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| The '''Rite of the Sublime Return''' ([[Luziycan language|Luziycan]]: ''Obryad vozvyšennogo vozvraščeniya'') is a {{wp|new religious movement}} that was established in 1949 by [[Ilarion Kartashyov]] (1908-1983), and is based off of [[Costeny]] and {{wp|science fiction}}, with some influence from other religions.
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| | | Name = Surrow |
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| | | Image = File:Surrow_Flag.png |
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| | | Proportion = 5:8 |
| | | Adoption = 1916 |
| | | Design = A centred white [[Tyrnican cross]] on a Rythenean green field with the {{wp|Big Dipper}} on the canton |
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| It is currently led by Eparch [[Pavel Savrasov]] since the death of Kartashyov in 1983.
| | The '''flag of [[Surrow]]''' is the {{wp|national flag}} of Surrow. Designed in 1891 by [[Ervin Suchet]], it was adopted in 1916 after Surrow gained full {{wp|self-government}} from [[Rythene]] by the [[Parliament of Surrow|Surrowese Parliament]] the previous year over the [[#Red ensign|red ensign]] previously used until 1916, or [[Joerg Angstroem]]'s [[#Surrowese Tricolor|tricolor]], and retained its status as Surrow's flag after its independence from Rythene in 1950. |
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| ==Etymology== | | ==Design== |
| | The flag is comprised of a centred white [[Tyrnican cross]] on a Rythenean green field, with the {{wp|Big Dipper}} on the canton. |
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| ==History==
| | When the flag was designed by [[Ervin Suchet]] in 1891, the flag was made similar to the [[Flag of Rythene|Rythenean flag]] of that time, with Suchet declaring in a pamphlet which saw the flag be distributed that the green was to "symbolise our islands' indisputable Rythenean heritage," white "for the purity of the souls who inhabit this far northern land," the cross representing both "the [[Perendism#Symbols|Sword of Perende]] spreading civilisation" to the [[Native Surrowese]] and Surrow's "indisputable Rythenean heritage," and the Big Dipper "representing our land being the closest to the {{wp|North Pole}}." Suchet did not include any red in the flag design as he claimed that "no Surrowese blood has ever been spilled in any war." |
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| ==Beliefs==
| | However, per the [[Constitution of Surrow]], the green is meant to symbolise Surrow's {{wp|krummholz|tuckamore}} forests that cover much of [[Holcot Island]], the white is meant to symbolise the long winters that Surrow experiences, the cross is meant to symbolise Surrow's democratic traditions, and the Big Dipper is meant to represent Surrow's geographic position as the northernmost nation of [[Maurceania Major]]. |
| ===God===
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| Like mainstream [[Costeny]], they believe in the existence of a {{wp|God|True Lord}} (''pravi gospod'') which transcends all reality and has always been and will be eternal. As well, they also believe that his nature is beyond human comprehension, and nobody can ever become God.
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| However, followers of the Rite of the Sublime Return believe that the True Lord only created a single infinite {{wp|universe}}, as opposed to a {{wp|multiverse}}.
| | ==Historic flags== |
| | ===Red ensign=== |
| | [[File:Surrowese_red_ensign.png|250px|thumb|left|Red ensign]] |
| | The first Surrowese flag was adopted in 1859, when the Rythenean government granted the Colony of Surrow the right to have its own {{wp|civil ensign}} to be used by Surrowese civilian boats. The Surrowese red ensign is comprised of the Rythenean {{wp|red ensign}}, with the Rythenean flag in the canton, and the [[Coat of arms of Surrow|colonial seal]], comprised of the shield of the [[Coat of arms of Surrow|Surrowese coat of arms]] surrounded by the text "Colony of the Surrow Islands" on a white disk in the fly half. |
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| ===Creation of the Demiurge===
| | The red ensign became associated with the Surrowese colonial government, and in 1866, the red ensign was declared by the Surrowese colonial government to be its {{wp|state ensign}}, allowing ships owned by the Surrowese government to use the red ensign. From the 1870s onward, the Surrowese red ensign was increasingly used on land by both the colonial government and by Surrowese civilians, and in 1886, the colonial government officially adopted the Surrowese red ensign as its official flag, "to be used in all circumstances where a local flag is deemed neccessary," although the Rythenean flag remained a co-official flag of Surrow. By the 1890s, the Surrowese red ensign became the only flag regularly flown at government buildings, with the Rythenean flag being consigned to military bases or at [[Government House, Holcot Inlet|Government Inlet]]. |
| According to the beliefs of the Rite of the Sublime Return, the {{wp|Demiurge}} was once "an insignificant sector" of the universe. However, ninety million years ago, an angel who governed the sector, {{wp|Xenu|Diachoristis}} became {{wp|fallen angel|malicious and ruinous}}.
