#dhova

If the Red Priests are the sword arm of the Dhovian faith, then its white priests are the body. They comprise the majority of the priesthood's upper ranks and conduct most ceremonies, marriages, funerals, and blessings. Although they are technically the same rank as the rank and file Red Priests, the whole of the White priesthood is regarded as above all but the most high ranking Red Priests. 

Both men and women are allowed to serve in the priesthood and the Dhovian church is not typically sexist, although men and women have different duties and serve in separate priesthoods. Female priests are more commonly missionaries and service workers, whereas men serve as chaplains or advisors.

The white priests must swear their own vows, including those of chastity, service, and obedience. Each rank of the priesthood includes their own set of vows that grow more solemn the higher up the rank.

A group of white priests is referred to as an Amity.

Ranks

Novice

Novices are not the most populous class, but they do make up a great portion of the priesthood body and serve a necessary function. Novices perform many of the clerical duties in the lower areas of the church and more rural portions of the nation. They serve as assistants to curates and patrars, and assist them in a great deal of lower church functions.  Though they have not sworn vows, the rank of Novice is considered a transitional rank, as many novices are studying to take the robe and become curates. The time a curate spends as a Novice is important; his servicework will be the foundation of his work further in the church. 

Though Novices are not ordained and cannot perform blessings, rites, or collect tithes, they are expected to have a working knowledge of church doctrine and philosophy. They are also paid a wage for their services. 

Curate

Curate is the first ordained rank in the church. To become a curate, it is expected that he first spend 3-5 years as a Novice, though uncommonly, one may skip the rank of Novice if they display a satisfactory knowledge of the church and pass the exam. The exam is carried out at an abbey located in one of the major cities - Estos, Valos, and Ruod. The exam to become Curate covers a range of church doctrine and he must exhibit knowledge of performing rites such as marriage, death, and various blessings. Ordination requires the curate to swear certain vows such as celibacy and nonviolence.  Once ordained, the new Curate is assigned to one of the abbeys across the continent where he will serve the local community. He can now perform blessings, rites, and collect tithes, but the most important duty is performing intercessions on behalf of the community. Priests are considered to be the only ones able to speak with god, and so a Curate - or any priest of higher rank - must take the prayers of the community and bring them to God. He will serve under a patrar, who organizes a group of perhaps 10 or 12 Curates. 

Patrar

A patrar is an elder curate. The rank is typically achieved after 5 years as a curate, and patrars are typically within their thirties. A patrar serves as the head of a local church, called the Sanctarium,  serving a community no larger than a town or village. He commands a group of about 10 to 12 younger curates.  A patrar has a higher pension and is allowed to perform more rights. They are also allowed to spiritually advise their congregation. They are selected by their Doman to serve. The patrar answers to the Doman, who oversees up to 6 patrars and their sanctariums. 

Doman

The Doman is the highest achievable rank in the lower body of the church. They are an elder Patrar, and are usually not considered for the position without 10 years of service. They are chosen from among the patrars by the Abbot. They serve as patrars of their own sanctariums, but also oversee up to six other territories.  For most matters, the Doman is allowed to handle them mostly by himself. He may grant the rank of Patrar to an elder curate and is allowed to perform last rites for fellow priests. The Doman frequently serves in the lower courts, and thus is expected to have some kind of courtly tact. Typically, the Doman only has the authority to advise lords and ladies, barons and viscounts.  In most cases, the Doman has final say over what happens in their sanctariums, although in more serious cases and transgressions, such as a priest breaking their vows, he must report to the Abbot. It is expected that he spend some time traveling between the sanctariums he oversees.  The Doman reports directly to the Abbot of the region. 

Abbot

Abbot is the first rank in the body of the higher church, and the first rank that is not achieved by succession. Abbots are selected by the Prelate Body and are assigned to lead their abbey.  An abbey is both a large sanctarium and the territory that oversees up to twelve smaller sanctariums. An abbot typically directly oversees at least a few hundred subordinates, as well as their Domans. They don't typically leave the abbey, as the Domans and Patrars report to them. An abbot is expected to handle such cases as priests breaking their vows and other more serious transgressions. They work directly with the nobility of their region and the law and are expected to have some working knowledge of the law. Most abbeys typically also contain a Brotherhood of Red Priests. Abbot is the direct equal to the Prior in the branch of the Red priesthood. While an Abbot may be allowed to send the Red priests on minor matters such as assisting law enforcement, the Red priests answer to their Rector and the Rectorate.  An abbot is the final say as to what happens in their abbey. They may demote priests, strip them of their rank entirely, place them on administrative leave, or even reassign them to another abbey. They may also consecrate ground and objects.   Though an abbot rarely leaves their abbey, they do occasionally serve in the middle courts, advising nobles such as counts, earls, and dukes. 

Prelate

The Prelate Body is the highest rank any priest may expect to achieve. Prelates serve as high priests of the church and while one is located in Valos and Ruod, most are located in the capital.  When a prelate dies, a new prelate is selected from abbots by the  prelate body and the Divine. If the position is accepted, a new abbot is sent to replace him and the new prelate is conducted into the body.  A prelate has access to all of the texts and secret knowledge located in the Grand Luminarium, the grandest sanctarium located in Estos. There is no privilege they are not afforded, and no one under the rank of prelate serves in the higher courts. 

