Aletheic Church
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| Aletheic Church | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Classification | Sarpetic Religions |
| Scripture | Ancient and New Treasury |
| Theology | Nazarist Theology |
| Polity | Episcopal |
| Primus inter pares | Arch-Presbiter of Sydalon |
| Region | Eastern Belisaria Northern Scipia Periclean Basin |
| Language | Hellenic others |
| Headquarters | Sarpetic Hexapolis |
| Founder | Amitai |
| Origin | 1st Century, per Aletheic tradition Sydalon |
| Separated from | Samaritanism |
| Separations | Alban Emendatic Church in the 5th Century Docetic Church in the 9th century |
| Members | 86 million |
The Aletheic Nazarist Church, officially simply known as the Aletheic Church and sometime referred to as the Grand Nazarist Church or just Grand Church, is one of the largest Sarpetic religions, with an estimated 86 million consecrated members. It operates as a communion of independent organisations, each led by an Arch-Presbiter. Union in their teachings and organization is maintained by local Synods through which Arch-Presbyters keep contact and religious communion as well as solving questions of administration or faith. While they have no central doctrinal or governmental authority, the Arch-Presbiter of Sydalon, Guardian of Mount Gerizim’ Sanctuary and Keeper of Mount Ebal’ Sepulchre, is recognized as a First Among Equals.
The majority of Nazarists live in Eastern Belisaria, with more than half of all Nazarists consecrated by the Grand Church living in Velikoslavia, while Presbiters in communion with the Grand Church have maintained themselves on Scipia’s Periclean coastline in countries such as Vardana or Alanahr.
Name
The name of the Church come from Aletheia, the concept of truth in the sense of "what is not concealed". It is often seen as the opposite of the Doxa (opinions) or Lethe (oblivion, concealement). The Aletheia, or the Word of Truth, possess a number of quality, such as Efficiency (there is no distinction between the Word of Truth and its implementation, because it is already one with Nature) and Timelessness (the Word is pronounced in a moment outside of time and thus encompasses past, present, and future). Simplified, Aletheia is different from the Truth in that the latter is an accurate description of a state of affairs, while the former is a factual statement on how things are, as expressed by God. It is the basis of truth.
the word was used by the Nazarites Fathers to describe the Teachings of Amitai and the Revelation they contained: they were more than "the truth", and instead were the elucidation and disclosure of the world, in which things were made intelligible for human beings.
Organisation
History
Sarpetic religions developped during the 1rst century AD in the context of Samaritans communities in present day Sydalon, especially in Hellenized or Latinized Samaritan communities before spreading back to the rest of Samaria.
Yeshwa-Amitai, the central figure of Sarpetic religions, is said to have preached first and foremost to the Samaritans with his teachings being the "accomplishment" of the Samaritan Law. It's only after his death that some of his disciples spread his messages to Greeks, Latins, and other communities of the Latin Empire. This Original Sarpetism was an extremely heterogenous movement. One of the early figure of what would become Nazarism was Saint Atornus who understood Samaritanism and Sarpetism through the lense of Neoplatonism with a vocabulary inspired by Mithraism, a mystery cult that was then popular among the Latin Empire' military. Atornus' commentaries of the faith would be used by many communities to develop their own rites and rituals. After Atornus, the Presbyters of these communities recognized successively the authority of Saint Dositheus, Saint Menander, and Saint Basilides. The latter had notably reached Ochran where he taught among the Azgaratians, spreading Nazarism among them.
During the 2nd and 3rd centuries, doctrinal differences between the Sarpetic sects became more and more proeminent. The proto-Aletheists separated themselves from both the future Fabrian Church and the Disciples of Alban, emerging as their own Church.
Beliefs
The principal beliefs of the Nazarists are as follows:
- There is one God, YHWH, His nature can not be understood by human beings, but according to his actions and according to his revelation to his people and the kindness he showed them.
- Moses was the last of the line of Prophets.Amitai is instead the Taheb, or Messiah, and will return at the End of Times, bringing with him the Rahouta, a time when God’s favour will be felt all over Earth.
- In his life, death, and resurrection, Amitai proved to be the Incarnation of God’s Verb and the Demonstration of His Six Principles: Mental, Law, Power, Devotion, Integrity, and Immortality.
- Two Treasures were given to mankind: the Pentateuch given by God to Moses, created before the creation of the world, with the addition of the Book of Joshua, is called the Ancient Treasury. The New Treasury is the collection of the Messiah disciples’ writings, and documents his teachings, prophecies, and personal life.
- The Treasuries are the sole Divinely Inspired documents and whoever believes in their teaching is assured a part in the World to Come.
- Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal are the two holiest sites for the Nazarists. The former was chosen by God to be His Sanctuary while the latter was the place of the Taheb death and resurrection.
Six Principles
The Six Principles are the representations of God’s qualities. For Aletheists, these are philosophical principles which distinguish them from certain Heterodox movements, like the Emendatics, who understand them as Six Classes of Archangels emitted by God before the creation of the World, a position strongly rejected by the Grand Church.
- Mind: the Good Thought or Good Objective, can be resumed as the Spirit of the Letter of everything, as instituted by God. It’s from God’s Mind that everything was created. Truly following the spirit of the letter is considered the goal of all of mankind by the Nazarists.
- Law: the Best Rectitudes are the direct emanations of God’ Mentality. The Law is resumed by the Ten Commandments, which must be followed by all Nazarists.
- Power: Desirable Imperium. It’s the Application of God’ Law and is the attribute of both God but also of fair and faithful rulers.
- Devotion: the Creative Harmony is the Consequence of God’ Power. It's the holiness and sanctity of “good things”, such as an abundant harvest, fertile soils, a peaceful and wealthy nation. It’s the desire of all Nazarists to live in a state of Creative Harmony.
- Integrity: Perfect Wholeness is the Production of God’ Devotion. It is the quality of all Good Things that are issued from a state of Creative Harmony, including devot people.
- Immortality: also called Undeath, it’s the Conclusion of God’ Integrity. By respecting the “Spirit” of the Ten Commandment and applying them correctly and enjoying the fruits and consequences of these good laws , a pure and devot Nazarian is said to reach a state of “Perfect Wholeness” that directly leads to Immortality.
Immortality
In the Grand Church’ teachings, only God and the Taheb possesses an Immortal essence. The rest of Mankind will only reach Immortality with the Miracle of the Resurrection at the End of Times, and only if they proved their purity, devotion, and integrity during their lifetime. The other souls will continue to linger in Sheol. Immortality, for the Grand Church, like the Resurrection, is a Miracle and dependent on God' goodwill, no matter what. This position is in opposition to Gnostic movements like Albanism who believe that many other Immortals have existed, and spiritual Undeath can be reached by those who understand God' Inner Mysteries, views considered to be Gnostic and Mystic by the Aletheic Church.