Church of Similius Winter Meeting

(Year 234, Winter) This week the board of Church of Similius gathered for their annual Winter meeting. It traditionally takes place in High Priest's ofice at the Similius Cathedral in Windenburg. On the agenda were topics not yet leaked to the press, but some decissions were announced.

Left to right: Priest Antonius Dipperwell (66), Priest Fartain Booch (73), High Priest Ansgar Profedius (70), Priest Benjamin Rosa (67), Priest Ezais Porportoza (61).

According to Church of Similius' webpage, the bigger topics involved the change to their People Chamber seat, that Nestor of Similius Monastery shall no longe access the Winter meetings, and a few rules affecting female household members.

Only one seat at People Chamber

It is not exactly breaking news that Church of Similius lost one out of two seats that were previosly reserved for them. Ever since they became Mazaloom's stately religion, they had two seats of People Chamber, without even taking part in the 5 years election. For the current period (ending soon) the two seats are occupied by High Priest Ansgar (Ministry of Law & Justice) and Priest Antonius (Ministry of Culture & Entertainment) from the Meadows parish.

With only one seat, the High Priest will represent the church alone, but he will have one Priest stepping in for him when required. The High Priest will appoint this honor, and for the coming period it will be Priest Antonius.

In the past there were critics stating that the church's men did show up only when the debate interested them. It might be easier to attend more often with just one seat handled by two men.

Nestor of Similius Monastery no longer attending Winter meetings

This change comes as the Nestor died from old age, and a new Nestor was instated. The new Nestor Hippold has not protested in any way to having less influence on the church.

In the past the monastery depended on financial assistance fom the church, but over the past decades the Monks have found new ways to raise funds. They occasionally sell the secret recepy Monk Bread, nectars, preserves and goat cheese at a stand in Oldtown, Windenburg.

Adjusted rules for females

A Priest's wife and daughters were traditionally expected to live very simple lives, being prime examples of the church's bold message; Never consume anything you don't strictly need. Wives were often seen wearing dirty clothes because they did not really need cleaning them to live a good enough life. Children were seen barefoot because shoes are no strictly needed. Accessories were hardly ever seen, and a priest's wife never accompagned her husband for any public attention, but stayed at the vicarage and served the parish church. Daughters not married to a Priest will keep wearing their green head band, symolizing the green bars and the green plumbob, until they reach the Adult lifestage and no longer are  expected to give birth to sons with green eyes.

Sons had a slightly higher rank because aged 15 they could be sent to the Similius Monastery. Those with green eyes could even dream of becoming a future High Priest.

Most of these rules are still valied, although slightly less regid these days. The recent Winter meeting decided on a few adjustments:

1. Wife and daughters are no longer excluded from the church's main room. Up to now they could follow a preach from the gallery, only. If they entered the main room it was only to steady.

2. If a Priest represents a House of aristocracy, which the High Priest automatically does by using Church of Similius' plumbob symbol (equalling to barony status), his household is considered members of Aristocracy. Now that the old debutante ball tradition has returned, although in a slightly modernized form, also daughers and sons of the mentioned households might want to be a Debutante/Debutant. Because the Priest ought to refer to standards of both Church of Similius and Aristocracy, and the approach to such attention to children differs, it will be up to the Priest to decide if/how a son or daugher shall debute as part of this routine. Sons will handle this, but daughters will need qualified guidance, especially when entering society where she will meet standards that can not possibly unite with our simple life tradition. If introduced, they will still need to wear their green head band, and referring to the dress it shall be simple and not revealing more skin than strictly needed.

Priests who are not seen as member of Aristocracy, can no way introduce their children to society.