The Church of the Divine Diurnity

Diurnism is the belief that the sister goddesses Soleil and Luna once worshipped in ancient antiquity are one deity known as the Divine Diurnity. They are two sides of the same blade, each as keen as the other. They are separate entities, but also one. When Diurnists refer to "Soleil," they usually mean both Soleil and Luna at the same time.

very dark background with small specs of dust and grime. Mostly dark blue in tone and shad

GENERAL INFORMATION
Official Name: The Church of the Divine Diurnity

Other Names: The Holy Solisian Church, The Church, The Church of Soleil, The Pontignac Papacy, The Papacy

Demonyms: Diurnists, Solisians

Motto: Sancta Soleil libera nos - Blessed Soleil deliver us

Leader of the Faith: The Pope, His Holiness Bonifacius III

Papal Seat: Notre Diurnité Cathedral in Pontignac, Beaugencie.

Holy Text: The Didas

Holy Days:

Every saint has their own holy day, but here are some holy days which hold a great significance.

Gracemas - Spring Equinox, the first Sunday after the full moon. Following the death of dragons, the Divine Diurnity gifted mankind the ability to enter heaven after death through divine grace. This was signaled by the first tolling of Soleil's Celestial Bell, which released the souls of all who died beforehand and granted them access to heaven.
Philipmas - Summer Solstice, the eve of the longest period of sunlight.
Gregorymas - Winter Equinox, the longest night. It is believed this was the day of the defeat of dragons by mankind, when Saint Gregory slew the last dragon with his lance.
Martyrs Week - Autumn Solstice, after the harvest. This week is about the honouring and remembrance of those who laid down their life for the faith in the final years of the Iron Empire.
All Saints Day - Immediately follows 2 days after Martyr's week, this day honours and remembers all saints of the faith.

Nations which are Practitioners of the Faith:

Western Diurnism:

The Kingdom of Albany
The Kingdom of Beaugencie
The Runkish League
The Imperial Duchy of Savobourg
The Imperial Duchy of Ostalbischland
The Imperial Duchy of Soderlingen (partially)
The Kingdom of Ludland
The Kingdom of Ruthovia

Imperial Diurnism:

The Holy Imperial Gottesreich

Leaders of the Faith

Leaders of the faith are the body of all people ordained for religious duties. They follow a strict hierarchy which goes as follows:

Pope: His Holiness, [name]

Patriarch: His Beatitude, [name]

Cardinal: His Eminence, [name]

Archbishop: His Grace, [name]

Bishop: His Excellency, [name]

Abbot: The Right Reverend, [name]

Abbess / Prioress: The Reverend Mother, [name]

Prior: The Very Reverend, [name]

Priest: Father [name]

Deacon: The Reverend Deacon, [name]

Monk/Nun: Brother/Sister [name]

Friar: Brother [name]

Only men may be leaders of the faith, except in the case of Nuns and Abbesses / Prioresses

CORE BELIEFS

CENTRAL DOCTRINE

After the defeat of the dragons in the Dragon Wars of Ancient Antiquity, The Divine Diurnity granted mankind access to heaven through a concept known as divine grace. Heaven is a paradise after death, where no suffering or sin exists. A reward for those who reject the temporary pleasures of life and dedicate themselves to the worship of the Divine Diurnity.

Access to divine grace, the means of salvation, is made available through the Church, and through its sacraments.

Membership of the Church is gained through the sacrament of matutinum, which is usually done in infancy.

Membership is maintained and demonstrated through continued participation of the sacraments - especially mass.

Diurnist life involves obedience to the commandments of Soleil, avoidance of sins, participation in the sacraments, the doing of good works, and prayer.

It is believed that mankind is inherently sinful as their default and natural state. Believers are instructed to repent for their sins, to confess them, to perform penance for them, and in return be granted absolution.

The Church as a whole is believed to be a community of saints, and so it is possible to pray for the souls of others. In addition to this, the saints that are already in heaven are believed to intercede with the Divine Diurnity on behalf of living believers. These so-called petitionary prayers can be directed to saints, who will then hand-deliver the message to the Divine Diurnity.

