Sanctuary from the Anathema

[Burnsider 4566]

Sanctuary from the Anathema

 

 

A mighty fortress is our God

A bulwark never failing

~ Martin Luther

 

It has been over half a year since the ones titled Emperor, Empress, and Vice-Chancellor have been excommunicated and deemed anathema by High Pontiff Everard VI. Each evening since that day, after witnessing to and serving my flock, you Faithful within the Metropolitanate of Providentia, I find myself weeping in fear for your souls. The obligations and duties of a Canonist living under an excommunicated ruler is a heavy yoke. For, as it is written, "an excommunicant is not suitable for association or fraternity with the faithful, and they are engendered to shun and reject them except where there is extreme need." And the obligations and duties of a Canonist living under an Anathema is even hard. For again, it is written, "Canonists residing in lands under the rule of one who has been pronounced anathema should make all efforts to overthrow them, or failing that, to flee their rule."

 

Yes, as I watch and tend to you, my flock, I see that few to none are fleeing the rule of the Anathemas. Instead, here you stay, in New Providence, your home. And who can blame you? For many, all you know is here. Your entire lives have been spent in and around this city or its predecessor. Where to, then, would you go? This is a failing of the Church, to not provide a place of refuge from association with the Anathemas, and one that we now chance to rectify.

 

Therefore, I announce to all the Faithful of Providentia that the Basilica of the Argentate Star is now, and shall be until the Anathemas return to the Church, a refuge for all Faithful to reside. It will be a Sanctuary within New Providence, allowing the Faithful to follow the laws of the Canon without leaving the walls of their city. The Basilica of the Argentate Star is the land of the Church, consecrated, and forbidden for the Anathemas to entire. The walls of the priests' cells have been torn down, and beds and cots spread throughout our former rooms, so that there will be places for you to sleep in the Basilica. When that fills, the pews will be given bedding and pillows for use as well. The church larder will be open to all refugees, and we, the clergy of Providentia, will cook for you. We are, as always, servants to our flock and we will remain so as you rest under our roof.

 

And to those that choose to follow the Anathema, I declare this. Those Faithful refugees taking respite from the rule of the Anathemas are under the protection of the Church. We will be a shield to those within, and none may come and take them from this place as long as there are clergy still drawing breath within. The Anathema's "justice" will not be allowed to come upon them. For that which is anathema is judged to be contrary to the promotion of virtue, and the unvirtuous cannot know justice.

 

Ileana Sava Ursović, Presbyter

[winterblood 11181]

Moliana's mouth twitched into a faint smile of her approval as she read Ileana's announcement, she kept the letter close to her as she proceeded on in her own.  The nib of her pen was dipped into her inkwell before it scratched away at the parchment, the voice of the Vasiyevan priestess rang in her mind.  She was not a woman that followed the faith so strictly, yet had come to respect the values it taught; Ileana had done well in keeping to such principals.

[Cjmate 1270]

Kristofer Vuiller lays in a bed, fuming as Ileana makes her speech in the market square, "We were being attacked and raided before the Emperor came to Oren. It didn't matter who the Emperor was." He thought angrily.