Luminary

To even be considered for the position of Luminary, the standard qualifications start at:

One must be at least 45 years old, as well as having served as an Ordained Priest or Magistrate of the Faith for no fewer than 30 years.

Demostrate the Twelve Maxims of St. Lucia (The philosophical laws and moral codes outlined in the Iternitus Magna) as well as possess a deep understanding in rhetoric, law, and canon theology.

Having undergone at least one Pilgrimage to the city of Mesegne and prayed at the Altar of St. Lucia the Lightbearer in the Grand Cathedral of Light, as supervised by at least one member of the Council of the Ecclesium.

Once this has all been completed and there are less than ten members of the Luminaries, a theogogical election begins where members are recommended by their associates or fellow members. This process may take months, but once completed, the member must be successfully agreed on by at least 7 of the 10 members of the Ecclesium.   It is noted that gender, origin, or even non-noble birth do no disqualify a candidate, though some traditions still hold strong favors in certain circles. When the faith first formed following the fall of the Kadian Empire, only women were declared "pure and sacred" enough to hold the title of Luminary, as declared by St. Lucia herself in the early 400s. However, men were soon allowed council access as observers in the 700s, and the first male Luminary was declared in 1104. Following this, previous male members of society were posthumously granted titles of Hierophants and higher which they were denied in life.

Luminaries are treated with immense respect—more than kings in some areas—but they are not divine. They are vessels of wisdom, not sources of it. Their social power lies in caution and restraint. They speak rarely but profoundly, often in paradoxes or metaphors. It is said that a Luminary who speaks too often loses their fire. Their power lies in moral weight, not armies. Overstepping can lead to schisms or rebellion, or misinterpretation of the faith.

While Luminaries do not minister to commoners daily, their institution provides:

Spiritual arbitration in matters of contested miracles, possessions, or pact transgressions.

Oversight and certification of spirit-pacts to ensure they do not disrupt natural or magical balance.

Interpretation of omens or divine revelations.

Public guidance during ecological or spiritual crises.

Maintenance of sealed relics, forbidden texts, and vaulted prophecies.

Canonization of saints or ascended mortals.