The leader of the faith, the Pope, is believed to be the Divine Diurnity's direct ambassador for mankind and that they are infallible.

The penance for sins committed in life could continue after death, where souls linger in a place known as purgatory. Souls remain in purgatory until they complete the expiation of sins they committed in life, are purged of sin, and made fit for heaven.

The living can ease the passage of the dead through purgatory with their prayers and penance.

All sins committed come with what is known as temporal punishment. A punishment for the sin committed which, if not atoned for in life, will be exacted in full after death, in purgatory.

An indulgence is a way to reduce or eliminate the temporal punishment one must serve for any given sin. It is a pardon written by the Divine Diurnity through the hands of the Pope, granting absolution for a sin committed.

There are two types of indulgences. A Partial Indulgence will remove only part of the temporal punishment for a sin, while a Plenary Indulgence will remove all the temporal punishment for a sin.

To receive an indulgence a Diurnist may see someone known as a Pardoner. These members of the Church trade indulgences for a multitude of things, most often alms (a sum of money above and beyond what one would pay in tithes). Other ways to receive an indulgence include public service, charitable works, the saying of a specific prayer a certain number of times, make confession, or pray for the intentions of the Pope.

The Order of Knights Flagellant offer their lives as living indulgences, giving themselves to the faith and completing arduous penance, known as mortification of the flesh, for the sake of others who are unable to acquire an indulgence. The Knights Flagellant also perform penance on behalf of the dead in purgatory, so that their passage may be eased and that they may be purged of sin and made fit for heaven. This is an act of complete self-sacrifice, rejecting atonement for themselves completely. When a Knight Flagellant dies, they are doomed to remain in purgatory until a celestial bell is tolled.

Only those who fail to achieve salvation by rejecting the means of grace through the Church and its sacraments will go to hell.

It is a ritually and visually vast religion, relying on imagery, icons and symbols to convey messaging and to act as the books of the unlearned.

THE PARDONER

A devout and loyal follower of the Church, pardoners are charged with the duty of acting as mobile reliquary shrines. It is a form of penance, either for ones own sins, OR in an act of selfless courage, for the sins of others. Pardoners carry a reliquary wayshrine on their backs, an ornate and lavishly decorated box containing a holy relic which people may pray at.

RELICS

Holy Relics come in all shapes and sizes. They can be as simple as a lock of hair from a martyred saint or as elaborate as some of the ones to follow:

The Lance of Saint Gregory: The iron lance tip which is said to have killed the last dragon in the Dragon Wars of Ancient Antiquity.

The Golden Scallop of Saint Henry: Martyred for his beliefs by the Iron Empire, Saint Henry was lashed to the golden idol he desecrated and thrown into the sea. His skeleton washed ashore decades later, covered in gold encrusted scallops. Saint Henry is now the patron saint of the Most Noble Order of the Golden Scallop, a knightly order in the Kingdom of Albany headed by its king, Philip V.

SCHISM

DISAGREEMENTS ON INTERCESSION

All Diurnists accept that the saints may intercede on behalf of the living. They do not, however, agree on the mechanism through which this intercession occurs or on the nature of the aid the saints may provide. These divergent understandings shape doctrine, worship, and even political alignment throughout Diurdom. Broadly speaking, two principal schools of thought exist within the Diurnist tradition, each regarding its own interpretation as authoritative and viewing the others as fundamentally erroneous

1. Western Diurnism — The Saints as Living Intercessors

(Beaugencie, Albelond, Runkish League, etc)

In the West, the saints are alive in heaven. Radiant souls who can hear and answer the faithful through prayer.
Their sanctity is personal and emotional. They are beloved, yet flawed figures whose humanity makes them approachable.

When a Western Diurnist calls upon a saint, they believe:

“The saint bends their ear toward us, and pleads before the Diurnity on our behalf.”

It is a conversation across realms. An echo of family, love, and mercy.

