The Orthodox Church of Jashin

Village/Organization Name: The Orthodox Church of Jashin
Shortened Names/Aliases: The Church/The Orthodoxy/The Faith
Name of Current Leader: Lady Superior Mora
List of Members: Shimiko Chinoike, Shinda Yua & Yui
Base Size: Dwelling (Outpost)
Lands Settled: Lightning Country
Starting Funds: 500,000 Ryo
Insignia: The primary insignia of the Orthodoxy is its flag, known as the Standard of Faith


Attire: The attire worn by members of the Church varies depending on their rank and station.

Lady/Lord Superior

The current Lady Superior of the Church tends to wear informal black cassocks or battle robes with a short religious hat known as a Kaminobōshi when in casual settings something akin to this. When presiding over rituals or religious services she will wear a flowing priestly robe similar to what the priests of the Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox tradition would wear in our world. She tops it off with a mitar (a three pronged hat symbolizing her authority to teach) and a staff with a twisted crucifix (demonstrating the Necrossiah's mastery over a death).


Sacristans

Sacristans tend to wear golden robes that are bespectacled with jewels. Their robes are tied with a golden sash and they often wear golden scandals. This outward appearance is designed to represent their worth as men and women of God. The knowledge that they hold is so rich that they can be considered to be the treasures of the global community.


Purpose: The Orthodoxy's mission can be summed up by its Mission Statement.


The purpose of the Orthodox Church of Jashin is to spread the teachings of Jashinism as rightfully taught by the Necrossiah. The Orthodoxy is primarily concerned with the mass conversion of those worthy of its teachings and the mass depopulation of those who would violently oppose those teachings. In cleansing the world of evil and heresy and bringing the righteous to the truth, the Church seeks to prepare the planet for the inevitable return of the Necrossiah.

The proper preparation of the world will require that the Orthodoxy's influence and power extends to every relevant institution on Earth. Its membership must swell the planet until their proportion reaches such a mass that when they pray and sacrifice to Jashin, their cries will shake the heavens. This is prophesied to occur in the year 1,000 A.S.

The Necrossiah will then return to Earth and turn it into a permanent house of worship before taking his faithful on an never-ending crusade throughout the cosmos to bring his word to every form of intelligence that he has created.

General Description: The Orthodox Church of Jashin is an ancient institution with many core aspects.  


The Orthodox Church of Jashin traces its history to the founder of Jashinism. Many other sects around the world have their own lore and religious history. There is much debate as to where Jashinism came from and who founded it. Most sects agree that the religion was brought forth into the world by a single person who received a direct revelation from Jashin, however beyond that there is much debate as to what were the exact circumstances of the religion's birth. The Orthodoxy holds that the first man and woman to walk the Earth were Jashinists. They knew that Jashin was the true creator of the universe and had communed with the deity regularly in order to fulfill their religious obligations. Eventually, man fell away from Jashin as he grew to love his life and the lives of his neighbors over his creator. This selfishness caused the religion to lose followers and eventually it became scarce for many years. The Church teaches that it was Jashin who set forth the eventual birth of chakra on the planet and the subsequent arrival of the Sage and his Disciples.

The rise and fall of the Sage precipitated the birth of Ninjutsu which the Church teaches was a key tool that was to be used to glorify him. Unfortunately, the few sects that remained lacked the spiritual vigor, organization, or wherewithal to use this tool to its maximum effectiveness. Seeing that his followers needed guidance, Jashin sent down part of his spirit and came down to Earth as a man. This flesh avatar would be known as the Necrossiah. Historically, records do acknowledge that a man living in the Lightning Country had made such claims as being Jashin incarnate. He lead a band of followers that would eventually go on a mass crusade of violence and forced conversions before being put down. This "Necrossiah" was crucified and all details of his life were scrubbed from history in order to prevent him from being deified. The Church teaches that the Necrossiah knew he would die and that he had allowed himself to be captured and crucified so that the image of his sacrifice would be seared into the minds and hearts of his followers. They would never forget him or what he had taught them. The Necrossiah is depicted as not being from any particular clan so as to prevent factionalism however some (particularly Chinoike Jashinists) believe that the Necrossiah was a Chinoike Vampire.

