The Norse Catholic Church came into existence some 1,357 years ago, as a result of the accords reached by the Diet of Koth. The Diet, called in response to the internecine fighting that had periodically erupted between the various sects worshipping the Norse Pantheon, decided to unite the various churches under a central authority.
The structure of the church, however, is designed to accommodate the inherently individualistic and freewheeling nature of Norse worship. The many Orders that find shelter under the single roof of Old Father Church include many different types of worship, and at least one sect can be found dedicated to the worship of each of the Aesir and Vanir that have been revered since ancient times.
The church encompasses much of the known world, and has sent missions (of teaching, healing or exploration--most of the orders make no active attempts to convert people of other faiths) many thousands of leagues beyond the Central Sea. It is strongest in the "middle" area, however; its first home is in the Isles of the Sea Kings, and it is very healthy in Erom, Narzod, Tremith and Wonginath, as well as Illyria and the lands to the north of the sea.
In the Isles, the Church is the majority form of worship, being followed by about 80 percent of the people (followed by the beliefs of the Celtoi, imported religions and local pre-Norse forms of nature worship). In Erom, the Church has gained its greatest political strength; it is as powerful as the religions of Isis, Mithra and Sol Invictus, although it is less monolithic and its power is sometimes less obvious.
In Tremith, it's roughly equal in popularity with the sects of the Celtoi. In Narzod, it lacks slightly behind local religions of Ishtar (and her consort Tammuz), Isis and the southern-Celtic Epona Regina. In Narzod, it's most popular in the settled areas, where it leads other faiths; in the unsettled areas it lags somewhat behind the Druidism and the worship of Diana, Cernunos and local nature deities. To the west, it has a firm foothold, but lags behind the worship of Diana, Bacchus, Pan and the mysteries of Persephone and Demeter.
The church is wholeheartedly polytheistic; the existence of all gods is acknowledged. "All Gods or none," as they say. There is no catechism or creed declaring belief in a particular God, Goddess or set of Gods. Church doctrine holds that there is something worthy of worship in all Gods, and all faiths--save those founded on deceit or treachery--are to be respected as working towards a common center. The sole of the church, however, is reverence for the Gods and Goddesses of Asgard, who are held up as embodying the highest ideals of strength, wisdom and compassion.
The beliefs vary from faith to faith, but a few general patterns hold. The Norse faiths are very much faiths of this world, not the next; they try to answer the basic questions about what happens to us after we die, but concern themselves actively with worldly life. The world itself is not seen as being separate from spirit, or inherently tainted (but see the section on the Baldrites, below). The orders favored by nobles and wizards tend to be less worldly, and more focused on spirit; those followed in the countryside, the opposite.
Odin (Woden, Wotan) is revered above all others, as the All-father, Rune-Giver and Father of Poetry. He is a god of both War and Magic, and all orders within the Church pay homage to Graybeard. But old One-Eye is a grim and distant god, worshipped mainly by the upper classes--nobles and noble warriors (earls, jarls and thanes, in his native land), as well as wizards.
Mages, in fact, form a large part of the body of really serious worshippers of Odin. He is the lord of the Runes, and as such the father of magic. In many cities a mystery cult of the Odinic Mysteries is followed, with the initiate playing the part of Baldr, Odin's son, on a journey through the underground realms to enlightenment. A form of these mysteries is certainly observed by the secretive orders of wizards that follow the Rune-Giver.
Thor (Donar; Taranis in the Celtoi) is far more widely worshipped, by warriors, peasants, laborers, sailors and farmers (his hammer is also a phallic symbol). He is viewed primarily as a war god/storm god by some, as the Defender of Humankind by others, and sometimes as a god of fertility. Redbeard's worship is far less grim and solemn than that of Odin, with services often accompanied by revels and boasts of Thor's prowess that would shock a noble worshipper of One-Eye.
If Odin is worshipped above all others, Nerthus (Erde) was--and is--worshipped before the rest of the pantheon. She is the primal earth-mother, and her worship dates back to the bronze age. She represented as a long-haired woman with bare breasts and skirts. Her worship is incorporated into almost all of the other sects; some very ancient rituals honor her specifically. She is also worshipped by elder, chthonic sects of female sorcerers and witches. Inguz, the primordial nature-god, is sometimes worshipped with her.
