have been martyred on a crux decussata.
	Philip	?	Evangelized all throughout the cities of modern Tsabara, and later martyred by crucifixion.
	Bartholomew	Qufeira? Balad Kafin?	Traditionally identified as Nathaniel in the Fourth Gospel. Evangelized and in northern Zorasan, was martyred by being flayed alive.
	Matthew	?	A former tax collector, held to be the writer of the Gospel of Matthew, which was targeted to the Atudite community he was preaching. Later journeyed to Etruria and was martyred by decapitation.
	Thomas	Parvat	Travelled to Satria and founded Sotirian communities there.
	James the Less	Adunis	Traditionally identified with James the Just and James, son of Alphaeus, he is traditionally identified as the leader of the Church in Adunis and its first bishop.
	Jude Thaddeus	?	Evangelized in modern Nise and Sohar. Beheaded with an axe.
	Simon	?	Evangelized in modern Behera. Martyred by being being sawn in half.
	Matthias	Verlois	Selected by the Apostles to fill the place of Judas Iscariot. Evangelized in modern Gaullica, later martyred in Estmere.
	Paul	Solaria, Montecara, many others	Not one of the original Twelve, he first persecuted Sotirians before later converting and becoming one. The first apostle to leave Coius to preach to the Euclean portions of the Solarian Empire, he was an instrumental figure in the early Church and an important writer of most of the books in the New Testaments. He came and preached to many of the cities throughout Piraea, Etruria, Emessa and even Montecara, establishing many Churches on multiple journeys. Was later taken to Solaria and martyred in close proximity with Peter.

Solarian Persecution and Growth

Despite the Apostolic churches becoming the dominant sect over the Ezekielites during the Great Schism, nevertheless early Sotirian communites were not entirely monolithic; as Sotirianity communities soon spread across the Solarian Empire, and adopted different belief systems. Different early sects, including Gnostic sects, already had sprung up by late first century, claiming to be Sotirian. These were condemned by prominent bishops of Apostolic sees or claiming descent in tradition from the Apostles as being heretical. Other heresies, deemed contrary to the teachings of Sotirias and his Apostles, excluded from the communities which became the main church body would include Alexanderism, Lucretianism, Eleutherianism, Montanism and Adoptionism. Some scholars have claimed that these may more accurately reflect early Sotirianity better than the eventual "orthodox" church positions; however, this is disputed.

As Sotirianity grew, it became targeted by Solarian authorities, many of whom saw it variously as a dangerous supersition destroying the mores of Solarian society, criminal and unlawful activities, or committing treason by subverting Solarian authority. Although the extent of persecution is debated by scholars, varied significantly from Emperor to Emperor and province to province and depended on many factors, Sotirian communities recorded, in writing or through oral tradition, persecutions by the Solarian state. Periods of effectual toleration were followed by other times of heavy persecution. Because of persecution, the Sotirian Church began glorifying martyrs who gave their lives for the faith, and faced controversies over what to do with members who yielded to threats of violence and committed apostasy. Despite of persecution, however, the numbers of Sotirians across the Empire continued to grow and expand.

The Church Ascendant

After persecution of the Sotirian Church by the Solarian Emperors ended with in the third century, the major growth of Sotirians throughout the Empire's territory caused numerous ideas to be posited about the nature of Sotirias and his teaching which were deemed as heretical by certain authorities in the Church. This lead to the intervention of the Solarian Emperors on multiple occasions, calling together the Bishops of the Church in a general or ecumenical council, which was considered a gathering of the whole church. The councils proved important for bringing together and confirming the theology of the main Sotirian Church, although not all Sotirians agreed with their decisions, and for resolving disputes within the now predominant religion of the Empire.

Later, Sotirianity would become the state religion of the Sotirian Empire. Several Emperors used political force to follow the decisions of the Councils, although others wanted to see compromise instead of the supposed rigidity of the Church's beliefs. After the fall of the Solarian Empire, the authority of Solaria and Adunis, the first two sees which were recognised as having Patriarchal authority, began to diminish as the political capitals of the successor Emperors moved to Verlois and Arciluco. These represented by members of both churches, though generally were mostly attended by bishops who were in closer proximity to the city of the council.

In addition, the collapse of the Solarian Empire would lead to the sees of Verlois and Arciluco, both of which had claimed ties to Aposotolic origin, to also be recognised as Patriarchal Sees, though not without dispute. This led to the development an idea of the Tetrarchy, a claimed status of the four primary Patriarchs of the Church- Solaria, Adunis, Arciluco, and Verlois- as equal in status, with Bishop of Solaria, known as the the Pope, being the greatest, although to what exact extent the Tetrarchy existed and to what degree the Papacy possesed primacy is debated by scholars and Catholic and Episemialist apologists.