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| As part of his fall from grace, he sent "trillions of {{wp|thetans|beings}}" to [[Esquarium|Enydrium]], placed them around "twenty or so volcanoes," and then detonated them with {{wp|H-bombs}}. Following this incident, the True Lord separated "Diachoristis' sector" from the rest of the universe, so to prevent him from destroying the rest of the universe.
| | However, the Surrowese red ensign faced competition from both Suchet's flag and the Surrowese tricolor, leading to the Surrowese red ensign declining in popularity until it was replaced in 1916 with Suchet's flag design. The red ensign remained in use as a civil ensign until 1950, but by then, the red ensign has fallen into "virtually complete disuse" in favor of the Surrowese national flag. |
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| Thus, to this day, the Demiurge continues to be a celestial prison, "preventing humanity from ascending to its rightful status," and also preventing humanity from leaving the [[Solar system (Esquarium)|sector]].
| | ===Surrowese Tricolor=== |
| | [[File:Surrowese_Tricolour.png|250px|thumb|right|Surrowese Tricolor]] |
| | In 1887, [[Joerg Angstroem]] designed a green-white-blue {{wp|tricolor}} for the [[Fishermen's Protective Union (Surrow)|Fishermen's Protective Union]] as a party flag. According to Angstroem, green was meant to represent the Rythenean population, white was meant to represent Surrow's long winters, and blue was meant to represent the Tyrnican population, with Angstroem seeing the [[#Red ensign|red ensign]] used by the Surrowese government at the time as being "too Rythenean to be accepted by a sizable portion of the Surrowese population." |
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| ===Life===
| | Angstroem's flag became popular, with the flag being extensively promoted by the Fishermen's Protective Union throughout the late 1880s and early 1890s. By the mid-1890s, the Surrowese Tricolor became a popular flag, especially among Surrow's Tyrnican population. However, its rise in popularity among the Surrowese Tyrnican population led to a decline in the flag's popularity among Surrow's Rythenean population, especially in the context of the then-ongoing [[Surrowese language question]], with ethnic Rytheneans trending towards flying the red ensign, or towards Suchet's flag. This led to the Fishermen's Protective Union changing its flag in 1896 from the tricolor to a blue banner with a white fish. |
| Similar to [[Costeny|Cositenes]], followers of the Rite of the Sublime Return believe that life and sapience are divine substances, tracing themselves back to {{wp|divine essence}}.
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| However, unlike Cositenes, they believe that the primary life form is the {{wp|thetan|being}} (''suščestvo''), which is immortal and can reincarnate. According to [[Ilarion Kartashyov]], the being is "merely a creator," just like the {{wp|God|True Lord}}, but the being is inherently limited in the abilities to create, with Kartashyov claiming that "while the True Lord can create an infinite number of things in an instant, the being must take time to create objects."
| | With the outbreak of the [[First Great War (Levilion)|First Great War]] in 1908, the colonial government banned the Surrowese tricolor as the colonial government feared that the flag could be used by "traitors who seek to bring Surrow back under the Tyrnican yoke." Although the flag was relegalized in 1913 after Tyrnica negotiated a separate peace with the Coalition, high levels of anti-Tyrnicanism at the time meant that the Surrowese Tricolor was not adopted by the Surrowese government in 1916, and the flag largely fell into disuse until the mid-1940s, when the [[Independence League (Surrow)|Independence League]] adopted the flag and used it to promote Surrowese independence, with leader [[Todd Lester]] proposing that the flag be adopted as the flag of an "independent Surrow." |
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| The issue is that since {{wp|Xenu|Diachoristis}} created the {{wp|Demiurge}}, all human bodies are infested with {{wp|body thetans|body beings}}, which hinders the ability for them to have {{wp|free will}}. These beings over time accumulate {{wp|Engrams (Dianetics)|engrams}}, {{wp|Implants (Scientology)|implants}}, and other negative memories. | | However, [[Ted Fisher]]'s decision to keep the current Surrowese flag led to the Surrowese Tricolor falling back into disuse. The Surrowese Tricolor would only see a revival in the mid-1980s, with [[Deacon Parker]]'s administration encouraging its use as a "secondary Surrowese flag," with a particular focus on touristic areas. Since then, the Surrowese Tricolor has become more popular, particularly in and around [[Holcot Inlet]] and [[Tern Harbour]]. |
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| It is believed that in order to rid the body of these "accumulated properties," adherents must undergo a process of {{wp|Auditing (Scientology)|healing}} (''isceleniye'') until they reach the {{wp|Clear (Scientology)|Clear state}}. However, many are encouraged to become {{wp|Operating Thetans|operating beings}}, with the end goal of becoming {{wp|Supernatural abilities in Scientology doctrine#Cleared Theta Clear|completely clear beings}}.
