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An Orthodox Meeting
Topic Started: May 19 2008, 01:29 PM (344 Views)
Devin Wire
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Devin Wire awaited the entry of the Bishop. He was not dressed as usual, and was rather seated in his throne room in a rather odd twist of fate. His hair was still moppy, but now it bore a Kingly symbol of authority whilst his one hand bore an orb, and the other a scepter. His body was clothed in robes that he had not previously bore. He was ready to meet the fellow Orthodox Christian not as a man, but as a Monarch.

Behind him were two tapestries, each bearing an important seal of the nation. On his left hand side was a black banner, carrying the circle-A symbol that represented Anarchy. On the other, the Patriarchal cross that symbolized the elimination of paganism in Zeelar.
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The CNNP
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His Holiness Abune Paulos, Patriarch of Ethiopia and Archbishop of Axum, entered the room and both patriarchs embraced one another and kissed both cheeks.

It has been too long my old friend. My flock has waited ages for this moment, a surge in Orthodoxy Christianity.

It is unfortunate that my country is a parliamentary republic, however I feel things can and will change all that.

Our nations have been neighbors and peaceful ones for many years, how can I be of service to you.


Posted Image
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Devin Wire
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Wire then bowed before him, offering a seat that was placed the Ethiopian Patriarch's convenience. He then retook his own throne.

"Your Eminence, thank you for taking this time for me. I should truly hope that this is a meeting that shall forever change the destiny of Africa as we know it. As you mention, there are now great numbers of converts to our faith. As you know, I was once a pagan myself and I rejected such a life of sin."

He exhaled softly, "Do you know of the situation with our borders?"
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The CNNP
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I am most pleased to hear this, not only have you heard the word of God; but you have found faith in the one true faith. Genesisian Catholicism is slowly evaporating in Africa and Orthodox Christianity is making up ground. I fear that Neo-Macedonia and her heretical rhetoric cannot be ignored much longer.

Alas, we are but players in an ever changing religious world. Islam is fast overcoming all positive gains in East Africa. Our position to the Moslem world of the Middle East makes this even more of a volatile situation. I have to be honest, the Caliphate's treatment of our nation so close to his own has been more than generous but one can never be too trustful of these types of neighbors.

I do believe this is only the second official bit of dialog between our two great nations. Ever since those peace negotiations concerning Medina, things have been quiet.

Currently, the borders are secured. Most of the non-Orthodox population is confined to the metropolitan areas and eastern most portions of the country.
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Devin Wire
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I thank you for being so accepting of this. My concern with Islam in Africa is the way in which Moslems are taught their faith. They are taught that Allah is the one true god, and that Abraham is the first prophet of that God in a succession leading to Muhammad. However, they claim we do not follow the same God. The Christian God is the God of Abraham.

They deny us this unity in prayer, yet they are separated brethren. How can we end this heresy? Consider well, Your Eminence, that as we speak, Zeelar has troops in Abnar. We wish to retract them as soon as we may. However, we cannot with such dangers. We do not wish the deaths of any more of the One True Faith.

I hope I speak no Hersey or disrespect of my own, Your Eminence.

Neo-Macedonia can collapse through Realpolitik I believe. I contemplate an embargo with them. Without trade, they shall fall as the Walls of Jericho did.
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The CNNP
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Your analysis is sound. There can be no mistaking it. Radical Islam is a major threat, one I feel will require the Romans and their assistance. Power has shifted rapidly and it just so happens that the Romans are one of those last true international powers left in the world that can make a difference.

The Church's official position towards Moslems has been towards passive conversion. Even the Ministry's public school policy towards religion has been somewhat beneficial. By federal law, Orthodox Christianity is taught and currently this exposure in our densely Moslem populated areas has bore fruit.

I would suggest that you begin implementation of a similar policy. Morrocon will back Zeelar's decision in keeping troops in Abnar for the time being, but in the interests of regional hegemony it would be wise to formulate a plan allowing for more "friendly" local autonomy in that country. The backlash of such occupation, no matter how just, will have consequences. I am not prepared to authorize a crusade.

