Church Of The Eternal Child

The Church Of The Eternal Child is the official place of worship for the followers of Imaan. Tended to by passive child priests from the age of ten to nineteen, the Church is considered holy ground that must be treated with deep respect.

The Church itself is carved and bleached with the same white stones that make up the rest of Qrieth, a long deep room with carved stone pews either side of a long aisle. At the front of the pews stands two alters, one in front and one further back, carved from white stone and pale quartz. Inlaid in the alters are scones for soft lamplight, and a fountain runs through the second one at the back. Carvings of Aminark and Imaan stand either side of the alters, and from the roof hangs a beautiful glass work chandelier.

To the right and left two doorways lead off, one leading to the accommodation for the child priests, the other to private rooms of worship for those who don't want to pray publicly.

The Child Priests

When tested at the age of ten for their magical aptitude, those children who fail either have the choice of stepping into labor or priesthood. Only a purely albino passive may choose the priesthood. Those who choose priesthood are immediately sent to the Church, where they are initiated into the sect by the eldest of the priests in attendance. This requires days of private prayer, and bathing in the waters of the fountain at the Church. The Child Priests are caretakers for the church itself, cleaning and tending to the building whilst also assisting visitors. They are the eyes and ears of Imaan, so often are seen speaking quietly with troubled galdori seeking His most Illuminated guidance.

The Child Priests are dressed in white robes, pristine silk, with silver monite inscribed ribbon around the edgings. Their hair is kept long and loose, no matter the gender, and their skin is dusted with an iridescent powder that comes from the quartz deposits of Ivenlath. This leaves the children with a soft sheen, as though illuminated from the inside. The Child Priests are treated with a deep respect, and none would dare treat them as common passives. The eldest children act as guardians for the youngsters, ensuring they are cared for and fed. All passives loose their birth name when they become a priest, instead being known by rank and holy deemed name, for example a ten year old priest may be known as Illustrious Finch. A fourteen year old priest may be known as Illuminated River. This holy deemed name is discovered during the initiation process.

Ranks

Illustrious - ages ten to twelve
Illuminated - ages thirteen to fifteen
Enlightened - ages sixteen to eighteen
Ethereal - age nineteen
Reborn - beyond nineteen (no longer living in the Church)

Daily Life

Child Priests swear an oath of celebacy when they enter into the priesthood, and this is expected to be upheld. There have been circumstances where older children fall prey to their own wicked desires, and as such there have been children born by the priests. This is a grave sin against the service of Imaan, and as such the priests are exiled from the Church and shunned by their people. The resulting infant will be given to the exiled priests family, or another woman who is unable to have her own children.

Each day is broken into the following activities:

Eighth Hour - Wake up, morning routine: breakfast, dressing ect
Ninth to Twelth Hour - Holy House of Imaan: Morning Prayer from the Book Of Imaan, checking any minutes and actions required from the day prior
Thirteenth Hour - Mass: public prayer and sermon
Fourteenth Hour - Church attendance: Spending time with church goers, offering advice, listing to personal prayers, providing guidance
Fifteenth Hour - Lunch and Midday Prayer
Seventeenth to Twentieth Hour - Academic lessons: Study of arithmatic, science, literacy, home economics and history
Twenty First Hour - Meeting of the Enlightened and Ethereal Priests to discuss any issues or concerns that need addressing
Twenty Second Hour - Prepare for tomorrows sermon, meetings, ect
Twenthy Third Hour - Dinner
Twenty Fourth Hour - Evening Prayer
Twenty Fifth to Twenty Sixth Hour - Free time
Twenty Seventh Hour - Night Prayer and retire for the night

After Priesthood

Once a child passes the age of nineteen, they are no longer able to serve as a child priest and are considered Reborn. These now adult passives are sent into the world to preach the word of Imaan, and will leave Gior on what is considered a holy pilgrimage. This is a big celebration, much like a graduation, with feasting and dancing and lots of congratulations. It is an honor to leave the church.

However it is also a hardship. It is considered a lifelong exile, and those who leave on their pilgrimage are not welcomed back into Gior. Unfortunately, due to their sheltered childhoods, most of these Reborns do not survive, or are dragged into servitude in the more unfriendly countries of Vita. No Reborn may reenter the Church as a priest of Imaan, only as visitors.