The three main goddesses are widely worshipped; their religious observances of fertility and the seasons may win out in sheer numbers of participants. Each is paired with a male consort; Sif (her golden hair symbolic of fertile fields of grain) with Thor in his fertility aspect, Frigga (the sex and fertility mother goddess of the younger pantheon) with Odin, and Freya (the goddess of love, magic and initiation) with Frey (Frodi), the main fertility god who presides over celebrations of the harvest.
The widespread worship of Baldr (Baldor) is a relatively recent development. It is pessimistic and anti-worldly (while the other, more traditionally "pagan" branches are enthusiastically worldly), and involves radical and ongoing revision of traditional Norse belief. Many fear it is driving the church towards a schism. Worshippers of the Bright God see in his betrayal by Loki and unwitting murder by blind Hogun a metaphor for mankind's betrayal and sin: Baldr, the embodiment of beauty and brightness, suffers for all mankind. The Baldrites believe that after Ragnarok (which is coming Any Day Now) Baldr will return from Niflheim and lead the believers through the destruction and into the new world.
Baldrism isn't precisely monotheistic (but it's as close as a Norse order gets, and that's one factor that creates a rift between them and the rest of the Church). It worships Baldr as the God of Man, Odin (or just "God") as the removed omnipotent Father, and "Wyrd" as the spirit of fate (unsexed, although the concept derived from the Wyrds, the female Fates of Norse mythology). The Three are One, and other gods--and especially goddesses--are denied. Loki is seen as being a force of evil apart from the gods; a "fallen" Warrior of Valhalla. Loki is associated with the physical world, which is evil; Baldr with pure spirit, which is good. It has been accused of misogyny--women are identified as "tools of Loki," traps of the physical world.
Loki is worshipped by some, and not necessarily as an "evil" god. Although one order sees him as symbolizing man's freedom, betrayed and enchained by so-called "good," others worship him as the Trickster.
In all of their forms, the Norse faiths believe that the most admirable qualities are strength and wisdom; the Baldrites add humility and penitence for mankind's sins. All faiths place a belief in the coming Ragnarok (although most hold it will be far in the future, as men reckon years), and the fact that chosen warriors will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Gods against the Jotuns when Heimdall's horn sounds and the Bifrost Bridge shatters. Even this cataclysm, however, is cyclical--after Ragnarok a new world will be born, with new generations of gods and men.
The main forms of public worship are held weekly in most sects, usually on Godsday. Many goddess-oriented sects coordinate their own rituals to the phases of the moon. Major feast-days are celebrated for the solar festivals. The winter solstice, Wintertide, is also observed as Odinstide, and as Baldr's birthday. The Autumnal Equinox, Autumntide, commemorates the chaining of Loki, though Baldrites remember Baldr's death (and rebirth) in the spring. The Vernal Equinox is traditionally a festival of fertility and renewed growth.
Worship ceremonies use music and ritual; those of Odin tend to be solemn and mystical, those of Thor rowdy, those of the fertility gods and goddesses may involve ritual dance, drumming and sex in exuberant celebrations of nature. Most orders celebrate some form of Mass of Communion:
Also known as Highmass, the Odinmass is observed regularly by those orders specifically devoted to the All-Father, and by many others on High Holy Days. In the basic ceremony, each participant receives a draft of sacred mead (the mead of poetry Odin was given), and has one eye anointed with holy oil or water. Most orders devoted to Odin elaborate the ceremony greatly, and the special vestments and chalices reserved for the ritual can be spectacular.
The wizards of the Order of Odin the Rune-Giver practice a variant form. All worshippers participate stripped to the waist, and after the standard Odinmass the high priest anoints each celebrant's side with a mixture of wine and blood--from either the high priest or a sacrificed animal. The worshippers then paint runes of power on each other and recite the "Odin-Runr," a poetic litany naming the runes and giving their magical powers. This special Odinmass has great magical power.
On battlefields nobles, generals and warrior mages may celebrate an abbreviated form of the Odinmass, observed with grim solemnity and accompanied by a sacrifice--an animal or an enemy prisoner.
