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.

New graves index

(Year 234, Summer) Church of Similius cordinates all of Mazaloom's graveyards, and today they made their grave index public to all. Wonder what funerals you missed recently? Or did you forget what graveyard to visit to tend your greatgranduncles grave?

A funeral service for Eleanor Elderberry, Britechester, took place this week.

The public index is still in beta, but except from a few images not showing and some text details that might be moved or adjusted in other ways, the index is fully operational. It is used by the five Undertakes to keep track on new graves and what temporary grave deco that needs attention.

Nestor Wallort is dead

(Year 234, Spring) Yesterday the Nestor of Church of Similius' monastery at Windenburg Isle died, aged 96. Wallort Rose grew up in Ciudad Enamorada, but lived most of his life at the Monastery. Aged 39 he became a Monk, and 19 years later he got the Nestor position, which is the highest position within the monastery.

The monastery normally is home to 4-6 monks, they are focusing on Wellness, Thanatology and Singing, while being prepared for a position as a future Priest. One Monk will have the title Aspiring Nestor, preparing to replace the Nestor, eventually.

Graveyards

(Year 233, Summer) Church of Similius, being the stately religion of Mazaloom kingdom, has refined the routine for funeral services. This has now been approved by Ministry of Health & Welfare - and Ministry of Culture & Entertainment, where the church actually sorts.

High Priest Ansgar Profedius (69) informs that the adjustments were overdue, but that the changes are not massive. The one time fee for a grave larger than the standard 2 ground tiles will be of interest to some families. Also, the memorial ceremony service is now better explained on the church's webpage.

The small district graveyard in Oasis Springs is home to the old Donnersmalt Crypt.

The kingdom's five parishes were not affected by the Regional Reform Y233, but some districts now belong to a different parish anyway. This affects Oasis Springs, switching to Advorton parish from Meadows parish, meaning they will still relate to the same old district graveyard in Oasis Springs, but now be administrated by a different parish Priest. San Myshuno broke out from the old Region Mazaloom to form its own region, but still belongs to the Meadows parish.

Priest Benjaminus had his Investiture

(Year 233, Spring) Church of Similius is Mazaloom kingdom's stately religion, organized into 5 parishes. Last year was the last for Mr Christoph de Buttercups to serve the Tredony parish, as his request to retire due to high age was accepted by the church's board. His successor was announced this Winter, and yesterday it was time for his investiture. 

The new priest is Benjamin Rosa (66). He has served at the Windenburg Monastery for 35 years, probably dreaming of this day. Priests are recruited from the Monks, but not all will ever get a chance to serve a parish.

Left to right: Mr Christoph de Buttercups, High Priest Ansgar Profedius, and new Priest, Mr Benjamin Rosa.

The investiture of a Priest is mostly a local event involving the parish. It's not like when the High Priest has his investiture with a lot more fuzz and propaganda. There were a few empty seat at the little chapel of Tartosa yesterday, but several guests had found time to attend. It is no doubt important for making a new Priest feel welcome.

Cut Ruby Donation for the Similius Cathedral

(Year 232, Fall) You might know that Church of Similius dedicates most of their belief to the green and red bars. One can not exist without the other, and we don't need to fill the green to stay happy - avoiding the red would be enough. A philosophy that transfers well to the modern ECO lifestyle - avoid consumption beyond what is strictly needed.

But did you also know that each of the 5 churches have a system of crystals, namely a red ruby and green emerald, that serves as a help to a new priest? When a Priest starts his mission, he will most often come directly from the Monastery, with empty pockets except maybe the Nestor of the Monastery offered him a couple eggs and some vegetables/seeds for him to eat or grow. When he starts his new life as a Priest, the ruby and emerald will be waiting for him in his church. Selling those two gems makes for a better initial period.

Then - he will make sure to find new gems for those two displays in support of his successor.

It's been nearly 3 decades since Ansgar Profedius entered the top position of the High Priest. He serves the Windenburg parish, which includes the largest church, the Similius Cathedral. For 27 years the gem displays of the cathedral have been empty! But last night, right before the midnight mass, a beautiful plumbob cut red ruby could again be admired!

Church of Similius Announcement: New Priest

(Year 232, Fall) It has been known for a while that current Priest of Tredony parish, Christoph de Buttercups (78), will retire end of this year. Church of Similius' board has now agreed on his successor, who will serve the parish from 1st day of Year 233.

Region 3's fifth Priest will is named Benjamin Rosa, of House of Rosa in Ciudad Enamorada, Region 7. He moved to Windenburg 3 decades ago to serve the Monastery.

Monk Benjamin with High Priest Ansgar (left) and Nestor Wallort (right).

Priest Benjaminus will have his investiture late Spring, but will start the year by moving into the new Vicarage located at Terra Amorosa in  Tartosa, just a short walk from Tartosa Chapel, where he will work.

Enamorada Vicarage

(Year 232, Spring) Church of Similius, representing the stately religion of Mazaloom kingdom, has 5 parishes. Each parish covers multiple districts, and one Priest serving the parish church, will normally reside a vicarage owned by the church. In Ciudad Enamorada we find the only parish where the vicarage and the parish church are both located on the same address; the Enamorada Vicarage *.

And today we'll focus less on the church (the stone build on the right), but more on the priest's household as we get an exclusive look inside the life of a Priest's family.

Church of Similius goes Online!

(Year 231, Winter) High Priest Ansgar Profedius surpries Mazaloom this morning, when he in a smashing press release proudly announced that the very old fashioned Church of Similius is now online!