We must consult the Orthodox Union (OOC: I am not sure of the name of the Orthodox equivalent to the Holy League, please feel free to correct me!) and we need to embrace a more proactive conversion policy towards our Moslem brethren, and to further weaken the position of the Pope in Genesis City, the Genesisian Catholics and all other Christian impostors of the One True Faith.

I applaud your nation's decision of placing an embargo on Neo-Macedonia. I will put pressure on the Ministry in power, the various Prime Minister candidates to do the same.
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Devin Wire
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As the Romans are in such a position to change the world for the better, I am glad to be a player in this New World Order.

You need not worry about religious instruction in our own nation. School is not run by the state in Zeelar. The money spent on education either finances libraries, or private schools largely operated by the Church as it is. Our people are taught the correct path ever since we saw the light.

We are not willing for an international conflict, either. If I may offer a different idea to you, for your approval of course, I would like this. In the south pacific, Guam is sectioned off as a neutral, international trading port. What if we could solve these problems in Africa in a similar manner?

Semetic Blacks, called Lemba, are constantly in refuge from Islamic lands. Abnar and my own Fiefdom are having a dispute. There are groups whom would do well to be moved for reasons of their safety, and would agree to relocation.

What if we were to take some oasis land in the desert, that has been evacuated by national collapse, and modify it into a neutral post like Guam is? It would be along a flight path of your nation and a rail line of mine. It would provide homes for those who need them. Best of all, it would be reliant on Orthodox power brokerage and therefore give us a strong foothold for proactive policies on Moslem domination. Imagine the conversion of those relocated from Abnar, peacefully.

This being said, I hope that I do not appear weak, Your Eminence.


OOC: I think the Ecumenical Councils handled the same sorts of areas as the Holy League. The Orthodox Union, IRL, is the Rabbinical foundation of Orthodox Jews in the USA. No offense of course :P
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The CNNP
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OOC: None taken... ^_^

IC:

I think we can agree to this relocation policy. However, I would caution that in a world where regional influence is a player in domestic politics as much so in foreign politics; that such a "free-state" might quickly transform into yet another pawn for a nation willing to turn it against us.

Such a free-state solution will require guidelines for settlement and local administration, as well as our supervision.

Other than that, the Ethiopian Orthodox Republic will aid in such an endeavor.

I think we will need to acquire land first for this settlement. Just a proposition, we could use the land known as the Sudan. It is close to us, and would bar any Catholic expansion from Menhad from surrounding my nation and from having direct contact with yours. The close proximity would allow us to "intervene" should any incidents that require our attention.


OOC: I think Menhad is Cologne Catholic, again feel free to correct me.
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Devin Wire
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This policy is totally up to you, Your Eminence. I believe you to be of a superior intellect than I, and therefore are better adept to make such a decision. However, I feel it would not fall to foreign influence, considering the principles of reliance, they would have to remain friendly to us. Otherwise, they would wither and die.

That being said, if there is another more apropo answer, I would beg to hear it. If I can, that would please me greatly.

Otherwise, the Sudan would work marvelously for a Guam-like solution.
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Then it is settled, so let it be written; so let it be done. I will push the Diet of Morrocon to act on this initiative quicly before the Parliamentary primaries begin in earnest.

We shall give the Sudan to them, a joint-administration between Zeelar and Morrocon will see to its needs.

It is pleasing to see the wisdom of such an astute collegue. I will trust the guidelines for this joint-administration to your delegation. The final draft will have to be agreed upon by our two secular ministries.

However, I do not forsee any other problem; other than the possibilities I outlined earlier.

May God bless you and keep you!
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Devin Wire
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I thank you for your speeded response in this. It is most pleasing to me as well, Your Eminence. However, I am confused. Of what secular ministry do you speak? We have very little government here in Zeelar, as you surely must know. It should not be difficult to pass at all.

Is there anything else to decide on? Perhaps the name of this new state? Perhaps Nubia would be suited? It shows well with the Coptic Church, which is in communion with our Faith as a member of the Orthodox community.