A more common form of worship is Thormass, practiced weekly by sailors and warriors. After a brief call-and-response litany of the god's names ("Redbeard, Hrungnir's Slayer," etc.), a light is struck (using a piece of flint that is embedded in the icon of Thor); each member of the congregation lights a candle, torch or lamp (or just a faggot or a piece of rope) off that light. As each lights his candle, he takes up a low, rumbling hum; when the whole congregation has joined in the sound is impressive, and the priest may lead the parishioners to increase the volume until the sound can be heard from across a battlefield.
After the Thormass ritual, the congregation retires to a midday feast (if possible; some food should be shared, at least). The feast (conducted in observance of the gods' table at Valhalla), with its toasts boasting of Thor's deeds and prowess, is at least as important as the mass itself. Many libations are drunk.
This mass actually celebrates Freya and Frey, as well as Frigga and Odin and Sif and Thor. It's relatively simple, and is administered each week by simple village priests in churches, groves or shrines erected in the fields. The mass commemorates the generosity of the Mother (Nerthus is also invoked), and the fertilizing role of Frey. An alternative version invokes Nerthus and Ingwaz or Yngvi (an alternative name for Frey).
The newest form of worship is the mass of Baldr the Bright. The ceremony is complex, and is always conducted with great solemnity by an ordained priest. All participants kneel, and each in turn has his eyes anointed with sacred oil; they participate in the rest of the rite with their eyes closed. Accompanied by a complicated litany, the priest moves through the congregation, giving each a sip of the wine ("The blood of the murdered Baldr") and sprinkling him with wine shaken off a bundle of mistletoe dipped in the chalice.
The mass of Loki is forbidden by the church, but it is still practiced in secret by members of the Order of Loki Chained. The mass uses a Living Altar; one member of the congregation (male or female) is chosen as Sufferer. He or she is chained to a low altar, in memory of the imprisoned Loki--the whole ideally takes place underground. Each member of the congregation must, in turn, kiss drops of poison off the Sufferer's brow.
The "poison," called Loki's Pain, is actually a mixture of wine and an alkaloid drug made from a hardy desert-growing plant called godsbane (the practice is so old that the plant has taken its name from this use). Participants ingest a small amount into their own system, and may hallucinate; after each has had their "kiss" the high priest whips them into an orgiastic dance. The Sufferer continues to have the "poison" dripped onto his brow throughout this, and may experience profound hallucinations, ideally including out-of-body travel and prophecy (depending on the degree of actual magical knowledge with which the mass is carried out).
The mass is forbidden not, primarily, for its theological implications; worshippers are often injured in the celebration. The Sufferer sometimes absorbs enough of the drug to overdose and die or suffer permanent brain damage; this is rare, however, and devoted Lokiists say it never happens with skilled priests and proper precautions. They point to the ban on Lokimass as another symptom of their persecution.
Most other ceremonies are similar for all orders. Weddings usually involve the bride and groom jumping over a broom or sword (for nobles and warriors); a divorce involves a simple public declaration (but in cities the legal battles over property may drag on for years nonetheless). Last rites involve a draught of mead ("his first draught from the table of the gods") and a wailing death-chant, the "Kjari Valkyrior," calling on the choosers of the slain to take the departing soul. Those who die in bed are brought their weapons as if they were warriors--and some warriors, if all hope for healing is lost, will ask to be killed with a sword thrust, so they can die with the taste of steel even if they can't die in battle.
The Baldrites are introducing baptism for those who convert to their version of the Norse faith. Baptism is usually in a swiftly flowing stream, and participants wear white, with a garland of mistletoe.
The Church is lead by the Patriarch; the current Patriarch is Signi Signisget, a seventy-year-old whose village priest manner masks a sharp, politically canny mind. His body is still fit, although his left arm has been crippled since he was 35.
The Patriarch heads the church from the Citadel of Midhalla, a vast city-fortress complex with a population of over ten thousand. The Ecumenical Allthing meets at the Citadel, with representatives of all the Orders and Holy Sees. Members of the Allthing hold the rank of Hierarch; all must be at least Bishops.
Each of the Holy Sees--the Isles, Erom, Tremith, and so on--holds the title of Primate; less important areas--such as Boethia--are lead by a Prelate. Each Primate or Prelate oversees the activities of all the orders within his geographical area, but in some ecumenical matters the heads of the orders answer only to the Patriarch.