Those who had followed this Necrossiah claim that he had taught them how to organize themselves so that the religion could not be stamped out. Whereas sects came and went due to a lack of organization and rules, this sect would last for centuries because it was bound by the commandments that had been restored by the Necrossiah. The teachings were recorded as literature and so the Church of Jashin became the "Orthodox Church of Jashin" or simply the "Orthodoxy" in recognition of their fidelity to an order, procedure, and hierarchy that went back generations.



The Orthodoxy follow a strict hierarchical structure designed to meet the needs of the Church. Each position grants spiritual authority over the ones underneath it.


The Lord or Lady Superior of the Church is the Seer, Revelator, Prophet, and Primary Leader of the Orthodox Church of Jashin. They are the ultimate ecclesiastical authority within the Church and it is said that they speak with the voice of Jashin. The Lord or Lady Superior often wears priestly garments usually seen on a Bishop or Pope. The title is derived from the phrase Superior Sacristan which according to the Orthodoxy is the phrase used by the Necrossiah to describe his favorite disciple. This disciple would go on to lead the Church by claiming the power to see the future, hear Jashin and the Necrossiah's voice, interpret textual doctrines, and experience religious visions. Endowed with these spiritual powers, the Superior Sacristan is said to be able to issue new interpretations of the doctrine. It is this unique feature to Orthodox Jashinism that distinguishes it from its brother cults across the world. The Sacristan is responsible for making key administrative decisions for the Church, communicating with other political and religious leaders, performing important sacrifices, and elevating others to serve as Sacristans.


Sacristans are considered the high priests of the Orthodoxy. When the Superior Sacristan is unavailable they have the power to perform sacraments and rituals. They can lead congregations and essentially function as bishops. They do not however have the ability to interpret or make new doctrine outside of what is provided by the Orthodoxy. There are roughly 80 Sacristans across the world that have taken an oath of allegiance to the Orthodox Church of Jashin. Sixty of whom reside in  the Lightning Country and 40 of those sixty reside in Kumogakure. The eldest living Sacristan is known as the Dean of Sacristans and is often an authoritative figure within the Church. He is tasked with organizing the Sacristans for selecting a new Lord or Lady Superior. The ascension of a Sacristan to this title is determined by vote. The Sacristans vote for whom they wish to be their Lord or Lady Superior but they must also vote for one Sacristan to be sacrificed to Jashin at the conclusion of the vote. Sacristans tend to wear golden robes and carry weapons on their person.


This is a title held by someone who is not a Sacristan but rather an lay member whose power and loyalty to the Church has been proven. The Defender of the Church is responsible for ensuring the continuation of the Orthodoxy by protecting its faithful, its clergy, its sacred texts, and its buildings. The title is traditionally given to the strongest member of the Church. The Defender of the Faith has no set uniform but they are given two keys by the Lord or Lady Superior of the Church. The keys symbolize their role as the primary custodians, gatekeepers, and protectors of Jashin's Church.


The Orthodoxy recognizes the concept of Sainthood. A person is canonized as a Saint in Orthodox Jashinism when either they perform three great acts of service to the Church or when another Saint acknowledges them as such with the blessing of the Church Superior. A person is eligible for Sainthood whether they be alive or dead, and once they ascend to this status it is held forever and can only be revoked in the most grievous of circumstances. The collective of Orthodox Jashinist Saints are known as "The Universe of Saints".


The Laity compromise the majority of members within the Orthodoxy. They are the men, women, and children that worship Jashin but are not part of the clergy. Members come from all walks of life and are called to study the religion, complete its rituals, and convert others. The phrase "Brother in Faith" or "Sister in Faith" is how they tend to refer to one another.

