Dhovianism - The White Priesthood
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 Divine is the head of the church. There is no higher rank. A Divine will serve from the time of their appointment until death. When a Divine dies, priests of the rank and Doman and above submit their names for consideration. The Rectorate, Marques, and Commander of the Red priesthood also must submit their names. It is uncommon for a member of the Red priesthood to exchange their armor for robes, but there is precedent for a Red Priest to exchange their armor for robes. The Divine must be chosen by unanimous decision, and the selection can take months, but a decision must be made after no more than a year. New Divines are mostly chosen from the existing Prelate body, but it is not uncommon for abbots or Domans to be accepted. The current Divine was only a Doman before his name was selected as Divine after nearly a year of deliberation. He has served as Divine for almost ten years and is one of the youngest Divines ever elected. The new Divine will spend a period of a year sequestered, educating themselves on knowledge and rites that only they are allowed to perform. The Divine serves in the Grand Luminarium in Estos, and advises the royal family directly. The Divine conducts coronations and often arbitrates matters of succession for higher ranks of nobility such as archdukes. He also decides matters of doctrine and policy. It was the decision of the previous Divine not to get involved in the civil war that severed East from West and led to the decline of the church's influence in the west.