High Priest Ansgar Profedius in his office at the Similius Cathedral, Oldtown in Windenburg.

It has been nothing but silence from the High Priest since their latest reaction to HRM King Tarriot accusing the state church for not treating their women with respect and equal rights as males. The conflict is of interest because Church of Similius happens to be the stately religion, and besides the King is not supposed to express himself about politics.

Prime Minister Wilder reveals Royal Act

(Year 230, Summer) This morning the People Chamber was informed that HRH King Tarriot has issued a new Royal Act to address the conflict between His Majesty and Church of Similius. PM Wilder informed the 21 members of The People Chamber, but they will not handle the act until after Summer.

The act is titled "State Church's number of seats at People Chamber" and the essence is that a state church that is not interested in adjusting to our adjusted community, can not keep 2 reserved seats at the People Chamber, seats that they don't even need support to occupy.

Church of Similius Reacts

Earlier this year HRH King Tarriot surprised everyone by addressing equality, and in particular by pointing at the stately Church of Similius, that is known to treat their females quite poorly. This was on the agenda of the Similius Concortium taking place in Gloomville last week.

The Priests of Church of Similius gathered in both Gloomville last week. Left to right: Priest Christoph de Buttercups (Tredony parish), Priest Ezais von Porportoza (Crafthole parish), High Priest Ansgar Profedius (Windenburg parish), Priest Antonius Dipperwell (Mazaloom parish), and Priest Fartain Booch (Rossie parish).

The Similius Concortium is where the five Priests of Church of Similius gather to debate community, politics and of course the church's current position and plans. It takes place every 5th year and is hosted by the High Priest.

King Tarriot vs Church of Similius

(Year 230, Spring) There were many speculations following the recent announcement from the royal palace, regarding His Royal Majesty King Tarriot's equality concerns. Today the truth was revealed, and reactions are already hitting the front pages and TV news. The King wants to reduce the political power of Church of Similius!

Never before a Monarch did arrest the stately Church of Similius. Ever since Year 140 the church had two seats of The People Chamber's total of 21 seats. He now threatens with taking away one of those seats, unless the church modernizes its very old view on females.

Monastery of Similius in need of Green Eyes

(Windenburg Year 227) Long ago I posted about the little monastery located in the middle of Windenburg's Isle. The place has a story back to Year 100, when the monastery was moved from The Bluff after war damages. Today the old, still off-the-grid lot is home to 4 monks.

Monastery life is not only about praying, singing and meditation.

Region 12 - Community portrait

 (Year 225) Hey, why didn't I try something like this long ago? It's quite cool to see some of my families gathered for one huge community portrait, like a time stamp for my memory book. There are 70+ active households in my game, so they could not all get in, but I will definitely do this again in the future!

This group portrait is meant to document the start of Year 225. The most essential families are represented here, they are grouped by household, although it appears to be rather random and chaotic, LOL. Grown ups that already moved out are not included, neither are babies.

Noble wedding - Baron of Verde & Miss Morgan Fyres

(Year 225) This Spring has been packed with events! The biggest is probably the announced wedding of Auphor Saxor, Baron of Verde and Miss Morgan Fyres from Windenburg. Auphor, who is the ex-Duke of Meadows, has decided to start a new house as he is still head of House of Saxor and one house can not hold multiple high nobility peerages. The new house is rumored to be House of Sax-Donnersmalt, a nod to his mother who was of House von Donnersmalt. 

Despite the age gap of 51 years (!) they both look so good together! Guests flocked to the Church of Similius in Gloomville this cloudy morning. 

A baron's wedding does normally not attract the masses like some duke weddings might do, but let's say that Auphor and Morgan got their fair share of cheers :)

Welcome to Church of Similius

[Current Year 224] Nothing is bigger than the green plumbob! I've previously introduced you to my Church of Similius as well as the connected Monastery of Similius, but you never got to see the church! That's of course because it wasn't even built back then, I just pretended it was more than 120 years old...

So, now that the church is more or less completed, join me for a quick visit...

Monastery of Similius

(Year 223) In my Region 12 there is both the Church of Similius AND the Monastery of the Peterian faith. Their belief is a bit different, but the cooperates and agree on the belief in our green bars. I had Church of Similius as both a church and monastery in TS3, and now they are also in TS4.

Both institutions follow lots of rules, and it's in fact too much detail for one blog post, but I'll make sure to cover the essentials.

Church of Similius

(This is a slightly extended version of what was posted on my Tumblr a couple weeks ago)

Yes, I have a church in my game, but it’s not a typical religion. The green plumbob happens to be their logo as they simply praise the green bars - at least officially… I had them in TS3, and now they are back to help forming the community structure. They claimed to be treated on the level of high nobility, highly respected and of course with what privileges that might bring them, but with slightly different rules and traditions :)

First picture shows Hippotanius Dipperwell, the 1st Priest in my region after their new church was built in Year 102. He is seen as the founder. There used to exist a much older cathedral in Windenburg, but that was used in the era of the Jacobian faith (cathedral damaged during the big war, now part of the ancient ruins).

Church of Similius

I never had any kind of religious aspects to my previous sim games, but Gakucca needed a church, for political reasons. The Count had to lose impact, and the church made for new alliances.

Although this might look like a traditional church, this is not a known religion. Church of Similius do belive in stuff, too, and the priest do preach, too. But the religion blends in with elements that you know from the game, such as the green and red need bars...

Check out the latest Galucca update for details :)