| | ==Gallery== |
| | Below are a list of flags used by the Surrowese government in the modern day. |
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| ===Seal of the prophets===
| | <gallery>Surrow_Flag.png|National flag |
| While the Rite of the Sublime Return recognizes all prophets in [[Costeny#Two Lights|the White Light]] branch of [[Costeny]] that had been recognized by the Eparchate of Bethlehem prior to 1949, the first revelation that [[Ilarion Kartashyov]] received explicitly said that:
| | Surrow_presidential_standard.png|Presidential standard |
| | | Surrow_military_flag.png|Military flag |
| <blockquote>"''You shall be the {{wp|last prophet|last Cositene prophet}} before the return of [[Mstis]]: your task shall be to reform the faith so to enable it to destroy the {{wp|Demiurge}} and bring [[Esquarium|this world]] to the {{wp|Kingdom of God}}.''"</blockquote> | | Surrow_constabulary_flag.png|Constabulary flag</gallery> |
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| As a result, the Rite of the Sublime Return says that with the death of Kartashyov in 1983, there will be no further prophets until the return of [[Mstis]] and his liberation army.
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| ===Theophagy===
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| It is believed that only {{wp|Operating Thetans|Operating Beings}} are able to effectively [[Theophagy|consume false Gods]] and the {{wp|Demiurge}}.
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| This is a major reason why adherents of the Rite of the Sublime Return are encouraged to undergo regular {{wp|Auditing (Scientology)|healing sessions}} to rid the body of its accumulated properties that hinder the {{wp|thetan|being}} from achieving its true potential, and then once reaching the {{wp|Clear}} state, to learn how to consume false Gods, as well as receiving {{wp|psychic powers}} in order to help the person consume Gods.
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| As one goes up the levels of Operating Being, the being is able to consume Gods and other deities, until by the time one reaches the highest level, {{wp|Supernatural abilities in Scientology doctrine#Cleared Theta Clear|completely clear}}, they may be able to "consume some of the Demiurge."
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| [[Ilarion Kartashyov]] claimed in ''[[Returning to the Lord]]'' that "once one thousand people become completely clear, the {{wp|Demiurge}} will be mortally wounded, and if ten thousand people become completely clear, the Demiurge shall be destroyed."
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| ===Proselytism===
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| Like followers of [[Costeny|Cositenes]], followers of the Rite of Sublime Return believe in {{wp|proselytism|proselytizing}} new members to join the faith, with [[Ilarion Kartashyov]] claiming that "the more people join the Rite, the more people will start the journey to being free from the influence of the {{wp|Demiurge}}."
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| Thus, since the 1950s, the Rite of the Sublime Return has heavily focused their proselytism on {{wp|drug addicts}}, {{wp|prisoners}}, and the {{wp|LGBT community}}, as well as [[Shudri]] and other disadvantaged groups in society. However, statistics from 2013 state that most of their new members come from universities and colleges.
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| ===Eschatology===
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| Adherents of the Rite of the Sublime Return believe that as more of the world is "cleared from {{wp|Xenu|Diachoristis}}' influence," [[Mstis]] will amass a "liberation army" (''osvoboditelnaya orda'') to take back the sector, with the help of the faithful in [[Esquarium]]. When "a critical balance is reached," the liberation army will attack the {{wp|Demiurge}}.
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| [[Ilarion Kartashyov]] claimed that:
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| <blockquote>"''This war will be devastating: the non-believers who have not seen the light shall join Diachoristis against the forces of Mstis and those who have seen the light. The world shall be all but destroyed, but with the help of the liberation army, we will be able to sweep away the last of Diachoristis, and destroy both him, his followers, and those who have turned away from the faith.''"</blockquote>
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| Once the Demiurge has been consumed, like mainstream [[Costeny]], adherents believe that the natural world will be destroyed, but humanity will {{wp|Transcendence (religion)|acquire the essence of the Demiurge}}, and thus be able to meet the {{wp|God|True Lord}}.
