Church of Saradomin

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Not to be confused with Inquisition of Saradomin.

The Church of Saradomin is a religious organisation dedicated to the worship of the deity Saradomin. It represents the largest religion in the world and allegedly has connections to every major human kingdom.[1] The Church's influence was great enough to impel a prior King of Asgarnia into limiting the Guthixian Void Knights to the area aroundTaverley.[2] And in Misthalin, the Church is reponsible for installing Aeonisig Raispher as permanent Saradominist religious advisor for King Roald.[3]

The Church is based on the holy isle of Entrana, which is said to be the place Saradomin first arrived on Gielinor. It now hosts a church and an order of Monks headed by the High Priest of Entrana. The island collects much wealth from Saradominists across Gielinor, and the High Priests have far-reaching authority. They have set calendars, dictated proper procedures for marriage ceremonies, and put down other laws that govern the lives of many Saradominists.[4]

Beliefs and Practices[edit | edit source]

A reliquary with artwork depicting Saint Elspeth with a Saradomin star shining from her head.

Many Saradominists only accept the existence of three deities: Saradomin, Zamorak, and Guthix.[5] The Church is also sceptical of the druids' claim that Guthix shaped Gielinor and banished the gods at the end of the God Wars.[6] The Saradominist version of events holds that Saradomin would have won the God Wars, but in an act of mercy allowed Zamorak to escape and agreed with the other gods not to intervene, so that they would not destroy the world through their combat.[7] Some members of the Church choose to interpret this symbolically, as representing the battle between good and evil within oneself, rather than as literal events.[8]

Knowledge of demons is supressed by the Church. Performing rituals and reading tomes related to demons is forbidden and the punishments for doing so may be severe. Ellemar was charged with blasphemy and sentenced to execution for studying demonology and summoning Agrith Naar.[9] The Church also disapproves of golems, believing them to be unnatural, which has discouraged people from pursuing the art of golem construction.[10]

The Church recognises at least two Saints: Saint Elspeth and Saint Zilyana.[11] It is not known how and by whom saints are recognised. Saints may be depicted with a star of Saradomin above their heads, similar to a halo. Saint Elspeth's ghost has a literal, smaller such star floating above her head.

Branches[edit | edit source]

The Church of Saradomin has churches in:

Trivia[edit | edit source]

  • The Church of Saradomin is most likely based on the Catholic Church, for the following reasons:
    • His followers are called priests and sisters, in addition to the fact that their temples are called churches, chapels and monasteries. Additionally, many of his priests appear to either shave or tonsure their hair, a common practice among Catholic monks.
    • Both churches had military orders, formed by several cavalries, among them an Knights Templar, which in the game are represented by the Temple Knights.
    • In 164, as shown in Legacy of Blood, the Inquisition of Saradomin was established, which lasted a single night. This parallels the real life Inquisition, which Pope Gregory IX established in 1232 for the suppression of heresy.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ^ Sir Owen, "Azzanadra's quest", RuneScape. "The church of Saradomin is the largest religion, we have connections with every major human kingdom."
  2. ^ Void knight book, written by Admiral Boyce Khael, "A Void Dance", RuneScape. "The King of Falador was overly heedful of the Church of Saradomin in limiting our influence to the Taverley surrounds."
  3. ^ Aeonisig Raispher, RuneScape. "He very often summons occasional advisors to help him in certain situations, but it was felt by the Church of Saradomin that a full time advisor on religious matters was needed to ensure fair treatment of Saradomin's followers"
  4. ^ T.S. Church. Return to Canifis, (Chapter 4. Kindle Edition lacks pages.). Titan Books, 2011. "Since time immemorial we have listened to High Priests of Entrana as they lay down laws that govern our lives, setting calendars and dictating marriage ceremonies. And, of course, collecting money from the masses. ... I expect the Holy Isle is a wealthy place indeed!"
  5. ^ "Temple of Ikov", RuneScape. Player:"Someone told me there were only three gods. Saradomin, Zamorak and Guthix." Guardian of Armadyl:"Saradominists. Bleh. They only acknowledge those three. There are at least twenty gods!"
  6. ^ Drezel, "Darkness of Hallowvale", RuneScape. "They also believe that Guthix made the world, and according to their history, Guthix was said to have evicted the remaining gods from the world during the god wars, and banished or destroyed any powerful entity aligned to a god, leaving only mortals here. Of course, the Church of Saradomin is highly sceptical of all this."
  7. ^ Father Aereck, "Death to the Dorgeshuun", RuneScape. "Saradomin was on the brink of victory, but he could not defeat Zamorak without destroying the world. So Saradomin in his mercy allowed Zamorak to flee to another world, and all the gods agreed never again to intervene directly in the world."
  8. ^ Father Aereck, "Death to the Dorgeshuun", RuneScape. "I had always interpreted them as symbolic of the spiritual war between light and darkness in our hearts."
  9. ^ Demonic tome, written by Ellemar, "Shadow of the Storm", RuneScape. "I know that it is too late to prevent my execution, and I do not dispute the letter of the charges against me. I did read forbidden books, and I did perform unholy rituals forbidden by the Church of Saradomin. But I hope to show by this account that I did not blaspheme against holy Saradomin but rather acted in his spirit. (...) But even priests of Saradomin know little about these creatures, for all knowledge of them is suppressed by the Church. (...) I secretly studied the forbidden books and conducted magical experiments, until I had discovered the means by which Agrith Naar could be summoned."
  10. ^ Varmen's notes, written by Varmen, "The Golem", RuneScape. "The art of the construction of golems has been lost since the Third Age, and, although they are sometimes discovered lying dormant in the ground, no concerted effort has been made to regain it, thanks largely to the modern Saradomist Church's view of them as unnatural."
  11. ^ Saint Elspeth and Saint Zilyana, written by Sister Anna, "One Piercing Note", RuneScape. Unreadable text at Citharede library.
  12. ^ A Joint Effort, RuneScape. "The Missionary is heading out to speak at a recently built church of Saradomin on Rei Ti. The Architect is joining him to survey the site and ensure the structure is sturdy enough."
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