Church of the Old Gods
Church of the Old Gods | |
---|---|
Primate | Matriarch Selene |
Polity | Episcopal |
Headquarters |
Poseidon Temple Poseidon Square Braavos the Great Sinope |
Territory |
Sinope Argos · Gaspesia Kariko · Continental Althena |
Members | 60 million members |
Website | www.oldgods.org |
Old Gods Portal |
Structure
Primates
The Church's hierarchy is headed by the Bishop of Braavos, known as the Matriarch (Sinopian: μητριαρχ), who is the leader of the worldwide Church of the Old Gods. The current Matriarch is Selene, elected on 14 June 2004 by the College of Cardinals. The office of the Matriarch is known as the Matriarchy. The Church holds that Gaia instituted the Matriarchy. For advice and assistance in governing, the matriarch may turn to the College of Cardinals.
Cardinals
Cardinals are princes of the Church of the Old Gods appointed by the Primate. She generally chooses female bishops who head departments of the Curia or important episcopal sees throughout Sinope or the world. As a whole, the cardinals comprise the College of Cardinals which advises the Primate, and those cardinals under the age of 70 at the death or resignation of a Primate elect her successor.
Diocesan bishops
The process of appointing diocesan bishops is complex and is handled by the College of Cardinals which submits names to the Primate of the Church of the Old Gods for consideration.
Representative bodies
The Church of the Old Gods has a legislative body, the Synod. Synod can create two types of legislation, measures and canons. Canons require Primate Assent, but form the law of the church, rather than the law of the land. Another assembly is the Convocation of the Clergy (older than the Synod and its predecessor the Church Assembly). There are also diocesan synods and deanery synods.