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| With humanity being able to access the {{wp|Kingdom of God}}, they may now visit rest of the {{wp|universe}}.
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| ===Scriptures===
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| The central scriptures used by followers of the Rite of the Sublime Return are [[Mstis]]' ''[[Word of the True Lord]]'' (''Reč pravog Vladiki''), and [[Ilarion Kartashyov]]'s ''[[Returning to the Lord]]'' (''Vozvraščayas k Gospodu'').
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| However, the Rite of the Sublime Return says that "all of Ilarion Kartashyov's lectures, speeches, writings, and research shall be the main scripture of the Rite of the Sublime Return."
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| The language used in most of the scriptures are [[Luziycan]], with only the ''Word of the True Lord'' being in {{wp|Old Church Slavonic|Literary Vitrian}}. However, Ilarion Kartashyov explicitly permitted translations of all the scriptures, claiming that "the revelations of the {{wp|God|True Lord}} has to be broadcast in every language, in order to clear the planet from the Demiurge."
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| ==Practices==
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| ===Ethics===
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| :''Main article: {{wp|Ethics (Scientology)|Ethics (Rite of the Sublime Return)}}''
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| The ethics of the Rite of the Sublime Return are largely derived from the use of {{wp|statistics}}, as enumerated in [[Ilarion Kartashyov]]'s ''[[Statistics in Life]]'' (''Statistika v žizni''). According to [[Pavel Savrasov]] in 1993, he stated that "with knowledge of statistics, one will be able to determine whether a given action is good or not."
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| As Kartashyov believed that technology can be used to help "free the world from the {{wp|Demiurge}}," he extended its application to statistical analysis, as he said that:
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| <blockquote>"''...since the advent of modern statistics in the seventeenth century, humanity has been able to use these patterns to quantify the positive and negative effects of these things. If we want to live good lives and free ourselves from the influence of {{wp|Xenu|Diachoristis}}, we must use the tools that we have to predict our decisions.''"</blockquote>
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| ===Worship===
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| ====Public worship====
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| Public worship is held in a {{wp|temple}}, as it was believed by [[Ilarion Kartashyov]] that holding public services at a [[resuast]] would arouse suspicion by the authorities, as they were primarily used in Luziyca for mainstream [[Costeny|Cositene]] services.
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| Like mainstream Cositenes, as they believe that time, like the {{wp|MEST (Scientology)|rest of the universe}} is an illusion produced by the {{wp|Demiurge}}, there are no fixed schedules for services, and can be held whenever the religious leader wishes it to be held.
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| However, the typical service includes readings from the ''[[Word of the True Lord]]'' and Kartashyov's writings, in his 1956 book, ''[[On Designing the Perfect Temple]]'' (''O razrabotke soveršennogo hrama''), which is then followed by a {{wp|sermon}} relating to an important passage from one of these books.
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| Following the sermon, the congregants perform a silent prayer to the {{wp|God|True Lord}}, as opposed to traditional Cositene prayers, as Kartashyov believed that the traditional Cositene prayers "only hindered the ability of the beings to become individuals."
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| ===Private worship===
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| As there is no fixed schedule for services, due to time being an illusion being produced by the {{wp|Demiurge}}, followers of the Rite of the Sublime Return, while encouraged to engage in silent prayer to the {{wp|God|True Lord}} at least once a day, are not required to do so.
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| However, the process of {{wp|Auditing (Scientology)|healing}} is encouraged in order to release the accumulated properties that hinder the ability of the {{wp|thetan|being}} from fulfilling their true potential: to this end, these sessions are usually done privately, with the average session costing around ₤25 ($50) as of 2017.
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| ====Religious buildings====
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| [[File:WestminsterAbbeyChurch.jpg|150px|thumb|left|First Temple of the Return, [[Stravinski]], 2006]]
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| The most important religious building is a {{wp|temple}} (''hram'').
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| According to [[Ilarion Kartashyov]]'s 1956 book ''[[On Designing the Perfect Temple]]'' (''O razrabotke soveršennogo hrama''), the temple must conform to an idea of [[podesy]], and has to be newly built.
