History
Timeline of events significant to the Laranian Church
Date (TR)
Event
370 BT
Legend of Ambrathas and Alamire: Church founded
350 BT
Alamire destroyed
300 BT
Doryna, Gorthas, Naraen, Simyn, and Toras write
200 BT
Temples throughout extreme western Lythia, including Melderyn
50 BT
Styffen writes The Code
18
Eabin writes Worship of God
100
Eabinic Heresy at its height
114
Elitan Congress condemns Eabinic Heresy
120
Nalah-Uroh writes Libram of the Pantheon
184
Odyna writes Life of a Monk
200
Missionaries active in central Hârn
227
Congress of Tengela established office of Sebrath
232
Book of Alamire standardised
259
Writ of Infallability issued by Sebrath
263
Guardian Decree issued by Sebrath
268
Ethelanca created by Sebrath
300
Missionaries active in southern Tharda
316
First Petrynal Council - adopts Styffen's Code
330
Second Petrynal Council - codified hierarchy
350
Missionaries active throughout Azeryan Empire
400
Missionaries active throughout Tharda
412
First saints canonised
425
Feast of the Holy Acts celebrated for the first time at Tengela
465
Order of the Spear of Shattered Sorrow founded by Sebrath
542
Company of the Holy Sepulchre founded by Sebrath
575
Order of the Lady of Paladins founded by Poleryn
593
Order of Hyvrik founded by Serolan in Aleath
602
Order of The Winged Lion founded in Trierzon; Order of The Knights of Avarkiel
founded (Trierzon)
608
Duvinal Council explores priestly ideals
616
Tobran Inquisition in eastern Trierzon (to 620)
622
Order of the Checkered Shield founded by Andasin I
696
First temple founded in Ivinia at Jarehm.
Holy Texts
Book of Alamire
Book of Three Towers
- primary account of Alamire
Book of Toras - the 8 challenges of Ambrathas in detail
Book of Doryna - the overall story
Book of Simyn - life at Alamire, symbolic and literal
Book of Revelations
Book of Naraen - vision of Tirithor
Book of Gorthas - vision of Larani's kingdom on earth
Code of St. Styffen - guide for monastic life based on Alamire, especially Simyn
Worship of God - written by Eabin, a mystic; described genderless, personal Larani; judged heretical by Elitan Council
Life of Saint Perelyne - written by Sebrath Kora
Lives of the Saints - written by Sebrath Kora
Life of a Monk - standard and ideal
The Secular Church - church as buttress of state
Holy Crusade - allegorical work full of demons and angels thought by many to call for holy war
Sebraths of the Church of Larani
- Symbols (ie, after a "-" are the symbols for the person)
Perelyne (227-249)
- her youth
Perelyne became a priestly acolyte of the (female)
abbey of Tengela in present day Trierzon. She convinced her temple mistresses
to call a universal congress of
church leaders, and spoke of the need for central
authority. The suggestion was timely since the evil churches were becoming
more aggressive. Perelyne
demonstrated a command of the mysteries greater
than any other; this was particularly remarkable in view of her youth and
inexperience. Perelyne has a series of
divine visions, speaking with such innocent conviction
that she greatly impressed the assembled churchmen. She called upon them
to elect a pontiff and returned to
her studies, saying her task was done.
The congress deliberated for several hours in
an attempt to select a leader. Eventually they agreed to leave it in the
hands of Larani; they would elect the first priest to
enter the chamber. Soon after, Perelyne came
into the chamber. I have brought, she said, a gift of wine for the one
you have chosen. Thus, despite her protests,
Perelyne became the first pontiff of the church
of Larani.
Perelyne laboured to organise the church in the
face of the evil churches. She began the organisation of the primacies
and bishoprics, and she created the Tirnatha.
Her last act was to issue the Infallibility Decree
which established the divine relationship between deity and Sebrath.
Janasyn (249-267)
Janasyn was the first Sebrath elected by the Tirnatha. Janasyn issued the Guardian Decree, a write that initiated the concept of the Laranian temple warrior.
Egenis (267-300)
Egenis created the Ethelanca, the Holy Office,
in an attempt to guard against internal corruption and impiety as the church
grew wealthier. She directed it against
several elements of the growing church bureaucracy.
Petryn I the Great (300-342)
Petryn, the first male Sebrath, came to the position
just before the Azeryan conquest of Zonora (modern Trierzon). He is best
known for his massive and successful
efforts to encourage the spread of the church,
especially into Azeryan. He reformed the operation of the church in several
councils. He also founded the male
monastery at Tengela.
Cerdan I the Martyr (342-345)
- broken spears
Cerdan was killed by a force of Agrikan temple warriors during a mission in Azeryan.
Rhyn (345-358)
Rhyn reaffirmed the church's commitment to western Lythia and travelled extensively.
