Church of Emerstari

Church of Emerstari
Classification	Protestant
Orientation	Evangical Lutheranism
Governance	Episcopal
Head	Eric XII
High Bishop	Anders Haakonsen Wejryd
Region	Emerstari, its overseas territories and former colonies
Founder	Georg I of Emerstari
Origin	1444 Emerstari
Separated from	Catholic Church
Members	260.2 million (2018)

The Church of Emerstari (Der Kyrka Emerstari in Emerstarian) is an evangelical Lutheran denomination of Protestant Christianity and by far the largest Christian church in Emerstari.

Christianity was introduced to Emerstari in the 1st century. In the 2nd century, Emperor Rudolf Godvan Bjornhjarta became a Christian and ordered the construction of the first Christian Church in what is Rensulier, derived from the Old Emerstarian word Renslagen meaning religion and ien meaning area or land. By the 3rd century, Christianity was largely accepted throughout the empire. Since the Reformation in Emerstari, the Church has been Evangelical Lutheran, while retaining much of its pre-Reformation liturgical traditions. The 1444 Constitution of Emerstari designated the church's head is the Monarch of Emerstari and mandates that the state support.

The Church of Emerstari continues to maintain the historical episcopate. Theological authority is vested in bishops: 18 bishops in mainland Emerstari and 27 elsewhere, each overseeing a diocese. There is no archbishop; the High Bishop who is elected every five years at the Rensladag acts as a primus inter pares.

Organization

Dioceses

The Church of Emerstari is organized in 45 dioceses, each led by a bishop. There are no archbishops; the most senior bishop (primus inter pares) is an elected High Bishop, currently Anders Haakonsen Wejryd. The further subdivision includes 450 deaneries and 9,000 parishes. There are about 16,000 ordained priests or pastors (Emerstarian: præst).[8]

Diocese	Founded	Cathedral	Incumbent
Diocese of Almapien	1554	Aalburg Cathedral	Hans Geldburg (2010– )