Sanctified Calendar
From LanceaSanctum
OOC Introduction to the Sanctified Calendar
Contents |
[edit] January
The Quadragesima marks the start of the year, beginning on January 1 and symbolizing the time of wandering immediately following the Prophets damnation. The Holy Denial is the last week of this period, and is the fasting period most followed by the church. It's final day is the celebration of the Feast of Longinus. These days have been written on in great extent already and I won't belabor that more here.
[edit] February
Following the Forty Days' Fast of Quadragesima, Sanctified often end their time of hunger in a celebration - the Feast of Longinus - on February 10. On that occasion, Sanctified open their doors to other Kindred, sharing with all their return from the wilderness of hunger to the revelation of the Blood.
[edit] April
Following the introspection of Denial and the ecstasy of the Feast, April brings St Pazit's Night. St. Pazit sacrificed herself to protect the Spear and to afford Longinus and the Monochus the chance to escape their persecutors. St Pazit's Night is an excellent chance to impress upon the young the need for sacrifice in the name of the church. The Saint gave everything that the relic might be saved, and they need to understand that she may be honored by the little sacrifices they practice every night of the Requiem. Ritae on St. Pazit's Night often involve elements of mutual trust amoungst the participants, or of some symbolic sacrifice for the good of the community. Fasting for the night is a frequent observance for those interested in little fanfare, but wishing to pay tribute.
[edit] May
May brings the Nights of St. Adira and St. Gilad. Westminsterian Creed often ignore these Nights even if they observe others, but few have ever tried to say the Nights are a slight to their beliefs. As the learned will recall, these Saints were destroyed by Nephele of the Camarilla when the Lancea was first discovered. They had gone to seek agreement with the Camarilla and were Crucified for their efforts. As such, the Night is often observed with an accounting of the external threats arrayed against the local Sanctified. In particularly pressed parishes, this has become a rather militant holiday, while others might simply use it to preach on the dangers involved in political entanglements. While most observe this as a single night, some have extended it to a two night affair.
[edit] July
While many threats are aligned against the Church, the festival of St. Maron singles out the Pagan Threat. Observances of this Night have become, at times, particularly bloody and seen as a fit reprisal for the savage death St Maron received. Oftimes, the Ritae is simply the hunting of a Pagan mortal who is then the Feast of all the assembled Lancea, though of course, that approach is far from universal. I have heard tell of some Domains using the day as an excuse to take a significant attack on Crone holdings, but this can hardly be advocated as sound political advice even if it is satisfying to the soul. St. Maron's Night is typically observed on the full moon of July.
[edit] August
August holds a dire night in Lancea history, being the Night of 100 Martyrs. In the years cycle, it stands opposite the Feast of Longinus, and is likewise it's opposite in tenor. As the Feast is a night of ecstasy, this is a night of remembered terror at the prospect of the Church's demise through the destruction of the Black Abbey. In modern nights, many Sanctified take this as a time of reflection on the wisdom of the Ninth Canon, which in some ways ensured the continuance of the Faith without a central stronghold. In more serious terms, though, the Night of 100 Martyrs is a reminder of the horrors visited upon the Church by threats from within. This is the reminder of the price of true heresy, and a lesson in why all of the Sanctified are vigilant for the hooks of the Luciferians even to this day. The placement of the Night of a 100 Martyrs as opposite of the Feast of Longinus has led many to speculate that it is perhaps also a warning that the introspection of the Denial must be tempered with companionship of the Church, or it leads to the possibility of hidden Heresies.
[edit] September
In the wake of the last three Nights, St. Adira and St. Gilad with the Threats from Without, St. Maron with the Pagan Threat, and the Night of 100 Martyrs with the Threat from Within, the year takes a swing towards more uplifting holidays. September 22nd is the Miracle of St. Daniel and a festive day, celebrating the power of Theban Arts and all things Faithful. In reverence of the Theban Legion, a common Ritae for the evening is a Feast and then an evening of remembrance of various campaigns and more warlike exploits of the Church. Of course, many take it as a time to extol on the uses and values of Theban Arts and it's practictioners. Those who rely on the strength of our Paladins and Crusaders often use the day to publicly thank and honor those who place themselves in harms way for us.
[edit] November
The last of the years great Holy Days, is the Grand Ball. November 1 is set aside as a day of festive celebration of the Vampiric condition and the Testaments of Longinus which guide our many Blessings. In most Parishes this is a day for the Church alone, as are most of these Ritae, but it should be noted that the modern nights have brought a not so subtle change in this venerated Ritae. Some Parishes now use the Grand Ball as an opportunity to open the churches doors to the other Covenants and allow them to sample some of the more elaborate and social of the Churches offerings. Such parishes are almost always dominated by the Westminster Creed, but other exceptions have been known.
[edit] December
[edit] Closing Notes by Father Ethan Candler
As can be seen, the calendar follows an arc that allows for the teachings of Longinus to be illuminated through the examples of our past. It gives opportunity for sermons on such subjects of Treachery, Heresy, Pagans, Political Ties, and Sacrifice. A rich mine of material for the pastor looking to history to teach tonight's neonates. I hope that you find use in this humbly gathered material.
