Kresimirianism is the state religion of the Divine Republic of Kresimiria. It is a monotheistic faith whose tenets are central to the nation’s legal, political, and social identity. Adherence to Kresimirianism is a prerequisite for citizenship and the right to vote, as mandated by the Faith Restriction Clause of the 1921 Constitution.
Origins and Core Beliefs
The modern state religion is a direct descendant of the Sanctian Church, which fractured away from the rest of the continent during the 11th-century Great Schism. The Sanctians centralized their theology around state power, directly alienating the southern and eastern provinces. These southern populations retained the Pravoslavic Faith, a decentralized, deeply traditional religion that would eventually become the ideological foundation for the Boskenmark state and the primary target of Kresimirian oppression.
At the absolute center of the faith is the Lord Kresimir, an omnipotent, highly interventionist creator deity. Unlike the abstract gods of other continental religions, Kresimirianism dictates that the Lord Kresimir directly shaped the physical geography of the world, personally authored the four moral laws known as the Zapo, and physically reincarnated as an earthly king to guide His people. Absolute submission to His will is not just a spiritual requirement, but the foundational legal duty of every citizen in the Republic.
The theology of Kresimirianism is derived from the Books of Kresimir, a collection of religious texts written between the 5th and 13th centuries. The faith is centered on the worship of a single deity, the Lord Kresimir, and the teachings of key figures such as the Prophet Zvonomir and the Diviner Markos.
Kresimirianism evolved directly from the Sanctian Church, which was the dominant church of the northern Kresimirian duchies under the Vosti Empire. Following the Unification War, the Sanctian hierarchy was absorbed into the state apparatus, ceasing to exist as an independent institution and becoming the Council for Divinity.
Interpretation of scripture and religious doctrine is the exclusive purview of the Council for Divinity, the highest religious body in the state.
The faith is based on four primary texts: Primum (Creation), The Book of Zvonomir (Prophecy), The Book of Markos (Law and History), and The Book of Awakening (Warfare). Crucially, the Book of Markos contains the ‘Pacts of Divinity,’ which provide the theological basis for the Republic’s progressive laws on marriage and bodily autonomy.
Role in the State
Kresimirianism is inextricably linked with the state. The constitution defines the Republic as being based on the “Divine values” of the faith. This relationship manifests in several key ways:
- Citizenship: To be a full citizen with voting rights, an individual must possess a “Divinity Certificate” issued by a local cleric, known as a Diviner. This certificate can be revoked if a citizen is deemed to have converted away from the faith, resulting in the loss of their citizenship.
- Government: All state officials, including the Chancellor, Senators, and Councillors, must be adherents of Kresimirianism. The faith’s principles are also meant to guide legislation and judicial rulings.
- Education: The national curriculum is constitutionally required to be aligned with the teachings of Kresimirianism.
Clergy
The clergy of Kresimirianism are known as Diviners. They serve as local religious officials responsible for issuing and revoking Divinity Certificates, leading local educational institutions, and ministering to their communities. High-ranking members of the clergy, known as High Diviners, serve on the Council for Divinity, which is chaired by the High Archbishop.