Patriarchate of Istros
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 Patriarchate of Tengaria | |
|---|---|
 The Eagle of Saint John, the symbol of the Patriarchate | |
| Classification | Episemialism |
| Scripture | Septuagint, New Testament |
| Theology | Tengarian Episemialist Theology |
| Polity | Episcopal |
| High Primate | Archbishop of Istros and Patriarch of All Tengaria Angel V |
| Archbishops | 4 |
| Metropolitans | 9 |
| Language | Tengarian |
| Headquarters | Cathedral of the Logos, Istros |
| Territory | Tengaria, |
| Possessions | Amathia, Ravnia, Tengarian Churches abroad |
| Founder | St. John (trad.) |
| Origin | First Century Istros |
| Recognition | 1000 AD |
| Members | 22,022,121 |
The Patriarchate of Tengaria (Tengarian: Патриаршия на Тенгария or Patriarshiya na Tengariya), otherwise known as the Tengarian Episemialist Church, is an Tengarian rite Episemialist church and the established church of Tengaria. It is one of the autocephalous churches of the larger communion of the Episemialist Church. It is also the oldest of the junior Patriarchates of Episemialism, achieving the status after earning recognition from the Ecumenical Patriachate of Arciluco during the rise of the Grand Principality of Tengaria around the year 1000. Thus, it is the most senior of the Patriarchs after Arciluco. It is governed by the Patriarch of Tengaria, Angel V, and the Holy Synod of Tengaria. It has played a significant force in Tengarian politics throughout the Empire of Tengaria and currently the Kovachev era. It is known for being one of the more strictly rigid and conservative of the Episemialist Churches.
Tradition holds that John the Apostle was exiled from the Solarian Empire to the independent Piraean city state of Istros, and wrote his Apocalypse there and later died. As such he is held to be the first Bishop of the city, making Istros into an Apostolic see, although due to its distance and lack of power projection it was never considered one of the great sees of the early Church. Istros retained a Sotirian community throughout the Marolevic invasions, and later served as the springboard from which the Amathian missionary Saint Mihail of Tengaria first evangelized the Tengar tribes, making the Tengars the first major Marolevic group which converted to Sotirianity. The Tengars were underneath the Patriarchate of Arciluco for several centuries when the Empire of Arciluco held control over the area. However, when the Grand Principality of Tengaria was established around 1000, the Ecumenical Patriarch, along with a general council of the Western churches, recognized the see Istros as the Patriach of the land of the Tengars, in part due to the ancient standing of the see and in part due to the political situation at the time. Soon after, the Pope confirmed the Patriachal status of the see, and conferred a Pallium on the first Patriarch along with a message of approval, cementing its status as a junior patriarch. This was the first creation of such a junior patriach, and led to the later recognition of other junior Patriarchs.
Even after the capital moved from Istros to Lenovo in the thirteenth century and remained there, the Patriarchate remained in its ancient city. It was a major player in the beginning of the Tengarian Renaissance, and was a firm supporter of the Iconodule faction during the Iconoclast controversy. After the fall of the Empire of Arciluco and the translation of imperial authority to the Empire of Tengaria, the Patriarchate saw increased prestige and status as the primary spiritual authority in the lands of the nominal head of western Christendom. Despite some controversies between the Patriarchs and Emperors, for the most part, both shared a mututally beneficial relationship, with the Emperor ensuring the Church's status and involvement in state affairs while the Church provided legitimacy to the Emperors. The Patriarch of Tengaria was involved in the coronation of every Emperor after St. Vasil the Great, and the Emperor usually required a ratification by the Holy Synod. After the fall of the Empire during the Great War, the Patriarchate was pushed out of state affairs during the early republican theatre, although anticlerical measures were unable to do major harm. The Tengarian Civil War would see many clergy and faithful members of the Tengarian Church persecuted by leftist militias. After the rise of Simeon Kovachev, however, the Patriarchate has resumed much of its old political power and priveledges, and is closely emeshed in the workings of the government.
The Partiarchate of Tengaria is based in the city of Istros, and the seat of the Patriarch is the Cathedral of the Logos, named after Sotirias as the Logos, especially taken from the beginning of the Gospel of John. It owns extensive lands and properties through the entire country, including most of the nation's historic Churches, monasteries, and the surrounding land. These range from the historic Church of Holy Wisdom, built in the mid-fourth century, to the sixth-century Basilica of St. John, to the massive nineteenth-century Cathedral of the Dormition of the Theotokos in Silen. With over 22 million members, it is one of the larger Episemialist churches, mostly concentrated in Tengaria, but also with communities in Ravnia, Amathia and in diaspora countries such as Galenia and West Miersa. In Tengaria, it is the singular largest religious body, having over 90% of the populace as members of its communities. In exchange for the support and protection which the government offers, especially to its interests, the Patriachate has been a vocal supporter of the National Rally and works to actively promote its continuance. For example, in 2020, the Patriarchate proclaimed Simeon Kovachev to be a Saint, a move which some considered to be politically motivated.