Kirizyuntupao

Kirizyuntupao (meaning Christ Church in the Rezese language) is practiced by the Rezese, Yacuyare, Qwahi, and Jama'a peoples of Sante Reze. It is a syncretized faith which has combined elements of native Belisarian Fabrianism, North Scipian Judaism, West Scipian Whyzun, and various traditional eastern Oxidentali religions. Rezese consider Kirizyuntupao to be a denomination of Fabrianism, though there are many differences in both practice and in the religious canon.

Theology and practice

The cosmology of Kirizyuntupao follows closely the origin of the universe from Fabrianism, and centers around divine spirits governing all Earthly affairs. There is a single divine force at the top of the hierarchy, but many minor spirits which are considered to be more direct intercessors into human life. These spirits are known variously as saints or angels, and include the full number of canonical Fabrian saints as well as several thousand additional from both Oxidentali traditions and from the spirits of Whyzun.

In Kirizyuntupao, the Creator is specifically an ungendered, bodyless cosmic universal power which created the universe over the course of six eons, ending with the creation of the Earth and life upon it, leading to the seventh eon which humanity currently exists within. This current period is the Creator's "rest" and what comes afterward - and when - is known only to Them.

All of Their Creation is considered to be varying levels of divine, which like in Whyzun forms the basis of understanding of medicines. Unlike Whyzun, however, which makes use of many spiritually powerful talismans, Kirizyuntupao instead makes use of a practice of the sacrifice of physical wealth as a method of asking for intercession. This practice evolved from the Whyzun practice of fetishes and eliminated the middle step - the purchase of objects - and instead focused on the transfer of wealth to obtain the blessings. In its early history, as this initially involved the destruction of Whyzun-like talismans, the wealth was also destroyed so that it could be made available to the saints and angels. Modern worship, however, usually involves donations to the Church and directly to those in need.

Kirizyuntupao ethics are guided largely by traditions which have been updated regularly by a congress of religious community leaders. Ethical practice is typically understood to include such values as justice; peace; kindness; compassion; charity; and refraining from harmful speech, though what defines harmful speech varies greatly between various observers and scholarly traditions.

Community Leadership

While a focus on a priesthood as necessary community leaders did evolve during the medieval period, Kirizyuntupao eventually moved away from focus on priests and more toward lay leadership.

Kirizyuntupao and other religions

Fabrianism

While Kirizyuntupao is a distinct faith with a variety of traditions and rituals from non-Fabrian sources, it is closely tied to the Fabrian Catholic Church as it recognizes the spiritual authority of the Fabrian Papacy; the pope is known as the Yvytegua Omowe or "high scholar". Practitioners consider themselves a denomination of Fabrianism, and the Church has not indicated otherwise publicly in the modern era. Historically, however, there has been a lot of back and forth regarding whether or not Kirizyuntupao could be considered Christian at all, much less closely tied to Fabrianism.