These are people who are members of other religions or people who are atheist. It can also include Jashinists who do not recognize the authority and primacy of the Orthodoxy. It is said that these people are spiritually dead because they do not have a connection with Jashin or the Necrossiah. Spiritual death creates a fear of physical death. Jashinists believe only sacrifice or conversion can cure them of their fears and bring them into the grace of Jashin. The spiritually dead are also occasionally called "Meat for Repentance". This phrase stems from a chapter within the Orthodoxy which describes non-Jashinists as meat bodies that can be used in whatever way the Church and her followers deem necessary. It is not until they convert to Orthodox Jashinism that they receive true spiritual renewal. It is only through this method that they can become "people" as opposed to mere vessels.


The enemies of the faith are those that are actively hostile to the Church's existence and pose a threat to its mission. They are to be killed on sight or as soon as circumstances allow. Enemies of the Faith come in a near unlimited number of forms. They can be state actors, organizations, different religions, rival Jashinist sects, or even within the Orthodoxy itself. These enemies are often designated for sacrifice rather than conversion.


There are two major religious texts that make up the Orthodoxy.



The Seikyōkai translates to "The Orthodoxy" and is considered to be the canonical text of the religion. It is essentially a thick tome (400 chapters) that contains the history of Jashinism, the life of the Necrossiah, the teachings and prophesies of all ancient Superior Sacristans and their closest disciples. The scriptures contain various elements of Jashinist law, ritual practice, and musings on virtually all aspects of life. It is a key pillar of the religion and is said to be the source from which all truth and knowledge flows. Sacristans argue that the way in which it is written is unlike any other book on the Earth and that its text could have only been conceived of by a God. They argue that the Orthodoxy is infallible and unchanging (as is Jashin and his will). Only mankind's understanding of the holy book can be subject to inaccuracy or change.



Doctrines and Covenants are a series of texts that are more modern. Superior Sacristans do not add to the Seikyōkai as to do so would compromise its unchanging nature. Yet because their words are considered to be inspired by Jashin himself it is given equal weight and importance to the Orthodoxy. Thus, a series of books known as Doctrines and Covenants were written and kept by all Superior Sacristans within the past few centuries. These books have grown in volume and the current leader of the Church, Lady Superior Mora, has added several entries. These books contain interpretations of the Orthodoxy, opinions on current events, and prophesies of things to come to pass. The Church boasts that despite the fact that these Superior Sacristans are often separated by large expanses in time and geography, none of their writings actually contradict each other. The Church maintains that all entries within the book of Doctrines and Covenants are in total spiritual harmony. Those who declare otherwise are usually marked as enemies of the faith and promptly sacrificed.  




The Orthodox Church of Jashin maintains a variety of religious rituals that touch upon various aspects of life and death (marriage, birth, funerals, clergy selection, and communal meals). The most important ritual however is that of human sacrifice. These sacrifices can be informal or formal. Informal sacrifice is to kill in the name of Jashin and dedicate the act to him directly. A formal sacrifice is an elaborate ritual often taking place in the Church and with the blessing of a Sacristan. The act involves reciting a special prayer, torturing the subject, killing them, and then ingesting their blood. Many remark that such a ritual is completely outside the bounds of civilized society, however the Church claims that this is an ancient and ordained tradition that predates most modern religions. It is not for humans to judge the appropriateness and propriety of Jashin's commandments. Human sacrifice is the primary ritual of Jashinism and thus the Orthodoxy recognizes its importance and practices it frequently.

Sources of Revenue: Donations from its members
Allegiances/Allies: Kumogakure

Shimiko Chinoike wrote:Village/Organization Name: The Orthodox Church of Jashin
Shortened Names/Aliases: The Church/The Orthodoxy/The Faith
Name of Current Leader: Lady Superior Mora
List of Members: Shimiko Chinoike, Shinda Yua & Yui
Base Size: Dwelling (Outpost)
Lands Settled: Lightning Country
Starting Funds: 500,000 Ryo
Insignia: The primary insignia of the Orthodoxy is its flag, known as the Standard of Faith

Flag

Spoiler:

Meaning
The black half of the Standard represents the void of death along with its relevant aspects: eternity, nullness, and non-existence. The red half represents blood, gore, and violence. These are the pillars of the Jashinist faith. To purify the mind and soul of any fear of death by overexposure to bloodshed and violence. When one can embrace the sweet blackness of death through wanton violence then they will know the true nature of Jashin. The symbol on the right of the Standard is the keys to the Church and the Superior's Mitar. The keys to the Church are given to its Defender who has the authority to defend it as an institution. The mitar symbolizes the supreme authority of the Lord or Lady Superior to interpret doctrine, receive direct revelations from Jashin, and instruct the faithful in his teachings.  The symbols on the left is traditionally associated with Jashinism as a religious movement. The circle represents the world while each side of the triangle represents the Mind (Pain), Body (Death), and Soul (Life). The center of the triangle represents the Self. It is a foundational tenet of Jashinism that these aspects of reality are in friction and that only through Jashinism and its rituals can someone bring those concepts into harmony. The Orthodoxy holds that the angles at which the Circle intersects within the Triangle are meant to represent the three points at which Jashin has intervened in the world in order to bring his message to humanity. The first represents the very first Jashinist, the second is the Necrossiah, the third angle is the Orthodoxy.

Attire: The attire worn by members of the Church varies depending on their rank and station.

Lady/Lord Superior

The current Lady Superior of the Church tends to wear informal black cassocks or battle robes with a short religious hat known as a Kaminobōshi when in casual settings something akin to this. When presiding over rituals or religious services she will wear a flowing priestly robe similar to what the priests of the Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox tradition would wear in our world. She tops it off with a mitar (a three pronged hat symbolizing her authority to teach) and a staff with a twisted crucifix (demonstrating the Necrossiah's mastery over a death).


Sacristans

Sacristans tend to wear golden robes that are bespectacled with jewels. Their robes are tied with a golden sash and they often wear golden scandals. This outward appearance is designed to represent their worth as men and women of God. The knowledge that they hold is so rich that they can be considered to be the treasures of the global community.


Purpose: The Orthodoxy's mission can be summed up by its Mission Statement.

Mission Statement

The purpose of the Orthodox Church of Jashin is to spread the teachings of Jashinism as rightfully taught by the Necrossiah. The Orthodoxy is primarily concerned with the mass conversion of those worthy of its teachings and the mass depopulation of those who would violently oppose those teachings. In cleansing the world of evil and heresy and bringing the righteous to the truth, the Church seeks to prepare the planet for the inevitable return of the Necrossiah.

The proper preparation of the world will require that the Orthodoxy's influence and power extends to every relevant institution on Earth. Its membership must swell the planet until their proportion reaches such a mass that when they pray and sacrifice to Jashin, their cries will shake the heavens. This is prophesied to occur in the year 1,000 A.S.

The Necrossiah will then return to Earth and turn it into a permanent house of worship before taking his faithful on an never-ending crusade throughout the cosmos to bring his word to every form of intelligence that he has created.

General Description: The Orthodox Church of Jashin is an ancient institution with many core aspects.  

History

The Orthodox Church of Jashin traces its history to the founder of Jashinism. Many other sects around the world have their own lore and religious history. There is much debate as to where Jashinism came from and who founded it. Most sects agree that the religion was brought forth into the world by a single person who received a direct revelation from Jashin, however beyond that there is much debate as to what were the exact circumstances of the religion's birth. The Orthodoxy holds that the first man and woman to walk the Earth were Jashinists. They knew that Jashin was the true creator of the universe and had communed with the deity regularly in order to fulfill their religious obligations. Eventually, man fell away from Jashin as he grew to love his life and the lives of his neighbors over his creator. This selfishness caused the religion to lose followers and eventually it became scarce for many years. The Church teaches that it was Jashin who set forth the eventual birth of chakra on the planet and the subsequent arrival of the Sage and his Disciples.