Doryne (358-374)
Doryne is referred to as the Fat, and her reign
is best known for its corruption and waste. Her rule serves as a lesson
that even the most blessed and powerful
members of the church must be ever wary of the
influence of the evil gods.
Kora the Wise (374-380)
Kora never left Tengela after her election and
was one of the most reclusive of the Sebrath. She left the governance of
the church to the Tirnatha. Her writings,
however, are famous and include Lives of the
Saints and Life of Saint Perelyne.
Maryk I (380-389)
Maryk was a weak leader and was easily manipulated. Most believe that the highest leaders of the church at this time fell under the influence of the evil gods.
Maryk II (389-407)
Maryk II built many churches and monasteries throughout western Lythia and reestablished the honour of the church.
Soris (408-409)
Soris was an Azeryan, the only one ever to hold the high office. He was also the imperial governor of Zonora.
Petryn II the Old (409-414)
Petryn the Old opposed the growing corruption in the empire. He was poisoned and is revered as a martyr.
Petryn III the Scribe (414-442)
Petryn the Scribe is best known for his famous
letters exchanged with the Agrikan pontiffs over several decades. In these
he successfully established the superiority
of Larani over Agrik.
Norelyne I (442-459)
Norelyne strengthened the church in Byria.
Dedinis the Warrior (459-474)
Dedinis led dozens of attacks on the Trierzi barbarians.
Baswyn the Missionary (474-477)
Baswyn encouraged the spread of the church into new territories: Shorkyne, western Hârn, and the eastern shores of the Venarian Sea.
Petryn IV the Guide (477-488)
Pertyn the Guide was the spiritual advisor to the Trierzi lords and was killed during the imperial suppression.
Yselde the Singer (488-491)
Yselde is best known for developing and encouraging music during services. She subtly encouraged the secession of Zonora.
Barysa (491-505)
Barysa was an advisor to the first Trierzi kings.
Larryne (505-531)
Larryne wrote many letters in which she stabilised the church. She condemned the Trierzi invasion of Shorkyne as immoral.
Cerdan II (531-548)
Cerdan II created the Order of the Holy Sepulchre. He died of the Red Plague. [In 542, established fighting orders.]
Norelyne II (548-567)
Norelyne was Byrian and introduced a number of exotic elements into church services. Most of these were abandoned after her death, and a few became heretical.
Cerdan III (567-585)
Cerdan III formalised the creation and structure of fighting orders. [But it was Cerdan II, in 542, who established fighting orders.]
Cerdan IV (584-601)
Cerdan IV began a massive rebuilding project at Tengela.
Lurik (601-605)
No records survive from the rule of Lurik. His name is rarely spoken and is believed to be bad luck.
Duvin the Reformer (605-614)
The Duvinal Council (608) addressed the role and ideals of priests.
Ialda (614-628)
Ialda is often referred to as the Weak. It took her four years to halt the Tobran Inquisition (616-620).
Baraen I (628-645)
Baraen reformed the Ethelanca.
Omara the Quiet (645-653)
Omara wrote several compilations of prayer.
Toryne the Pious (653)
Toryne is the most beloved of the modern Sebrath.
During her short reign, she became known as a woman of honour and healing.
Many miracles are attributed to
her in life, as well as to her relics.
Essyn (653-666)
Essyn was a mystic and founded many monasteries.
Baraen II (666-679)
Baraen II added to Tengela.
Cerdan V (679-692)
Cerdan strengthened the church's traditional rights in the face of secular intrusion. He excommunicated several lords to force them into compliance.
Sadael the Mad (692-694)
Sadael went mad shortly after his election. The Tirnatha was considering his removal when he died.
Petryn V (694-702)
Petryn V strengthened the church's traditional ties with the rulers of Trierzon. He drowned during a storm while travelling to Ubarian.
Petryn VI (702-707)
Petryn wrote Holy Crusade, a bizarre allegorical work few claim to understand.
Lursyle (707-717)
Lursyle increased the wealth of the church at
the expense of some compromises to the Laranian ideals. Under the poor
example of her ten year rule, various
excesses were allowed to grow.
Allyn (717-present)
Allyn of Kamalrith is a highly spiritual man of
forty-three, and a masterful and intelligent politician. While he administers
the temporal church with great skill, he pays
close heed to his spiritual duties. Allyn has
instituted a discreet program of reform, but several problems remain unsolved.
In a few areas (most notably parts of
Azeryan) there is resistance from clerics who
have grown wealthy, powerful or dissolute. One of his concerns is the activities
of the fighting order of the Lady of
Paladins, who are conducting what amounts to
a genocidal campaign against the Solori tribesmen of Hârn. He has
sent several missions to the Hârnic primate.
Author: David Millians