Beaugencie formalizes it: cults of saints, relics, pilgrimages, feast days.
Albelond reveres saints more soberly, emphasizing imitation and humility.
The Runkish see the saints as laborers in the same vineyard. Every act of work or struggle can honor a saint’s memory.

Their intercession is affectionate and reciprocal:
humans pray, saints listen, and grace flows like sunlight through stained glass.

2. Imperial Diurnism — The Saints as Celestial Magistrates

(The Holy Imperial Gottesreich)

The Imperial Rite doesn’t reject saintly intercession, it bureaucratizes it.
To them, the saints are not “friends of the faithful” but officers of Heaven: administrators of grace who execute divine will within the hierarchy of heaven. To an Imperial Diurnist, a prayer to a saint is not a personal plea, but a petition for review. The saint does not “listen” so much as adjudicate your worthiness.

Their theology holds:

“The Divine Diurnity appoints its servants as instruments of law. The saint intercedes not from compassion, but from duty.”

So in the Gottesreich, intercession is possible, but conditional:

The saint cannot contradict the Divine Will.
They only intercede if the supplicant’s cause is just and ordered.
They may also deny petitions, and this denial is viewed as holy correction, not rejection.

Saints are judges, scribes, and officers of the celestial order:

Where a Western Diurnist says “Saint Basilius, protect me,”

an Imperial believer says “Saint Basilius, judge me worthy of protection.”

THE SACRAMENTS

There are eight sacraments in Diurnist doctrine. Eight is a holy number, representing the eight directions. North, South, East, West, Northwest, Northeast, Southwest and Southeast. For this reason, all symbolic imagery depicting the sun shows it with eight points. Four major points and four minor.

Participation in the sacraments is how one receives divine grace, the key to acceptance into heaven. Only those who reject the sacraments and divine grace condemn their souls to Igniels throne in hell.

THE SACRAMENT OF MATUTINUM

The sacrament of initiation, cleansing, and rebirth. Matutinum welcomes individuals into the faith, cleansing away original sin through the rays of morning sun and symbolizing a new life in the community of believers.

THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION

The sacrament of strengthening and commitment. Through Confirmation, individuals affirm their faith and receive the gifts of the Divine Diurnity, empowering them to live out their beliefs actively and consciously.

THE SACRAMENT OF VENERATED BLOOD

The sacrament of personal purification, self-offering, and communion with the saints who gave their lives in devotion to the faith. It symbolizes a dedication to spiritual growth, a renunciation of sin, and a commitment to live in the virtues exemplified by the martyred saints. By offering a drop of one’s own blood, the participant symbolically joins in the spirit of sacrifice and humility, receiving grace and purification through the holy water.

THE SACRAMENT OF ABSOLUTION

The sacrament of confession and forgiveness. Through Penance, followers of the faith confess their sins, perform penance for those sins, and receive absolution.

ANOINTING OF THE SICK

The sacrament of healing. Through anointing, those who are ill or suffering receive prayers and blessings for spiritual and physical healing.

MATRIMONY

The sacrament of marriage and partnership. In Matrimony, a couple vows to support each other in a lifelong commitment, seeking to reflect the Divine Diurnitys love and build a family based on faith.

HOLY ORDERS

The sacrament of service and leadership. Through Holy Orders, individuals are ordained to serve the Church and the faithful, dedicating their lives to the ministry and guidance of others.

CONSECRATION

The sacrament of personal dedication and spiritual focus. Individuals consecrate themselves to a particular vocation or life path, seeking a deeper spiritual commitment beyond formal Holy Orders or Matrimony. This could apply to those called to a life of study, charity, or other non-ordained, dedicated vocations.

MASS

Mass only needs to be witnessed by common people as part of their commitment to the Divine Diurnity and to the sacraments. It is only once per year that mass needs to be actively participated in by the layman, but those who wish to can participate more often. Gracemas is when most people participate in mass.

