Selucia

[Aethan]

There are no two without three: the governor of Oleria enters to discuss the religious conflict
Agorastocles Proceus opposes the APC to return to Selucia but bets for a total elimination of all religions in Oleria


Procurator of Oleria Agorastocles Proceus during his appearance

After the pronouncement of the majority of new political leaders on recent religious issues, a new testimony shakes national politics: the Procurator of Oleria, Agorastocles Proceus, enters the fray. The regional leader most supported by the citizens in the last elections (more than 8 million votes, 70% of all those cast) appeared this morning to announce what he himself has called "a holy war." Speaking from the headquarters of the regional government, Procurator Proceus has announced that he does not agree with the statements of the Procurator of Corgana - belonging to his very same party - about bringing back the Aurorian Patriarchal Church to Selucia, positioning himself in favor of the actions carried out by the Duodecimviri. However, he has gone further, and has declared that his intention, and what in his opinion the country needs, is the "complete eradication of the influence of religion in the Republic"

The transcript of his appearance is as follows:

"Citizens of Oleria,
As your Procurator, it is my duty to defend and speak for the citizens that I represent and for which I was elected. That is why I want to appear before you to announce my complete disagreement with the decision of some political leaders to bring back the Aurorian Patriarchal Church to Selucia. Although I do not agree with the ways in which their expulsion was carried out, I do agree with the actions of the Duodecimviri when it comes to expelling the Aurorian Patriarchal Church from our Republic. Religion has been, for centuries and always, a drag on the advance of our society towards its full development as human beings. Always weighing down the advancement of culture and science, the advance of the very basic human rights for many minorities. For this reason, the idea of ​​the APC returning to Selucia seems wrong to me, and little considered. I have privately communicated my opinion to my superiors in the party, and they know my opinion perfectly. Although I understand the position of the Corgana Procurator, defending the economic and social interests of the people who elected her to that position, I must do the same for my citizens, and it seems to me an incorrect decision. [...]
I also want to take this opportunity to condemn the words of Mrs. Bellona in which she encourages and incites her most fanatical followers to persecute those who define themselves as "Hosian". It seems to me a despicable and disgusting attitude, unbecoming of an elected representative, and closer to the words of dictators and murderers than of democratic representatives and politicians. [...] Mrs. Cosmas is a great professional, as anyone who has seen her films will know, and although the attacks on her person by certain religious sectors for her role in certain films are unjustifiable and indefensible, criticize a political leader who tries to seek the greatest possible harmony for their citizens on the part of other religious sectors is equally reprehensible. [...] Now, I want to make an important announcement on the part of this government that I preside: during my mandate, religion in Oleria will pass, within those powers that are allowed to me, to the background, and It will try to minimize its influence in all sectors of Olerian society. I am not talking about any specific religion, but about all of them: no religion will be prioritized or benefited over another.
Thank you very much".

Among the measures that have been leaked by his government team, the Procurator of Oleria has dropped that the hours of attendance to places of worship will be probably limited to the maximum under the argument of "providing better control and assistance", thus such as removing Religion from any public school and withdrawing funding for religious schools.

[Polites]

Hosio-Pagan Collegium Formed
a.d. IV Id. Apr. MMCMXCIV a.R.P.c.
(April 10, 4805)


Hosio-Pagan priestess performing the Sacrifice of Holy Revelation

The Selucian zeitgeist has probably not been as favorable to Paganism within the last thousand years as it is now. Not only was a moderate Hosian-based regime decried as a dictatorship and overthrown by an explicitly and vocally Pagan government, but popular culture too has become infused with Pagan themes and imagery. Films like "Gods of the New Era", famously starring COSIRA leader Naevia Cosmas, is just one of the many instances of popular entertainment drawing from Pagan mythology and religion.

With this gradual embrace of polytheism by the popular consciousness, one particular interpretation of Hosianism has massively increased its appeal. Hosio-Paganism, the syncretism between the Hosian faith and various pagan and polytheist beliefs and practices, has been gaining ground lately, with new Hosio-Pagan churches and temples being opened in several cities, Pagan elements being incorporated into Hosian practice, or, indeed, Hosian elements being adopted by Pagans. Most Hosio-Pagans seem to originate from two seemingly irreconcilable religious tendencies. One the one hand many new Hosio-Pagans are Xarfaxians, adherents to a far-right religious-political ideology rooted in Selucian nationalism and for which both Religio Seluciana and Aurorian Hosianism are integral parts of Selucian identity, seeking to merge both in the pursuit of national unity. On the other there are many progressive and feminist Hosians who, dissatisfied with what they see as the patriarchal nature of mainstream Hosianism and of monotheism, have incorporated beliefs and practices centered around the "sacred feminine" and the "Hosian Goddess". These latter groups decry the lack of female deities within the Aurorian Church, and see the veneration of Virgin Sarahae and the saints as left-over elements from pre-Hosian beliefs that these Hosio-Pagans seek to recover.

