Seris

A seris (plural: serisati) is a member of the Aprēan clergy responsible for managing the day-to-day activities of their respective kiretia, such as organizing charitable events, ministering to the faithful, educating the masses, and serving as advisors to secular rulers. Women, who make up the vast majority of their ranks, are called the seriati, while the male members are referred to the serieiti—meaning "sisters" and "brothers" in the Aiterean tongue. Each is beholden to the commands of the ruling authority of their local temple, the kireseria.  

Denominational Differences

The role of men in the Aprēan clergy has, for centuries, been a topic of contention. Orthodox followers of the Lady of the Lake assert that the responsibilities of a seris are suited only for empathetic and gentle-hearted women, barring men from the position. Hillenēq Hūril is a bit more lenient on the issue, allowing men the right to ascend to the rank, but only with the overwhelming support of their local kiretia. Only among the faithful of Baglām is there a roughly even balance between the sexes, although the exact ratios can depend from region to region as some cultures are more accepting of male serisati than others.