Mass is completed throughout the Diurnist world every single day by monasteries, parishes, abbeys and cathedrals in every city and town. Mulitple masses may be completed on Sunday, they day where most common people will attend.

Mass is held between daybreak and 11am

Structure of Mass in Diurnism

The Gathering and Procession of Light

Mass begins with a Procession of Light. The clergy and selected members of the congregation carry small, lit candles to the altar, symbolizing the light of the Divine Diurnity illuminating the path of the faithful.
During this procession, a hymn to the Divine Diurnity is sung, emphasizing the overcoming of darkness and sin, inspired by the ancient victory over dragons that granted humanity access to grace.

Petitions to the Saints

At the altar, the congregation joins in a series of petitionary prayers, invoking the martyred saints to intercede on their behalf. This is a solemn part of the Mass, as it reinforces the belief that the saints act as intermediaries, carrying the faithful’s prayers to the Divine Diurnity.
The names of specific saints may be called out individually, and the congregation may respond with a phrase like, “Pray for us, beloved martyr of the Divine,” to honor each saint’s sacrifice.

The Reading of the Dydas

This portion of Mass involves readings from sacred texts known as the Dydas. These texts contain moral teachings, the commandments of Soleil, and stories of the saints’ lives and sacrifices.
The priest or designated reader shares a passage, which could include accounts of saints facing trials, overcoming personal sins, or offering sacrifices. These readings inspire the congregation to reflect on their own lives in relation to the virtues of the saints.

The Sacrament of the Venerated Blood

After the readings, Mass includes The Sacrament of the Venerated Blood. Members of the church approach the altar one by one, receive a small prick to their finger, and let a drop of their own blood fall into a basin of holy water.
As each drop disperses, it symbolizes personal purification, unity with the saints, and the washing away of spiritual impurities through the intercession of divine grace.
The priest blesses each participant after they perform the sacrament, anointing them with a drop of the holy water mixed with their own blood, as a sign of renewed dedication to the faith.
During specific holy days such as Gracemas, common people and laymen are required to partake in the sacrament. Every follower of the Divine Diurnity must be an active participant in Mass once per year, and can simply just watch for every other Mass during the year.

Communal Expiation and Petition for Grace

After the Sacrament of the Venerated Blood, the congregation joins in a Communal Expiation, a prayer of collective repentance for any sins of the community. Together, they ask the Divine Diurnity to purify their hearts and grant them the strength to live virtuous lives.
This prayer is a reminder that the congregation, as a collective community, supports each other in their spiritual journey and encourages mutual forgiveness.

Offerings and Alms for the Poor

In this part of Mass, the faithful present offerings, known as alms, as a way to demonstrate charity and commitment to good works. These offerings go beyond tithes and may include items or money meant to support the Church, aid the poor, or fund indulgences for those in need.
Almsgiving is seen as both a duty and a privilege, as it helps to ease the passage of souls in purgatory and further spreads grace within the community.

The Prayer for the Souls in Purgatory

A dedicated prayer for souls currently undergoing penance in purgatory is recited. The congregation asks the saints to intercede on behalf of these souls, and they petition for the ease of suffering for specific deceased individuals beloved to them.
This prayer encourages the faithful to think beyond themselves and support the journey of all souls toward purification and entrance into heaven.

The Rite of the Sanctus Bell

The Mass concludes with the Rite of the Sanctus Bell. A ceremonial bell is rung, signifying the call to the heavens and symbolizing the divine sound that eventually releases souls from purgatory. This bell serves as both a reminder of the promise of heaven and a symbol of hope for those who have passed.
The congregation stands in silence as the bell tolls, reflecting on the call of heaven and the continuous journey of the soul toward divine grace.

Final Blessing and Dismissal

The priest offers a final blessing, asking the Divine Diurnity to protect and guide each person in their daily life, filling them with grace to resist sin and to live with devotion and integrity.
The congregation is then dismissed with the words, “Go forth in the light of the Divine Diurnity, and may your soul remain pure in its grace.”