There is little that unites all the many different Hosio-Pagan groups other than the syncretism between Hosianism and Paganism. Some believe that within God there are both male and female aspects and thus subscribe to a form of gendered duotheism. Others emphasize female characters within Hosian beliefs and mythology, especially Virgin Sarahae. Still others seek traces of pre-monotheistic belief within the Hosian Bible itself, and worship, in addition to Elyon Tzevaot, Qedarite (OOC: Semitic) deities like Elyon's wife the Heavenly Mother, as well as deified figures from the Hosian Bible interpreted in a polytheistic framework, including Shekhinah, the Holy Wisdom, or the Spirit of God.

In spite of all these differences, there is now a new commonality that unites these many disparate groups, and that is organizational unity. This month the College of Pontiffs of Religio Seluciana agreed to the establishment of an autonomous Hosian Collegium. Subject to the decisions of the College of Pontiffs but otherwise granted full autonomy in overseeing and administering the many different Hosio-Pagan congregations, the Hosian Collegium will function similarly to the recently established Gerajan Collegium as the official leadership of the many Hosio-Pagan denominations. As Paganism overall has been growing in popularity, the establishment of Hosio-Pagan leadership will likely draw many more Hosians towards Pagan religions.

[Aethan]

"Earthly paradise", Oleria's tourist campaign
After the recent political events in recent years on the island, the regional government launches a new campaign to attract tourists again


Some of the publicized brochures created by the Olerian government to promote the island

Agorastocles Proceus, Governor of Oleria, announced this morning the launch of a new advertising campaign to attract tourists to the island. In a campaign that will be disseminated by national and international media, it will try to attract new tourists, an important sector for the island's economy, selling the wide variety of activities that can be carried out in Oleria. The advertising posters highlight nightlife activities, open-air concerts, extreme sports and adventure sports, as well as the beauty of the diverse natural landscape that the island has. The campaign, entitled "Paradisus terrenus" (Earthly Paradise) encourages people to return to an island rich in nature and activities, to which high personalities from the world of culture and politics have long traveled to enjoy of a quiet vacation retreat.

"After the events of recent years in our nation, Oleria, the time has come for people to come to visit us again, to know the great cultural, artistic and natural legacy that they can find here, in addition to the numerous activities of leisure that they can take with family or in groups of friends. "

the Governor has declared.

Once the budget of the region have been approved by an absolute majority - only the votes in favor of COSIRA, which holds more than 100 of the 150 seats in the regional Assembly, were necessary - these include a large budget line destined to the promotion of the region outside the borders of Selucia. In addition, these budget include an increase in spending for Education and Health, two fields that since the days of Praetors Ares Zervas and Zenon Gogolas the island is proud to defend at all costs.

A part of the regional budget's destined to the creation of a Seed Bank

Governor Proceus has also announced that a part of the approved budget will go to the construction of a "Seed Bank" in the region, in a scientific project that aims to ensure against the loss of seeds - and therefore, plant diversity -during large -scale regional or world-wide crises.

"From this regional government we believe that the creation of this Seed Bank is an important step for the world in general, so we ask the rest of the nations of Terra for collaboration to send us seeds of plants and indigenous varieties of their territory, in order to be able to preserve the diversity of all plant species that inhabit our planet ".

At the moment little else is known about the project.

The government of Oleria begins the removal of religious symbols from all public buildings in the region

Following the approval of the "Priscusan Law on Religion", the government of Oleria has begun the removal of any religious symbol from public buildings, including buildings that the State considers as its own after the approval of the Duodecimviri of the approval of several laws . Small groups of protesters have protested at the government headquarters for these actions, but the government has failed to make any statement on the matter.

[Aethan]

Hard hit for COSIRA
The radical left coalition fails to capitalize on its time in government and collapses to third position with half the civil support


Consul Naevia Cosmas (left) appearing after the results

It seems that the gods have not smiled after these elections to COSIRA. Although neither of the two parties that so far rule Selucia in coalition - COSIRA together with the NPLS - have managed to benefit from their stay in government, it has been the left party that has received the hardest blow, going from obtaining almost 24 million votes and more than 330 seats in the last elections to obtain 14 million votes and 164 seats in this, in addition to losing the two regional governments they owned - Corgana and Oleria - as well as the post of Censor.