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| To this end, Kartashyov urged temples used by the Rite of the Sublime Return to use {{wp|brutalism}}, as Kartashyov argued that such design would maximize human benefit at the expense of the {{wp|Demiurge}}.
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| Since the death of Ilarion Kartashyov in 1983, his successor, [[Pavel Savrasov]] has relaxed the restrictions, allowing new temples to built in other styles of {{wp|modern architecture}}.
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| ===Holidays===
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| While adherents of the Rite of the Sublime Return observe many traditional [[Costeny|Cositene]] holidays, there are several holidays unique to the religion.
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| ====Revelation Day====
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| The most important of these is [[Revelation Day (Rite of the Sublime Return)|Revelation Day]], which falls on April 21st, which commemorates the date in 1949 that [[Ilarion Kartashyov]] received the first revelation from [[Mstis]].
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| On this date, services are held at all temples of the Rite of the Sublime Return, with a heavy focus on Kartashyov's first revelations, and emphasizing his role as the {{wp|last prophet}} of the [[Costeny|Cositene]] religion. Following the service, followers will hold a feast of thanksgiving.
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| The date is so important that it has become known as "Day 1" for the [[New Cositene Calendar]] used by the sect. According to followers, the current date is Day {{age in days|April 21, 1949}}, as they believe that years and months are products of the {{wp|Demiurge}}. Officially, each day is meant to be divided into tenths, so for example, if it was noon on March 25, 2018 (unification day of [[Luziyca]]), the church would record it as Day 25,176.5.
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| ====Kartashyov's Birthday====
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| The second most important holiday unique to the Rite of the Sublime Return is [[Ilarion Kartashyov]]'s Birthday, which was on September 17th.
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| On this date, services are held at all temples of the Rite of the Sublime Return, with a heavy focus on Kartashyov's passages concerning birth and renewal. Following the service, the congegration gathers for a lunch, usually consisting of the local cuisine, followed by {{wp|chocolate cake}} for {{wp|dessert}}, which was Kartashyov's favorite type of cake.
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| ====Evaluation Day====
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| The least important of the holidays unique to the Rite of the Sublime Return is Evaluation Day. Unlike the other two holidays which uses the Gregorian calendar, or the traditional Cositene holidays, the holiday is held every five hundred days, in accordance with the [[New Cositene Calendar]].
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| The first observation of Evaluation Day was on January 16th, 1952, where [[Ilarion Kartashyov]] stated that "we should look back on our accomplishments in the past five hundred days, and plan for the future."
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| Followers of the Rite of the Sublime Return, on this day, will gather at the temple to hear the accomplishments that they have achieved over the past five hundred days, and to look towards the future.
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| ===Life-cycle events===
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| ====Birth====
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| According to followers of the Rite of the Supreme Return, the best way for a child to be born is to have it be done {{wp|Silent birth|as silently as possible}}, as it makes the transition from the womb to the outside world less painful for both the mother and the baby. Following the birth, while silence is no longer required, it is recommended for seven days.
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| After seven days, the infant is formally named in a ceremony at the temple: the parents present the child to the priest, and a temple name (''nazvaniye hrama'') is given by the local priest, usually based off of religious or scientific concepts. This name is to be used inside the church, and can be separate from the given name (''sobstvennoye imya'').
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| ====Marriage====
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| [[File:1951_wedding_dress_by_Norman_Hartnell.jpg|150px|thumb|right|A typical wedding dress in the Rite of the Sublime Return]]
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| Followers of the Rite of Sublime Return believe that marriage is between one man and one woman.
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| However, [[Ilarion Kartashyov]] said in 1967 that "while we strongly believe that marriage is solely between one man and one woman, we must consider the fact that {{wp|thetans|beings}} may end up in the bodies that do not correspond to their identity."
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| As a result of this 1967 directive, {{wp|same-sex marriage}} is permitted under limited circumstances, provided that both partners "prove that their beings are of opposite sex."
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| Traditional Cositene weddings are used, although there are often decorated with scientific concepts. The outfits are thus rooted in mid-1950s designs.
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| ====Death and mourning====
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| In the Rite of the Sublime Return, it is believed that the {{wp|thetan|being}} is immortal: thus, when a person dies, the being acquires another body, and assumes its identity. Thus, as death is not seen as a major worry, [[Ilarion Kartashyov]] states that "the body can be disposed of by any means lawfully possible, as it is no longer necessary for the being to continue existing."