The rise and fall of the Sage precipitated the birth of Ninjutsu which the Church teaches was a key tool that was to be used to glorify him. Unfortunately, the few sects that remained lacked the spiritual vigor, organization, or wherewithal to use this tool to its maximum effectiveness. Seeing that his followers needed guidance, Jashin sent down part of his spirit and came down to Earth as a man. This flesh avatar would be known as the Necrossiah. Historically, records do acknowledge that a man living in the Lightning Country had made such claims as being Jashin incarnate. He lead a band of followers that would eventually go on a mass crusade of violence and forced conversions before being put down. This "Necrossiah" was crucified and all details of his life were scrubbed from history in order to prevent him from being deified. The Church teaches that the Necrossiah knew he would die and that he had allowed himself to be captured and crucified so that the image of his sacrifice would be seared into the minds and hearts of his followers. They would never forget him or what he had taught them. The Necrossiah is depicted as not being from any particular clan so as to prevent factionalism however some (particularly Chinoike Jashinists) believe that the Necrossiah was a Chinoike Vampire.

Those who had followed this Necrossiah claim that he had taught them how to organize themselves so that the religion could not be stamped out. Whereas sects came and went due to a lack of organization and rules, this sect would last for centuries because it was bound by the commandments that had been restored by the Necrossiah. The teachings were recorded as literature and so the Church of Jashin became the "Orthodox Church of Jashin" or simply the "Orthodoxy" in recognition of their fidelity to an order, procedure, and hierarchy that went back generations.

Organizational Structure

The Orthodoxy follow a strict hierarchical structure designed to meet the needs of the Church. Each position grants spiritual authority over the ones underneath it.

Lady/Lord Superior

The Lord or Lady Superior of the Church is the Seer, Revelator, Prophet, and Primary Leader of the Orthodox Church of Jashin. They are the ultimate ecclesiastical authority within the Church and it is said that they speak with the voice of Jashin. The Lord or Lady Superior often wears priestly garments usually seen on a Bishop or Pope. The title is derived from the phrase Superior Sacristan which according to the Orthodoxy is the phrase used by the Necrossiah to describe his favorite disciple. This disciple would go on to lead the Church by claiming the power to see the future, hear Jashin and the Necrossiah's voice, interpret textual doctrines, and experience religious visions. Endowed with these spiritual powers, the Superior Sacristan is said to be able to issue new interpretations of the doctrine. It is this unique feature to Orthodox Jashinism that distinguishes it from its brother cults across the world. The Sacristan is responsible for making key administrative decisions for the Church, communicating with other political and religious leaders, performing important sacrifices, and elevating others to serve as Sacristans.

Sacristan

Sacristans are considered the high priests of the Orthodoxy. When the Superior Sacristan is unavailable they have the power to perform sacraments and rituals. They can lead congregations and essentially function as bishops. They do not however have the ability to interpret or make new doctrine outside of what is provided by the Orthodoxy. There are roughly 80 Sacristans across the world that have taken an oath of allegiance to the Orthodox Church of Jashin. Sixty of whom reside in  the Lightning Country and 40 of those sixty reside in Kumogakure. The eldest living Sacristan is known as the Dean of Sacristans and is often an authoritative figure within the Church. He is tasked with organizing the Sacristans for selecting a new Lord or Lady Superior. The ascension of a Sacristan to this title is determined by vote. The Sacristans vote for whom they wish to be their Lord or Lady Superior but they must also vote for one Sacristan to be sacrificed to Jashin at the conclusion of the vote. Sacristans tend to wear golden robes and carry weapons on their person.

The Defender of the Faith

This is a title held by someone who is not a Sacristan but rather an lay member whose power and loyalty to the Church has been proven. The Defender of the Church is responsible for ensuring the continuation of the Orthodoxy by protecting its faithful, its clergy, its sacred texts, and its buildings. The title is traditionally given to the strongest member of the Church. The Defender of the Faith has no set uniform but they are given two keys by the Lord or Lady Superior of the Church. The keys symbolize their role as the primary custodians, gatekeepers, and protectors of Jashin's Church.

The Universe of Saints

The Orthodoxy recognizes the concept of Sainthood. A person is canonized as a Saint in Orthodox Jashinism when either they perform three great acts of service to the Church or when another Saint acknowledges them as such with the blessing of the Church Superior. A person is eligible for Sainthood whether they be alive or dead, and once they ascend to this status it is held forever and can only be revoked in the most grievous of circumstances. The collective of Orthodox Jashinist Saints are known as "The Universe of Saints".