Chantry Chapels

Endowing extra masses with money or service, to be performed for your soul after you die, is called a Chantry. Diurnists will leave money to a Chantry for the clergy to hold masses on their behalf for their soul after they die, to alleviate the suffering they have to go through in purgatory.

The first month after one's death is when these masses will be held. For nobility, a common number of masses to be said for them in one month is 1000, but for the highest rungs of society, like the late King Gregory III, up to 10,000 masses can be completed.

Collegiate Churches are full-scale Chantry Chapels built by a wealthy family. All prayers said in this church help the souls of that family in purgatory. It is common for a mausoleum to be built dedicated to the family.

History

In the time of the Iron Empire of antiquity, a pantheon of multiple gods was worshipped. Two of these gods were Sol and Luna. Before the fall of the Iron Empire, Emperor Vespatius Augustus attempted to unify the fracturing provinces by forcing them to worship only one god out of the many, Odis. He did this because it is much easier to control a population if they all worship the same god. This forced mandate of monotheism was met with heavy resistance by devout followers of Sol and Luna, who had worshipped Sol and Luna before those were even their names, eons before the Iron Empire conquered their lands. These worshippers of the sun and moon formed a sect of “Solisians,” and were heavily persecuted for their beliefs, often put to death by imperial authorities in very horrific ways. For this reason, Diurnism has a great many saints who were martyred for what they believed in.

Who they Worship

Diurnists worship the Divine Diurnity, which is the belief that the goddesses Soleil and Luna are separate, but also the same. Like two sides of the same coin. Much like how the Holy Trinity works in Christianity, where the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are three separate entities, but also all one in the same. When Diusrnists refer to “Soleil,” they usually mean both Soleil and Luna at the same time.

The term for both Soleil and Luna at the same time is the Divine Diurnity. From the root word Diurnal, or Diel, which means both day and night together. Di also means twice, two, or double. The deity of Diurnism can be referred to as either Soleil, or as the Divine Diurnity.

The Other Gods

What about the other gods that were in the pantheon of those worshipped by the Iron Empire, and are still worshipped throughout the world today? Diurnists believe in them too, however they believe that the other gods are Holy Saints, rather than gods. The title of Holy Saint can only be held by what others would consider a god. Mankind can only be sainted, not holy-sainted. The following is a list of Holy Saints within the canon of the Divine Diurnity. Some may have slightly different names than what is normally known, but that just comes down to the regional dialect of the Kingdom of Chauncey.

Holy Saint Odis: Patron saint of strength, fortitude and determination.

Holy Saint Valentia: Patron saint of love, life and fertility.

Holy Saint Faramius: Known as Faram by non-Diurnists, he is the patron saint of soldiers, tactics and martial combat.

Holy Saint Fina: Patron saint of balance, symmetry, good health, and equal outcome.

Holy Saint Goldsmirth: Patron saint of wealth, commerce, and good fortune.

Holy Saint Christos: Known as Chronus or Doxius by non-Diurnists, he is the patron saint of time, seasons, and age.

Holy Saint Celestine: Known as Celeste by non-Diurnists, a misinterpretation of ancient Iron Empire texts and frescos has led the Church of the Divine Diurnity to believe that Celeste is actually female. She is the patron saint of the heavens, stars, and intrigue.

Death: Death is not seen as a Holy Saint, but rather as a grim apparition who guides those who die to Purgatory. She is the Lord of Purgatory, tasked with watching over souls before they are sent to Heaven or Hell. She is the judge of expiation.

Igniel: Known as Ignil by non-Diurnists, he is believed to be the most evil being in the universe who controls an army of demons who do his bidding. Solisians believe that without Igniel, there would be no misfortune, suffering, war, pestilence, famine, conquest or even death in the world. Igniel is seen as pure hatred manifest into a being of malevolence which takes joy in making people suffer.

Wild Gods: Diurnists believe that the people who worship the wild gods are pagans and should be converted.