If I may, I have one more concern. That is Egypt. I had spoken with their Patriarch before, and now they have reverted to paganism. How are we to handle this? Or are we to advocate moving the Coptic Orthodox Church as well?
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Just a matter of meeting between our two governments to cement the deal, nothing special.

Nubia will work fine. This recent revelation is most disturbing to me. We must contain this threat immediately. We cannot allow the Coptic Church to fold. Islam is also a concern there. We must keep the Moslems divided between Shia and Sunni and we must back the Coptic Church.

I will coordinate a capital campaign to raise 250,000,000,000br (birrs) to go towards their missionary ministries. I would require that you do the same with your followers. I will contact the Patriarch of the Romans about doing the same.

I cannot stress enough, the Coptic Orthodox Church cannot falter. We need this to act a buffer between us and the Moslem dominated Middle East; this is geopolitiks at its finest.
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Devin Wire
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Ah, then I understand wholly.

I thank you for approving my ideas - this is very positive to hear from such a man as yourself.

Of course we shall back the Coptic Church. I shall be able to raise an equal amount in Denebs, I assure you. If the Patriarch of the Romans can also give such, there should be no trouble, am I sure in this?

I must stress, however, that I am not a Patriarch. I am a secular monarch. You are my Patriarch, and the Patriarch of our's in Zeelar - we are Ethiopian Orthodox for the most part, with the largest minority being Coptic Orthodox.

Your Eminence, I thank you again for your visit.

Before we conclude our meeting, I must ask something of you. When I visited the Coptic Pope, he thought somewhat poorly of me and my wife until I better explained us. Though he no longer has any ill feelings, do you harbor such in any way? Strangely enough, he thought it sinful that she wore pants of denim.
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I wish to quote a bit of scripture in relation to your question:

Render to Caesar, the things that are Caesar's; and give to God, what is God's.

I have seen men dressed in the finest of attires and have the souls of sewers. I have seen the dirtest of farmers and they are the cleanest in the eyes of God.

I have learned in my experience that things are not always as they appear. When the eyes cannot judge, close them and open your mind. There you will see it in its purest form.

With Morrocon and Zeelar verbally pledging equal amounts and with the Romans and possibly others the creation of Nubia and salvation of the Coptic Church is real.

Take what we have discussed and bring it into fruition.


After that, the Patriarch began work on a letter to all the known Orthodox patriarchs.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I call upon you in an effort to strengthen ties between not only our nations but the brotherhood of Orthodoxy Christianity.

It is said that united we stand, divided we fall. I can think of no truer saying to fit this message. The heretics of the Genesian Catholic Church realized this message and created a unifying system known as the Holy League. This Holy League served most notably as a military alliance between member nations, but it also served as a family network for its member nation. A help list if you will.

Currently, our Orthodox brothers in Egypt, the Coptic Orthodox Church, are under threat from paganism. I feel it is essential that the success of the world Orthodox community lies in the survival and success of the Coptic Church.

This will serve as an indicator as to how much work is needed to bring the Orthodox community together.

Another area in distress is the discrimination and persecution of Semetic African, my personal kin, in Abnar. These refugees numbering in the thousand to millions are known as Lemba. It is the will of the Church that these people be givena homeland area in the southern Sudan, called Nubia.

The Orthodox nations of Zeelar and Morrocon are meeting together now to formulate a constitution and the acquisition of land around Khartoum for this task. I am asking for all of our Orthodox brethren to leand us their stewardship.

Stewardship is defined as time, talent, and treasure. All nations are asked to donate time, talent, and treasure towards these historic and prolific efforts. I know what I ask is great but the rewards awaiting those who actively participate will be great in heaven.

I will send a monthly statement to all participants acknowledging their support and giving them monthly updates. Benchmarks will be set and the expectations are high.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Selaam in Christ Jesus, Adonai,

Abune Paulos, Patriarch of Ethiopia and Archbishop of Axum
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Devin Wire
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I thank you, Your Eminence. I shall have no further qualms of this condition, with your blessing.

The Zeelaran state finance committee for religion has wired 120,384,383,412 denebs into the coffers of this project. The faithful are undergoing collections now. It is surely hoped that it shall not take much further time for the project to be wholly financed.
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