Each of the Orders is headed by someone of at least Episcopal (ecumenical) rank; the actual titles--Primate, Prelate, etc.--differ from sect to sect. The ecumenical ranks are Priest, High Priest, Bishop and Archbishop.
In theory, the geographical structure--the holy sees and their Primates--and the theological structure--the Orders with their leaders--are separate. In fact, of course, many alliances, much territoriality, and factional divisions confuse the ways the Sees and Orders, and the members of the Allthing, interact.
Below the level of the Sees and Orders, each Order establishes Churches and Cathedrals (for worship) as well as strongholds and abbeys within the various territories. Churches are usually led by a Priest; cathedrals by a Bishop: strongholds by a High Priest and abbeys by an abbot.
The Order of Odin the All-Father: The oldest of the formal orders (though the worship of Nerthus and Ingwaz is older). Its actual membership is small, but its political power is great. Signi Signisget is a member of the Order of the All-Father. Priests of this order wear white and gray. The current Primate of the order is Arch-Bishop Hroldfast of Midhalla.
This mystery cult consists of part of the membership and worshippers of the Order of the All Father. It's spiritual in nature, dedicated to the psychic/magical development of members; its rites are secret. Lodges are found in many cities.
A small, secretive cult composed entirely of wizards. Practices the extended, esoteric Odinmass. This order exists as both a magical outlet and a lodge for "networking" among mages of many guilds and political affiliations... something that makes some people nervous. Some of the people (wizards only) who go through the initiation of the Odinic mysteries are later invited into the Order of the Rune-Giver. The order maintains the Cthorfast Stronghold on an isolated promontory near Erom. Members of the order wear black and gray. The present Prelate if Aelfast the Gray.
This is an ancient, shamanic order of rune-casters and wizards. They're often seen in simple, rural settings, telling fortunes and creating runic charms, but their tradition is very old and their inner organization (if they have one, and aren't just a group of wandering shaman-visionaries) secret. They often wear catskin hoods and always carry bags of runes and charms.
This order of Odin-worshipping wizards and would-be wizards covets power above all else. They especially covet the ancient secrets of the Rune-Masters and the more established orders like the Order of the Rune-Giver. Halfdan the Grim heads the group; its chief lodge is in Erom. They wear black robes embroidered with the runes.
A martial order, fielding several thousand cavalry. The elite ecumenical knights of the order are paladins--the best fighters in the land. Knights of the order wear white, trimmed with blue. The order maintains Gungnirsgard Stronghold a few hours ride from Erom; the High Priest of the Stronghold is Gorm Halfrimsget. The Warder of the Order is Roget Daergrimson.
A relatively pastoral order, worshipping Thor more in his aspect as the defender of mankind than as an aggressive war god. Thor's fertility god aspects are also celebrated. Priests of this order vest themselves in gray and white. The prelate of the order is Thorfast Thorfastson.
A militant order, fielding warrior-priests and adventurers. It worships Thor in his more militant war god/storm god aspects. Members wear robes or surcoats of black trimmed with yellow, with an elaborate hammer design on the breast in yellow. The order maintains a small church in Erom, as well as Hrungnirsgard Stronghold about six hours ride out of town--the high priestess is Vallia Fenrisdotter. The Primate of the order is Lief Thorgrimsget.
Dedicated to Sif, Frigga and Freya. Very widespread; local churches, shrines and groves may be dedicated to one, two or three of the goddesses. This order doesn't usually exert much political power usually, but the Hierarchs know that the vast majority of the church's worshipers--the rural masses--can be swayed by the priestesses of the goddesses. The Primate of the order is Hralfast Gormsget.
A special priestesshood of Freya. Members are all powerful female magicians. Maintains Freyasgard Tower on the coast of Wonginath. The Warder is Netta Freyasdotter.
This is an ancient sect of the worship of the great earth mother. Ecstatic rites in rural areas are dedicated to her in the spring; the all-female priestesshood conducts their own secret rites and magics in underground temples: natural caverns and old passage-tombs (both symbolic wombs of the earth). Not much political power on their own, but it seems everyone has an aunt or grandma with ties to this ancient order.
Although triple goddesses are most often a Celtic concept, this church--popular in Tremith and the lands where the blood of the Celtoi are strong--forms one from Freya (the maiden, goddess of love, initiation and magic), Frigga (the mother) and Hel (the crone, and the dark destroyer aspect of the Goddess). The Matriarch of this semi-autonomous order is Maeve de Tremith.