Dragons: Most worshippers of the Divine Diurnity believe dragons are not real, and simply just folklore creatures drawn into the margins of manuscripts by monks. Saints such as Saint Gregory are believed to have fought a dragon singlehandedly and won, but many Diurnists think that the “dragon” was just a metaphor for something else. Either way, dragons are a popular creature featured on Heraldry and Imagery around the Kingdom of Chauncey.

Angels and their Bells

The enforcement of monotheism during the final centuries of the Iron Empire left most of the gods without worshippers, and their power withered. Ingiel, the Lord of hell and master of all evil, took this opportunity to strike, raising a grand host from hell to invade heaven’s gates and strike a heavy blow to the weakened gods. In a long and bitter war, Igniel’s forces of evil hunted and struck down every single angel, completely eradicating them from existence. Seeing their defeat, the angels cast down their holy bells into the hands of mankind as their final act of defiance, so that mankind may take up the torch and bear the responsibility of releasing the souls of the dead.

Many hundreds and thousands of these bells fell to the earth, bloodied by the dying hands that cast them down. Some were captured by Igniel’s army and destroyed, others were lost to time and never found again, and fewer still were collected by mankind and melted down into three mighty bells known as Celestial Bells. Angelic hand bells are sought after and recovered to this day, crafted into various religious or magical implements, or fashioned into larger church bells to populate the bell towers of the thousands of churches that dot the landscape.

Bells, the Soul and Ghosts

When a person dies, their soul is trapped within their body until it is released by the tolling of bells. Since all the angels were slain, the duty of releasing trapped souls has fallen on the shoulders of mankind. This duty has been mostly taken up by the Bell Bringers, a faction of clerics who take it upon themselves to free the souls of the dead by ringing great holy bells for all souls nearby to hear. The Bell Bringers, however, are not omnipresent, and some souls are left to rot without ever hearing the tolling of bells.

If a soul is not released it becomes trapped within the body it once inhabited, doomed to decay and wither away to the ends of time. For the lucky ones who are afflicted with the Undead Curse, the curse takes control over their body once more as a mindless undead and eventually gets destroyed by the living, allowing their souls to be freed and sent to purgatory. For some, however, the Undead Curse has not afflicted them, and they cannot escape their fate.

If a corpse completely decays and turns to dirt, or if a person is cremated or burnt at the stake and turned to ash, their soul is trapped within dust and is cursed to wander the world via the random gusts of wind. These poor souls are called Dust Ghosts, and is seen as the worst possible fate anyone could have to endure after death. This is why burning people at the stake is often the punishment for heresy.

Common folklore states that the ghostly wailing noise that wind sometimes makes in a window frame is the cry of souls trapped in dust as they fly past.

An old wives tale to scare children into doing chores is to say that “one must sweep their house at least once a week, to prevent the collection of dust ghosts from accumulating and haunting the house!” Whether this is true or not is disputed, but it could explain why old dusty manors are often haunted.

Very rarely, a dust ghost may accumulate enough spare dust and dirt to become a fully formed being. This can be spotted if a pile of dust has a brilliant blue shimmer when it’s disturbed. Eventually the dust ghost's old body will form from the dust and they will take on the appearance as they had the moment they died. Missing limbs remain a blue shimmery dust vaguely in the shape of the limb, since the soul cannot remember what it looked like.

These beings are called Dwindled, for the edges of their silhouette is made of floating dust, like that of dust suspended in a windowsill on a summer's eve. When a cursed Dwindled dies, they scatter into a cloud of shimmery blue dust and drift away into the wind, only to regenerate again.

It is believed the only salvation a Dwindled may achieve is if they hear the toll of a Celestial Bell. There are only four celestial bells in existence. Three were forged by mankind after collecting the handbells of fallen angels, and one is owned in heaven by Soleil herself. Only the location of one manmade Celestial Bell is known, housed in the belfry of the Notre Diurnité Cathedral in the Papal Seat of Pontignac, Beaugencie.

Ghosts in this world are not made of ectoplasm, they are made of suspended dust controlled by lost souls.