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| A typical funeral service takes place a week after the death of the adherent, although it varies depending on the method used, and on the wishes of the family of the deceased: usually the following formula will be used:
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| <blockquote>"''At [time in 24 hour clock], on [date in the New Cositene calendar], [name] discarded the body that was used in this lifetime for [years, months, and days]. [His/her] body had become an impediment to [his/her] work, and has ceased to be useful. The being we knew as [name] still exists, and although you may feel grief, understand that [he/she] did not, and does not now.''"</blockquote>
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| Those gathered will then say "Goodbye, goodbye, our dear [first name], goodbye."
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| Following this response, the funeral ends.
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| ==Organization==
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| [[File:David_Miscavige_-_Portrait.jpg|150px|thumb|right|[[Pavel Savrasov]], 2011]]
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| The primary organization overseeing the Rite of the Sublime Return is the [[Eparchate of the Sublime Return]]. Much like mainstream [[Costeny]], the Eparchate is organized in a {{wp|command center}}-style organization, where the managing clergy are inherently positioned superior, and who are meant to be obeyed.
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| The head of the Eparchate is the Eparch, currently [[Pavel Savrasov]], who has served since 1983, with the death of his predecessor, and founder of the religion, [[Ilarion Kartashyov]]. Unlike mainstream Cositenes, followers of the Rite of the Sublime Return believe that it will function as the governing body of a [[Podslynitsia|world-state]].
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| Assisting the Eparch is the '''squadron''' ([[Luziycan language|Luziycan]]: ''eskadrilya''). The squadron comprises of nine members, including the Eparch, and oversees the day-to-day operations of the Eparchate of the Rite of the Supreme Return.
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| The squadron comprises of three {{wp|fireteams}} (''požarnye komandy''), comprising of three people, each with a specific role with regards to the church:
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| *[[Požarnaya komanda 1]] - Eparch and direct assistants of the Eparch
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| *[[Požarnaya komanda 2]] - Management of religious affairs
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| *[[Požarnaya komanda 3]] - Management of the finances of the Rite
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| According to the rules of the Eparchate, following the death of the incumbent Eparch, the entire squadron is supposed to convene to appoint a new Eparch from one of their own: prior to Savrasov's assumption to the office in 1983, he was part of Požarnaya komanda 3.
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| Below the Eparch and his squadron are the {{wp|bishops}} (''yeepiskopy''), who are in charge of {{wp|dioceses}} and govern from a central temple. The bishops are required to have reached {{wp|Operating Thetans|operating being}} status, in addition to having knowledge of all of the works of Ilarion Kartashyov, and any appointment must be approved personally by the Eparch, or his squadron.
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| Beneath the bishops are the {{wp|priests}}, who govern temples. They are required to have become {{wp|Clear (Scientology)|Clear}}, have a complete knowledge of [[Mstis]]' '[[Word of the True Lord]]'', and Kartashyov's ''[[Returning to the Lord]]'', as well as a basic understanding of Kartashyov's other works.
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| ===Demographics===
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| As of the 2015 Luziycan census, around 5% of the Luziycan population (13,491,218 people) are adherents to the Rite of the Sublime Return. It is estimated that there are around fifteen million adherents as of 2015.
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| ==Criticism==
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| ===Scientific criticism===
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| The scientific community has called the Rite of the Sublime Return {{wp|pseudoscience}}. (TBC)
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| ===Political criticism===
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| It has been criticized by several governments for "undermining the social order," and for being {{wp|fraud|fraudulent}}. [[Katranjiev]] has banned the Rite of the Sublime Return in 1984 after reports by former members of the Rite detailing the alleged conditions of abuse and the "extortion of members."
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| ===Criticism by other religions===
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| In 1951, the Eparch of Bethlehem at the time, [[Kvetoslav II]] said that the Rite of the Sublime Return was a {{wp|heresy}}, and that "any Cositene following the teachings of [[Ilarion Kartashyov]] shall be considered irreverent."
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The flag of Surrow is the national flag of Surrow. Designed in 1891 by Ervin Suchet, it was adopted in 1916 after Surrow gained full self-government from Rythene by the Surrowese Parliament the previous year over the red ensign previously used until 1916, or Joerg Angstroem's tricolor, and retained its status as Surrow's flag after its independence from Rythene in 1950.
Design
The flag is comprised of a centred white Tyrnican cross on a Rythenean green field, with the Big Dipper on the canton.
