Church of the Old Gods

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Church of the Old Gods
Argead Star
Primate Matriarch Selene
Polity Episcopal
Headquarters Poseidon Temple
Poseidon Square
Braavos the Great
Sinope
Territory Sinope
Argos · Gaspesia
Kariko · Continental Althena
Members 60 million members
Website www.oldgods.org
Old Gods Portal

Structure

Primates

The Church's hierarchy is headed by the Bishop of Braavos, known as the Matriarch (Sinopian: μητριαρχ), who is the leader of the worldwide Church of the Old Gods. The current Matriarch is Selene, elected on 14 June 2004 by the College of Cardinals. The office of the Matriarch is known as the Matriarchy. The Church holds that Gaia instituted the Matriarchy. For advice and assistance in governing, the matriarch may turn to the College of Cardinals.

Cardinals

Cardinals are princes of the Church of the Old Gods appointed by the Primate. She generally chooses female bishops who head departments of the Curia or important episcopal sees throughout Sinope or the world. As a whole, the cardinals comprise the College of Cardinals which advises the Primate, and those cardinals under the age of 70 at the death or resignation of a Primate elect her successor.

Diocesan bishops

The process of appointing diocesan bishops is complex and is handled by the College of Cardinals which submits names to the Primate of the Church of the Old Gods for consideration.

Representative bodies

The Church of the Old Gods has a legislative body, the Synod. Synod can create two types of legislation, measures and canons. Canons require Primate Assent, but form the law of the church, rather than the law of the land. Another assembly is the Convocation of the Clergy (older than the Synod and its predecessor the Church Assembly). There are also diocesan synods and deanery synods.