Heaven and Hell

Diurnists believe in Heaven and in Hell. Heaven is Oddegand, just with a different name. Oddegand is seen by Diurnists as an old, archaic word used generations ago to describe paradise after death.

Hell is ruled by Igniel, a fallen angel of Soleil who turned his back on Heaven and waged war against the Divine Diurnity. It is believed that Igniel is responsible for the death of all angels, and that with the angels gone, one day he plans to take Heaven by force to prevent Soleil from ringing her Divine Bell and sending all souls in purgatory to heaven. Diurnists believe that praying gives the Divine Diurnity the power to continue repelling Igniel and eventually lock him in hell forever.

Death and Purgatory

It is believed that when a person dies and their soul is released from their body by a holy bell, they go to Purgatory. The suffering in which a person goes through in purgatory may be lessened or even voided if enough people pray for their soul after they die. For this reason Diurnists erect funerary monuments, alabaster carvings, and even simple tombstones to honour the dead and so that future generations may pray for the souls of which the tombs are dedicated to. Knights, Noblemen and the Wealthy often have entire churches built and dedicated to them after they die, so that every prayer to the Divine Diurnity also helps lessen their stay in Purgatory. Diurnist monks spend all hours of the day praying for the souls of those lost in purgatory.

Indulgences

Indulgences are a way to reduce the amount of suffering in purgatory one must undergo for their sins. The recipient of an indulgence must perform an action to receive it. This is most often the giving of alms (a sum of money above and beyond the normal tithe,) the saying (once, or many times) of a specified prayer, but may also include a pilgrimage, the visiting of a particular place (such as a shrine, church or cemetery) or the performance of specific good works.

Acts of Mercy

Another way to reduce the suffering one must undertake in purgatory are called Acts of Mercy. Some acts of mercy include the following:

Feeding the Hungry, Clothing the Naked, and Giving Drink to the Thirsty.
Sheltering the Homeless
Building, staffing and caring for Almshouses and Hospitals. People would be given shelter in these establishments, and in return they would pray for the soul of the benefactor.
Visit the Sick
Bury the Dead
Aiding of the Wayfarer. Building bridges, maintaining roads, etc. The idea is that wayfarers would give a prayer to the benefactor of the road or bridge as they use it.
Tombs, Effigies and Brasses. These are funerary monuments built inside churches as a reminder for followers to pray for the soul of those depicted. It is often Knights and Nobility.

Celestial Bells

Souls may only leave purgatory if a Celestial Bell is rung. Celestial bells were once carried by the angels, and purgatory had not ever existed, but Igniel killed all the angels and destroyed every celestial bell he could find. Some angelic hand bells were recovered and melted down to be cast into great celestial bells. There is a great fear that if Soleil does not ring her own bell before the end times, all souls lost in purgatory will be sent to hell and eternally tormented by Igniel. It is rumoured that only 3 celestial bells exist in the whole world, and only the location of one is certain - the Notre Diurnité Cathedral in the Kingdom of Chauncey.

Common Practices and Superstitions

Holy Water and Churchyard Dirt: These two things are believed to be holy. Common practices include sprinkling holy water or churchyard dirt on the doorstep of a newly built house. It is believed throwing either of these things at a spectre or apparition will dispel it instantly.

Ghosts and Apparitions: The clergy don't regard ghosts with fear or dread, but with shame or concern. The sighting of ghosts is an indication that some thing isn't right. It is believed ghosts only appear when the living have failed their duties to the dead. Ghosts can therefore be dealt with relatively easily by performing an exorcism or correcting the problem causing their appearance in the first place.

Similar Faiths

If you have read up on both Diurnism and Preceptarianism you may have noticed that there are striking similarities between the two. This is the result of hundreds of years of line-blurring between the two religions after the fall of the Iron Empire. Though there are many similarities, the differences are glaring issues and are often the cause of many wars between believers of the two religions.

Common Diurnist Greetings and Farewells

"May the sun warm your days." – A friendly greeting or farewell wishing someone the warmth and light of Soleil's presence in their life.