When the flag was designed by Ervin Suchet in 1891, the flag was made similar to the Rythenean flag of that time, with Suchet declaring in a pamphlet which saw the flag be distributed that the green was to "symbolise our islands' indisputable Rythenean heritage," white "for the purity of the souls who inhabit this far northern land," the cross representing both "the Sword of Perende spreading civilisation" to the Native Surrowese and Surrow's "indisputable Rythenean heritage," and the Big Dipper "representing our land being the closest to the North Pole." Suchet did not include any red in the flag design as he claimed that "no Surrowese blood has ever been spilled in any war."
However, per the Constitution of Surrow, the green is meant to symbolise Surrow's tuckamore forests that cover much of Holcot Island, the white is meant to symbolise the long winters that Surrow experiences, the cross is meant to symbolise Surrow's democratic traditions, and the Big Dipper is meant to represent Surrow's geographic position as the northernmost nation of Maurceania Major.
Historic flags
Red ensign
The first Surrowese flag was adopted in 1859, when the Rythenean government granted the Colony of Surrow the right to have its own civil ensign to be used by Surrowese civilian boats. The Surrowese red ensign is comprised of the Rythenean red ensign, with the Rythenean flag in the canton, and the colonial seal, comprised of the shield of the Surrowese coat of arms surrounded by the text "Colony of the Surrow Islands" on a white disk in the fly half.
The red ensign became associated with the Surrowese colonial government, and in 1866, the red ensign was declared by the Surrowese colonial government to be its state ensign, allowing ships owned by the Surrowese government to use the red ensign. From the 1870s onward, the Surrowese red ensign was increasingly used on land by both the colonial government and by Surrowese civilians, and in 1886, the colonial government officially adopted the Surrowese red ensign as its official flag, "to be used in all circumstances where a local flag is deemed neccessary," although the Rythenean flag remained a co-official flag of Surrow. By the 1890s, the Surrowese red ensign became the only flag regularly flown at government buildings, with the Rythenean flag being consigned to military bases or at Government Inlet.
However, the Surrowese red ensign faced competition from both Suchet's flag and the Surrowese tricolor, leading to the Surrowese red ensign declining in popularity until it was replaced in 1916 with Suchet's flag design. The red ensign remained in use as a civil ensign until 1950, but by then, the red ensign has fallen into "virtually complete disuse" in favor of the Surrowese national flag.
Surrowese Tricolor
In 1887, Joerg Angstroem designed a green-white-blue tricolor for the Fishermen's Protective Union as a party flag. According to Angstroem, green was meant to represent the Rythenean population, white was meant to represent Surrow's long winters, and blue was meant to represent the Tyrnican population, with Angstroem seeing the red ensign used by the Surrowese government at the time as being "too Rythenean to be accepted by a sizable portion of the Surrowese population."
Angstroem's flag became popular, with the flag being extensively promoted by the Fishermen's Protective Union throughout the late 1880s and early 1890s. By the mid-1890s, the Surrowese Tricolor became a popular flag, especially among Surrow's Tyrnican population. However, its rise in popularity among the Surrowese Tyrnican population led to a decline in the flag's popularity among Surrow's Rythenean population, especially in the context of the then-ongoing Surrowese language question, with ethnic Rytheneans trending towards flying the red ensign, or towards Suchet's flag. This led to the Fishermen's Protective Union changing its flag in 1896 from the tricolor to a blue banner with a white fish.
With the outbreak of the First Great War in 1908, the colonial government banned the Surrowese tricolor as the colonial government feared that the flag could be used by "traitors who seek to bring Surrow back under the Tyrnican yoke." Although the flag was relegalized in 1913 after Tyrnica negotiated a separate peace with the Coalition, high levels of anti-Tyrnicanism at the time meant that the Surrowese Tricolor was not adopted by the Surrowese government in 1916, and the flag largely fell into disuse until the mid-1940s, when the Independence League adopted the flag and used it to promote Surrowese independence, with leader Todd Lester proposing that the flag be adopted as the flag of an "independent Surrow."
However, Ted Fisher's decision to keep the current Surrowese flag led to the Surrowese Tricolor falling back into disuse. The Surrowese Tricolor would only see a revival in the mid-1980s, with Deacon Parker's administration encouraging its use as a "secondary Surrowese flag," with a particular focus on touristic areas. Since then, the Surrowese Tricolor has become more popular, particularly in and around Holcot Inlet and Tern Harbour.
Gallery
Below are a list of flags used by the Surrowese government in the modern day.