Saint

Saint is not a rank typically achieved. Technically, anyone can become a saint if they are blessed by divine revelation, but in their lifetimes they are typically decried as heretics. In order to be declared a Saint, one must submit to the Prelate body and the Divine. The Divine may choose to canonize their teachings. In the past, many saints declared themselves the true heads of church and made attempts to overthrow the then Divine, leading to a number of holy wars. While these Saint's teachings were still later canonized, they are referred to as Black Saints.  A living saint who submits to the Church's will serves as just under the Divine. No one has been declared a Saint for more than four hundred years. 

Divine

The Order of the Red - or colloquially known as Red Priests - are the sect of the Dhovian ministry sworn to protect the faithful.

They are a deeply religious lot - sometimes verging on zealotry - and take the Oaths they make incredibly seriously. Extraordinarily skilled warriors, many of them spend their lives in pursuit of physical and mental mastery of themselves. Even a plainly adorned Red Priest is an elite warrior compared to a member of the lay military, as Red Priests train specifically to seek out heretics and abominations born of Bloodcraft.

The arrival of a Red Priest spells doom to the enemies of the Church and its holy country.

Ranks

Initiate

Initiates are the most populous body in the red priesthood, comprised of young soldiers hoping to become ordained to full priests. It is not uncommon for Initiates to be inducted as children - some even as young as five. Training is rigorous and begins early, and there are a number of martial skills they are expected to master. Failure to achieve this mastery may result in a dismissal from the priesthood. Initiates study and train under an elder priest who becomes their mentor for the majority of their time at the priory. Their mentor is responsible for certain specifics of their training, such as teaching them how to perform holy rites, and is also responsible for their safety. An elder Initiate, one closer to ordination, may occasionally be sent on missions on their own without the company of their mentor.

Initiates are not permitted to go on combat missions until they pass their martial exams or reach the age of majority, although if an Initiate is considered particularly skilled, they may be granted a special dispensation. It is also not uncommon for Initiates to suffer injuries or death while on these missions. While Initiates are not required to swear any oaths or vows, the further an Initiate progresses, the more seriously they are expected to take their future vows.

Priest 

Ordination requires an Initiate to pass a series of rigorous physical challenges, combat scenarios, and display of mental acuity, as well as working knowledge of church doctrine. They must know how to perform certain holy rites, such as deconsecration and lighting cleansing flames. At this point, an Initiate should have faced and killed abominations and bloodwitches. Some initiates may choose to take this exam but not advance further into the priesthood, choosing instead to go directly into the lay military. If an Initiate chooses ordination, they undergo a ceremony and take vows, including those of celibacy. They are then sent to a priory for further training and study. Priests are equal to the rank of curate in the branch of the white priesthood, but red priests serve a very different function. They do not perform blessings or rites and cannot offer spiritual guidance. Their ranks are much closer to that of a military, and there is a strict chain of command. There are some privileges unique to the red priests - they can deconsecrate ground, declare acts of heresy, and perform minor inquisitions. They are also not bound by vows of nonviolence. 

Ordained priests are also now given the power to declare a minor heresy. Declaring a heresy gives them unilateral control over an area's lay forces for a limited period of time. If this period of time elapses, or the threat remains uncontrolled, a member of the rectorate must arrive to legitimize the heresy. In more extreme matters, such as civil or holy wars, or major outbreaks of Bloodcraft and abominations, a heresy must be legitimized by the Commander, the Divine, and the King or Queen of Estos.

Second and Third Primate

Second and Third Primates are the next ranks in succession. Both require exams, but the ranks are generally given after a number of years of service - usually four or five.

Primate Elite

The rank of Primate Elite is given to the best and most skilled priests. Considered the Brotherhood's "special forces", primate elites must take rigorous combat exams to prove their skill, and must have a certain percentage of mission success. Generally, they also should have a more or less spotless record and display a great deal of piety.

Prior / Rector

Priors and Rectors technically hold the same rank, but while a Rector may continue to advance up the ranks, the Prior is a terminal position. However, it is no less important of a rank, as Priors oversee the training of new priests and handle their assignments.  The prior is the direct equivalent to the Abbot in the branch of the white priesthood, and they have similar duties. The prior maintains the Priory and the functions of the territory he controls, but cannot perform certain blessings or rites such as marriage. As such, while the Priory is technically also a Sanctarium, there is an Amity of white priests located at the Priory for spiritual advisement. A rector is of equal rank, although slightly differing authority and duties. A rector oversees the territory itself, managing the priesthood within the territory and directing them on missions. He works with fellow rectors and rector-lieutenants to oversee military operations, and works directly with the abbots. Priors, Rectors, and Rector-Lieutenants form the Rectorate, which is the council that oversees the whole of the Red Priesthood.

Rector Lieutenant

There is no equivalent rank in the body of the white priesthood to Rector-Lieutenant. They oversee the Rectors, but are not stationed at a priory, and instead roam the territory and report directly back to their Marques.

The presence of a rector-lieutenant is an incredibly serious thing. They usually arrive to investigate and legitimize matters of heresy. They are considered to be some of the most elite warriors in the Order, and are often severe and uncompromising.

Marque

Marques are the equivalent to the Prelate body, but are not stationed solely in the capital. There is one Marque for every province, and Marques generally control the territory that contains the Priory they graduated from. A Marque is not a typically mobile rank, staying mostly stationed at their Priory and choosing instead to organize their military. They rely heavily on the Rectorate to keep the rank and file in line. Marques serve alongside generals in the lay military. 

Commander of the Red