Imperial Orthodox Church | On Condemnation

[Wumpatron]

Spirit's benediction and peace to all who walk the Great Way.

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It is a painful position to be in, to see brazen accusations thrown about without regard for understanding or any attempt to reason for facts. Instead, here I am, my church condemned for reasons I cannot seem to understand and a perspective that does the inverse of what it is it is meant to do.

The declaration of Holy War was a calculated decision on behalf of the Orthodox Church. We have been advocates for it for many weeks, ever since this Drixagh Rebellion denounced not the State or any function of the government, but the Emperor himself. An action that is treasonous and blasphemous in the eyes of the Orthodoxy. This situation has only gone on to escalate as each week passes. The Herebrand Order, a devout Unionist collective, found locked besieged in their fortification without aid to rescue them and the Unionist relics they have kept safe for countless years. Hadrian's Wall, ruptured and this army, who has never changed their tune of denouncing his Imperial Holiness, poised to enter into Unionist land.

I have been dedicating both my own resources and my council to this effort for some time. I have kept an open dialogue with House Typhonus and they have known of my intentions for this Holy War as they have consistently been pushed to the brink. Why then would I turn my back to this Unionist household who has fought for Unionism for generations? They have asked for my aid and for me to ask others for aid as well. And I have done such as is necessary of one who wishes to be declared a man of the cloth. Yet, with every individual I have asked, they have stated their own reasons not wishing to be involved. These lords are not at fault, nor is House Typhonus for requesting for their aid.

I made the decision to declare Holy War not for one State, but for the righteous cause of Unionism as it is interpreted by the Orthodox Church. Unionist lives and lands lost to a pagan host that is empowered by their collective rejection of the God Emperor Alexander.

When it was revealed to me that the Herebrand Order had managed to escape and that a deal was to be made, of course I voted to cancel the Holy War. But to say that this action was made without care or reason is ignorant to the truth. Unionist lives were no longer in jeopardy. Those who had requested aid had found solace and peace in their decision. So it was a justified action to cancel Holy War, just as it was a justified action to start it.

Doing such does not make the Conclave weak, it shows that we act in the interest of the collective faith, not just our immediate interests. This is why we vote on such measures and why the Conclave seal bears the mark for the entirety of the faith. Actions taken into the confines of the Unionist Conclave are not to be taken lightly and to accuse those who enter there of taking it as such is deceitful and I would furthermore argue that it is this action that makes the Conclave weak. To speak out against the decisions of its members without considering why these decisions are made.

So to my members of the Conclave, do not make baseless threats to the integrity of the Imperial Orthodox Church. We act in the interest of those who have accepted our interpretation as well as the position of Unionism itself across Aloria. This is the beliefs of the Orthodoxy, to promote and expand the Unionist banner in the face of adversity. To not allow the Great Way to be hindered or reversed, but to stand galvanized and poised to take action against those who threaten it. My decisions taken are not to be taken as a surprise, but a backing of what the Orthodox Church promises to do. And it has delivered. I was prepared to save Unionist lives in both actions taken, and I have done so successfully.

Your Holiness, Kade. I do not need to pay anyone reparations, nor do I care about your opinion of me. But next time you seek to uproot my church or dare deface the Imperial Orthodox Church, speak to me. As you said so yourself, 'this arbitrary decision-making represents a lack of foresight and the impulsiveness reminiscent of children, devoid of any foundation in diplomacy, reason, and intellect.'

I will not be addressing anything further on this topic.

Oratario Ode

Henri I
Archbishop of the Imperial Orthodox Church
Bishop of Drachenburg

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[Azas]

Receiving a copy of the Orthodox Church's proclamation, Astram Kade skims the separate notice in his study.

"Let's see here..."

He begins by explaining how long he's been in support for a Holy War, naming the Drixagghers as treasonous and blasphemous. Let's see how he flips to revocation out of nowhere...

He justifies the revocation by the release of the Herebrands, yet forgets his earlier point on the breach of the Wall and the lives that would threaten. If he's saying diplomacy is an option now, why was it not an option to free the Herebrands? Why did he go straight to Holy War? He proposed it twice.

He brings up the Typhonus a lot, but his men went to Alexanderburgh, and his money went to Treppewitz.

Ah, it seems he claims credit for using my seal. Good to know.

Does he really think this poorly written issuance will persuade converts to Orthodox? He even issued it separately. For as biting as the words of the Peirgarten were, even he and the March-Elector issued theirs in response.

'Save Unionist lives', pah. Declaring war has never saved lives.

Rejecting reparations? It's one thing to not pay them, it's another to publish that you refuse to invest in the lands of your followers.

Not viewing this notice as worthy of a response, the First Reverend deposited the copy into his wastebasket, returning to his other matters.

 

[HeyitsNano]

"Churches fighting. It's historical."