"Bathed in the moon's glow." – A blessing conveying a wish for someone to be protected and inspired by Luna's gentle light during the night.

"Soleil's grace upon you." – A greeting or goodbye that invokes Soleil's favor and guidance for the person being addressed.

"Luna's serenity be with you." – A blessing wishing someone the peace and tranquility associated with Luna's night-time presence.

"In the balance of sun and moon." – A greeting or farewell that acknowledges the harmony between Soleil and Luna, wishing the person a balanced and prosperous life.

"May dawn's light guide your path." – A farewell blessing invoking the symbolism of a new day and the hope it brings, as a wish for someone to find their way in life.

"Under the watchful eyes of sun and moon." – A greeting or goodbye expressing the hope that both Soleil and Luna will protect and guide the person in their daily life.

“Sisters bless thee!”

Curses and Exclamations

"Sol's light!" – A general exclamation of surprise or disbelief, similar to "Oh my God!"

"By the sun's rays!" – Used to express frustration or astonishment, akin to "For heaven's sake!"

"Soleil's fire!" – An exclamation of anger or annoyance, comparable to "Damn it!" or "Hell's bells!"

"Flare's fury!" – An expression of frustration, surprise, or irritation, similar to "Good grief!" or "Bloody hell!"

"Eclipsed be!" – A mild curse or wish for misfortune upon someone or something, akin to "Go to hell!" or "Damn you!"

"Martyrs Wounds/Blood!" – An exclamation of surprise or disbelief

“Damned Diurnity!” - A grave exclamation which curses Soleil and Luna directly. This one is often seen as heresy and would require repentance

The Eight Commandments

Honor the Source of All Life

Thou shalt respect the sanctity of life.

Keep Sacred the Day of Rest

Thou shalt keep Sunday Holy.

Honor Your Family and Community

Thou shalt respect, care, and hold responsibility toward family members and the wider community.

Do No Harm to Others

Thou shalt refrain from taking life unjustly or causing harm to others.

Act with Integrity and Honor

Thou shalt be truthful and faithful in all dealings.

Respect What Belongs to Others

Thou shalt not take what is not yours.

Guard Your Heart Against Envy

Thou shalt not covet others’ possessions, relationships, or status.

Seek Justice and Mercy

Thou shalt act justly and extend mercy to others.

The Eight Deadly Sins

Pride

An excessive sense of self-importance, leading to arrogance and disregard for others. Pride blinds one to flaws and often causes division.

Envy

Resentment toward others' successes or possessions. Envy leads to bitterness, covetousness, and a lack of gratitude for one’s own blessings.

Wrath

Uncontrolled anger or desire for vengeance. Wrath disrupts peace and causes harm, both to others and to oneself.

Sloth

Avoidance of work, responsibility, or growth. Sloth leads to stagnation and a failure to contribute to one’s community or potential.

Greed

An insatiable desire for wealth, power, or possessions. Greed disregards the needs of others and perpetuates selfishness.

Gluttony

Excessive indulgence in food, drink, or other pleasures. Gluttony dulls the senses and can lead to physical and spiritual decay.

Lust

An overpowering desire for physical pleasure or dominance over others. Lust can lead to objectification, harm, and broken relationships.

Deceit

The inclination toward dishonesty, manipulation, or betrayal. Dishonesty erodes trust, destroys relationships, and undermines integrity.

The Sign of the Sun

Worshippers of Soleil perform the "Sign of the Sun'' as a unique gesture to symbolize their reverence for the Divine Diurnity. To make the Sign of the Sun, one would follow these steps:

Raise your right hand slightly while making the "OK" symbol with thumb and forefinger, ensuring your hand does not go above your eyeline or below your ribs.
Say, "May Soleil's light guide your/my path" or the shortened version, "Light guide thee/me."
The other 3 fingers should be stiff and straight
This sign may be quickly and less-formally completed by simply muttering “Sancta Soleil” while doing the gesture