Laity

The Laity compromise the majority of members within the Orthodoxy. They are the men, women, and children that worship Jashin but are not part of the clergy. Members come from all walks of life and are called to study the religion, complete its rituals, and convert others. The phrase "Brother in Faith" or "Sister in Faith" is how they tend to refer to one another.

The Spiritually Dead

These are people who are members of other religions or people who are atheist. It can also include Jashinists who do not recognize the authority and primacy of the Orthodoxy. It is said that these people are spiritually dead because they do not have a connection with Jashin or the Necrossiah. Spiritual death creates a fear of physical death. Jashinists believe only sacrifice or conversion can cure them of their fears and bring them into the grace of Jashin. The spiritually dead are also occasionally called "Meat for Repentance". This phrase stems from a chapter within the Orthodoxy which describes non-Jashinists as meat bodies that can be used in whatever way the Church and her followers deem necessary. It is not until they convert to Orthodox Jashinism that they receive true spiritual renewal. It is only through this method that they can become "people" as opposed to mere vessels.

Enemies of the Faith

The enemies of the faith are those that are actively hostile to the Church's existence and pose a threat to its mission. They are to be killed on sight or as soon as circumstances allow. Enemies of the Faith come in a near unlimited number of forms. They can be state actors, organizations, different religions, rival Jashinist sects, or even within the Orthodoxy itself. These enemies are often designated for sacrifice rather than conversion.

Sacred Texts

There are two major religious texts that make up the Orthodoxy.

The Seikyōkai

The Seikyōkai translates to "The Orthodoxy" and is considered to be the canonical text of the religion. It is essentially a thick tome (400 chapters) that contains the history of Jashinism, the life of the Necrossiah, the teachings and prophesies of all ancient Superior Sacristans and their closest disciples. The scriptures contain various elements of Jashinist law, ritual practice, and musings on virtually all aspects of life. It is a key pillar of the religion and is said to be the source from which all truth and knowledge flows. Sacristans argue that the way in which it is written is unlike any other book on the Earth and that its text could have only been conceived of by a God. They argue that the Orthodoxy is infallible and unchanging (as is Jashin and his will). Only mankind's understanding of the holy book can be subject to inaccuracy or change.

Doctrines & Covenants

Doctrines and Covenants are a series of texts that are more modern. Superior Sacristans do not add to the Seikyōkai as to do so would compromise its unchanging nature. Yet because their words are considered to be inspired by Jashin himself it is given equal weight and importance to the Orthodoxy. Thus, a series of books known as Doctrines and Covenants were written and kept by all Superior Sacristans within the past few centuries. These books have grown in volume and the current leader of the Church, Lady Superior Mora, has added several entries. These books contain interpretations of the Orthodoxy, opinions on current events, and prophesies of things to come to pass. The Church boasts that despite the fact that these Superior Sacristans are often separated by large expanses in time and geography, none of their writings actually contradict each other. The Church maintains that all entries within the book of Doctrines and Covenants are in total spiritual harmony. Those who declare otherwise are usually marked as enemies of the faith and promptly sacrificed.  

Rituals

The Orthodox Church of Jashin maintains a variety of religious rituals that touch upon various aspects of life and death (marriage, birth, funerals, clergy selection, and communal meals). The most important ritual however is that of human sacrifice. These sacrifices can be informal or formal. Informal sacrifice is to kill in the name of Jashin and dedicate the act to him directly. A formal sacrifice is an elaborate ritual often taking place in the Church and with the blessing of a Sacristan. The act involves reciting a special prayer, torturing the subject, killing them, and then ingesting their blood. Many remark that such a ritual is completely outside the bounds of civilized society, however the Church claims that this is an ancient and ordained tradition that predates most modern religions. It is not for humans to judge the appropriateness and propriety of Jashin's commandments. Human sacrifice is the primary ritual of Jashinism and thus the Orthodoxy recognizes its importance and practices it frequently.

Sources of Revenue: Donations from its members
Allegiances/Allies: Kumogakure

This joke of a religion is approveedddd