This elite church guard is all female, incredibly well trained and absolutely determined; fanatics, but with fantastic self-control. Man for man (or woman), they may be the best fighters the church has. The Valkyriat Warriors wear chain mail, and often use exotic weapons. It is rumored that the `choosers of the slain' maintain a secret assassination arm, but such rumors are unhealthy to spread.
The fastest growing order, baptizing several score new converts a day, mostly from the middle classes. The doctrine almost verges on monotheism in its veneration of Baldr, the Son of God; except for Odin the Father, the other gods are relegated to the status of angels, saints or devils. Members wear vestments of white trimmed with red and green. The Primate of the order, Ragni Erikson, is faithful to the church as a whole, and works to avoid a split.
The second fastest growing order, smaller than the Order of Baldr the Bright. It's also the most militant; of the Baldrite orders it's the one which is most seen as pushing for a schism. Priests wear red trimmed with green. The Primate is a southern convert--Edmund Kessington of Narzod.
A small, ascetic order. Adherents ritually blind themselves.
A small, secretive order, worshipping Loki. They read into his punishment--for what they consider to have been Hogun's (representing blind faith) and Frigga's (representing misguided compassion) fault--a message of tyranny, and rebel against it. Members wear black and red.
Although this isn't an officially recognized order, the worship of Loki as a trickster and chaotic god of nature is widespread and probably harmless. Lokimass is not observed; worship focuses around a chief celebrant in horns who humiliates the other gods, capers and dances madly and makes love to what female members of the congregation he can catch. The worship is heavily tied to old horned-god nature sects and witchcraft.
A strange, unofficial order which both spurns the rest of the church and indignantly demands representation in the Allthing. Worships the Jotuns as symbols of unrestrained strength and absolute freedom. None of the other gods are really worshipped; members say the only thing mightier than the jotuns is "your own exalted self." Mostly popular in the cities, among bored nobles, merchants and petty wizards. The "Great Master" is Halfgryr Surtursget (real name: Eduard Fletcher), a self-taught occultist who has declared himself "The Living Tread of the Jotuns on Midgard."
The "Old Wolves" are an order of Rangers--specialized warriors with some magical knowledge and great skills in wilderness survival. They wear wolfskin cloaks and armor. The Warder of the order is Hragni Fenrisget.
This order makes up the bulk of the church's ecumenical troops. Until recently it consisted of medium to heavy cavalry, with chainmail and swords or axes; it packed some shock offensive value in a charge, but was largely ineffective in light of modern military doctrine. The new Warder-Martial, Harold Hagargrim, has kept the cavalry, but the bulk of the armies are now made up of pike and longbow troops; Hagargrim has turned the order into an effective modern army. The order maintains a large stronghold, Tyrgard, within a day's march of Erom; church troops will come to the defense of Erom in time of need. Soldiers and officers wear gray trimmed in bright red, blazoned with unit devices.
An elite guard, dedicated to a wardens' role; they are absolutely steadfast as guards.
Another martial order, and one most people would never meet face to face. All members are berserkers; they wander the countryside looking for trouble, or serve as shock troopers for regular church armies. Church elders frown on this sort of thing, but those with `the calling' continue to seek out the order.
A group of rangers following the elder god of hunting who reigned before Odin. The Rangers of Uller consider themselves outsiders, and are of a more mystical bent than the Old Wolves.
Actually, there are many hospitals, dedicated to the maiden goddess who carries the sacred apples which give the gods eternal life. The Hospitalers, in addition to being fearsome fighters, are all healers; they establish Hospitals in cities and large towns, and healing missions in small towns. Healing is provided free of charge; donations are always welcome (as are government grants). The order is famous for its protection of those who come to it for help--they will defend their charges to the death (usually the death of whoever tried to take their patient away). Their Hospitals are safe houses for those who need their ministrations, but they will not permit this aspect to be taken advantage of.
Members of the Order of Bragi are Skalds, or Norse bards. They wander the land telling tales of the gods and heroes of yore. A Bragite skald is welcome in any inn, parlor or hall, and usually enjoys full Bardic Immunity.
--David L. Stroup
Copyright © 1996 David L. Stroup. All Rights reserved. Used with Permission.
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