Church of Mazura

The Church of Mazura is the primary organizational body of Mazurism, and the primary source of dogma and creed amongst the faithful of Mazura.

Organization
The church maintains a strict hierarchy. Local priests, who have completed both three years of seminary training and a pilgrimage to the Holy City, are free to recruit laypeople to assist in the functioning of their congregation, and manage the finances and activities of their church. They report to and elect from their ranks bishops, who in turn elect archbishops. Archbishops are chosen to become cardinals based on the divine will of the Grand Executor of Mazura, the chief authority on Mazurism.

In addition to the ministry-focused priests, there are also many monastic orders throughout Alassia. Monks don't necessarily undergo training at a seminary, or make a holy pilgrimage, although many have.

Beliefs
The church believes in total devotion to Mazura, and in the use of Mazura's divine energy to perform acts of good, heal the sick, and protect the innocent. Prayer is seen as a way of establishing a connection to the divine and purging evil from one's being. It is believed that evil forces truly exist in the world, and Mazura is humanity's sole protector. At some point in the future, these forces will rise again, and if humanity has proven itself, then Mazura and their host of angels (both primeval angels and canonized, immortal saints) will intervene, destroying the evil, saving the truly devoted and pure, and carrying them to a new land across the Unknown Sea, where they will live in eternity.

History
The church is one of the oldest continuously operating organizations in Alassia.