Over time, the common liturgy and influence of the Popes began to see authority of the Eastern consolidated under the Pope, who began to excercise more authority as time went on. Although there were conflicts, Adunis and Verlois were aligned with Solaria, while the political authority and liturgical differences in Western Euclea resulted in the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Arciluco becoming more independent of the Eastern Churches. During this time, there were serious disputes and controversies over matters such as the Filioque, Eucharistic differences, and Hesychasm, however, the foremost issue was the Papal primacy. Nevertheless, both Eastern and Western Churches remained united until the Iconoclast Crisis brought tensions to a boiling point in 1385.

Ecumenical Councils Accepted by both the Solarian and Episemialist Churches

Council	Date	Convoked by	President	Topics	Language	Notes
First Council of Dyophysitis	303	!Constantine	Minor Bishop + (Emperor)	Arianism, Easter, many others	Piraean	Called in response to the Arian controversy, it produced the first version of the Dyophysitist Creed and stressed the importance of the Son being Homoousion with the Father.
Council of Tyrrhenus	354	Solarian Emperor	Pope Stephen II	Arianism, Apollinarism, Lucretianism, Holy Spirit	Piraean	Amended the Dyophysitist Creed, particularly in regards to the Holy Spirit.
Second Council of Dyophysitis	395	Solarian Emperor	Patriarch of Adunis	Nestorianism, Theotokos, Nature of Sotirias	Piraean	Condemned Nestorius and established Mary's title of Theotokos.
Council of Montecara	417	Solarian Emperor	Pope Eusebius	Donatism, Manichaeism, Gnosticism, Pelagianism	Solarian	The prominent figure of the council was St. Augustine, and the decrees condemned several prominent heretical movements at the time. First Council conducted in Solarian. Supported earlier Synods which dealt with the Biblical canon, but did not make a definitive statement.
Council of Antaradus	475	Adeodatus I	Patriarch of Arciluco	Monophysitism, Arciluco and Verlois's Patriarchal status, the Tetrarchy	Piraean	Centred around Sotirological debates, it was fundamental for putting forth the Antaradian Definition and clarifying the Hypostasis of Sotirias's two natures in one person. Also notable for its establishment of the Tetrarchy and the disputed elevation of Arciluco and Verlois to Patriarchal Sees.
Council of Verlois	535	Merovigin	Patriarch of Verlois	Pelagianism, Divine Grace, Free Will	Solarian	Largely expanded upon the Council of Montecara and came out against Semi-Pelagianism but still supported Synergism.
First Council of Arciluco	634	Arcilucan Emperor	Patriarch of Arciluco	Monothelitism, the human and divine energies wills of Jesus	Piraean	Condemned both monoenergism and monothelitism, also condemned other heretics and reaffirmed a condmenation of Nestorius.
First Council of Solaria	1084	Pope Pius III	Pope Pius III	Investiture, Ceaseropapism and Simony condemned	Solarian	First Council Called by a Pope, set during a confrontation with Emperor Philippe III over the status over the selection of Bishops. Also dealt with matters of clerical discipline and selling of offices.
Council of Lavelle	1199	Pope Leo II	Patriarch of Verlois	Transubstantiation, Catharism	Solarian	Defined Transubstantiation (Metousiosis in the Piraean canons), condemned Catharism, and promoted support for the Crusades.

Ecumenical Councils Accepted by the Episemialist Church

Council	Date	Convoked by	President	Topics	Notes
Second Council of Arciluco	677	Arcilucan Emperor	Patriarch of Arciluco	Disciplinary Matters, ritual observances	Made up of Bishops of the Western Church, it condemned several ritual practices, as well as endorsed several historical synods and councils. The Council was not recieved in the Eastern Solarian Church, and regarded as only applying to the clergy of the Western Church.
Council of Lenovo	1385	Vasil I	Alexander III	Iconoclasm	Called in the middle of the Iconoclast Crisis after the fall of the Empire of Arciluco, it failed to resolve the Iconoclast Schism.
Third Council of Arciluco	1475	Ivan I	Patriarch of Arciluco	Hesychasm	Supported the writings of Gregory Palamas and maintained that Hesychasm was a legitimate form of prayer.
Council of Samistopol	1653	Simeon I	Patriarch of Arciluco	Amendism	Drew up a formal confession for Episemialism against the theology in Amendism, and clarified the Biblical canon.

Denominations

There are many varieties of Sotirianity, typically divided organisationally, and each claiming to be the true successor to the original church established to uphold Sotirianity. One of the oldest, and the largest, is the Solarian Catholic Church, led by the Pope. Other main divisions of the religion include the Episemialist Church, which does not have a central authority like Catholicism, thus being divided into Patriarchates, foremost among which is the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Arciluco. Amendism is a name for those churches which seceded from the Catholics in the mid second millennium CE, seeking to amend their doctrine and practices; there are many Amendist churches of wide variance, including the Church of Azmara and the Church of Caldia. There is also the Brethren Church, mainly active in Satucin.