Alydian Orthodox Church
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.svg){kind=small} Orthodox Church | |
|---|---|
| Ecclesia Orthodoxa (Fiorentine) | |
 Aelia with the ashes of Alydian | |
| Scripture | Caudex |
| Polity | Episcopal |
| Structure | Communion |
| Supreme Pontiff | Alexander VII |
The Orthodox Church is the largest Alydian church as well as one of the world's oldest organization. The Bishop of Laterna leads the church.
Name
Organization
The Orthodox Church is organized into diocese in which individual bishops are responsible for large churches and the smaller churches in their vicinity. Every bishop is responsible for the spiritual health of the inhabitants of their diocese; they also personally own the property of the church in their diocese.
Beliefs
Ecclesiology
The church teaches that it is only true and beatific voice of God. It claims special authority over all other Alydian churches through its possession of the ashes of Saint Alydian, which demonstrates the unbroken line of beatific succession from Saint Alydian to the modern Bishop of Laterna.
Practices
Sacraments
The Orthodox Church has five sacraments, called the quinary, which it maintains are essential and inherent parts of the Alydian faith. They each represent both the individual's relationship with God and also a key stage in the life of Saint Alydian. The first sacrament, often administered to infants, is the charisma, which means a freely given gift of grace. In the Caudex, Saint Alydian's charism occurred before the burning bush and so modern charisma take place before an icon of the burning bush or occasionally statues of a bush. A priest or other ordained person dips the feet of the supplicant in water or sprinkles water on the feet to purify them. This act is sometimes called the pedelavium.
Confirmation is the second sacrament and imitates the revelations that Saint Alydian received from God. Children and baptized adults receive their revelations from the church through religious education, which culminates in confirmation.
Contrition is the admission of error and an essential element of Saint Alydian's life. Only God has achieved perfection and contrition is the only path to avoid self idolatry. Saint Alydian explicitly practiced contrition many times throughout his life to avoid confusion about his status as fully human and fallible, unlike God.
Consecration is not a universal experience, it relates only to the clergy and others in consecrated life. Consecration occurs when individuals are ready to fully commit their lives to service in the church, especially as a priest or member of a religious community such as a monastery.
Cremation is the final right, which takes place after death. The burning of remains is an important rite because it symbolizes unification with the holy flame and because it was Saint Alydian's last request.