Although the initial feeling at the party headquarters was good, as the results were broadcast in each region the atmosphere became more and more gloomy. At the end of the night, the overwhelming result of the MTS - which has obtained the position of Censor, an absolute majority in the Assembly of Selucia and the government of the five regions - brought COSIRA back to reality. The only glimmer of hope for the party is the Olerian Regional Assembly, where despite the victory of the conservatives, a hypothetical coalition between COSIRA and the NPLS would guarantee a majority of 93 seats out of 150 for the opposition.

After knowing the results, the general secretary of the party Naevia Cosmas was the last political leader to appear before the media, with a serious face. After thanking the trust placed in her party by those who have repeated their vote, Cosmas has acknowledged that "they cannot be happy with the results obtained" and has promised to carefully study why they were. The current secretary general, who has ruled out resigning because she believes that a good leader "stays on the boat through thick and thin," believes that one of the main reasons they have been able to lose so many voters has been because of their pact of coalition with the liberals, who thinks that many "have not managed to understand completely", but that it was necessary to oust the ultra-conservatives from power. After congratulating the winners of the elections, Cosmas has asked them not to make religious war their flag, considering that continuing with this issue will only "increase the deep division in which the country finds itself."

Almost none of the five regional leaders wanted to appear before the media to assess the results, except Agorastocles Proceus, now a former Procurator of Oleria, who affirms that he already "saw the result coming", because in his opinion "the party has focused too much on religious issues and on playing the game of the ultra-conservatives than on living up to the party's own name - Radical Left Coalition - and making true left politics, which in turn have been limited by the influence of the liberals". The regional leader in Oleria believes that the party needs to change course quickly and urgently in the face of the next elections, and make the toughest possible opposition during this term, which is already lost.

"During this legislature the citizens of Selucia are going to see many of their civil rights reduced, they are going to see a repressive policy, and I only hope that it can be reversed in time."

[Polites]

Pagan Traditionalists Form Government
Kal. Dec. MMCMXCVI a.R.P.c.
(December 1, 4807)


Euthymia Bellona is one of the two new Consuls of Selucia

Last month’s elections could not possibly have gone better for the opposition Selucian Traditional Movement. Miraculously the small Pagan party, heir to the policies of the Duodecimvirate that ruled Selucia for 10 years, was propelled from seeming obscurity to the leadership of the nation. Once the vote count was finished the Traditionalists could lay claim to an absolute majority in the People’s Assembly and in the provincial Assemblies of four of the five Provinces. Moreover, Imperator Heliodorus Vibianus, the only one of the Duodecemvirs still active in politics, was elected Censor on the Traditionalist ticket, though, as before, he refused to join the political party and swore to maintain political independence during his time in the office. And today the People’s Assembly conformed a cabinet led by Euthymia Bellona and her long-time ally Faustinus Pamphilus as Consuls. As of this month, both Consuls, both Praetors, all four Aediles, all six Quaestors, al five Procurarors, and six of the seven Tribunes belong to the Selucian Traditional Movement.

In her victory speech Euthymia Bellona credited her party’s electoral triumph to divine intervention and condemned her opponents in COSIRA:

The Gods and our Ancestors have delivered the reins of power to us so we may properly honor them and restore the pax Deorum. They have delivered Selucia from the clutches of the Communists, who sought to destroy our public cultus, who wanted to take away our freedoms, who wanted to abolish our properties and turn us all into slaves of the state! The radical leftists have shown their true face as fundamentalist atheists, bent on destroying our temples, desecrating our sacred groves, and slaughtering our priests and priestesses. Never again will Selucia be led by Hosians and atheists!

In the first official announcement of the new government the Consuls declared the organization of the traditional Ludi Seluciani in MMM a.R.P.c. (4811 CE) in order to celebrate three thousand years since the founding of the First Republic, emphasizing that the games will be dedicated to the Selucian Gods according to tradition.

Striking such a confrontational tone with the Hosian and irreligious populations of Selucia is bound to increase religious tensions. Although the current government enjoys a comfortable majority, it will not have an easy time in power should it continue down the current path.

[Polites]

Selucia's Pagan Restoration
a.d. IV Id. Dec MMCMXCVII a.R.P.c.
(December 10, 4808)


The temple of Sol Lucidus in Marisia (Sadaria Occidentalis), one of the many religious sites erected by the Duodecimviri and consecrated under the current government

With the Pagan traditionalist Selucian Traditional Movement firmly in power, the government of Consuls Bellona and Pamphilus has initiated a wholesale return to the religious and cultural traditions of the First Republic and subsequent Pagan regimes. The public cultus of Selucia's old gods is being restored, while the government has issued many guarantees that the rights and freedoms of Selucians of other faiths shall not be interfered with. For the first time in centuries the sole official religion of the Republic shall be Religio Seluciana, although officially the law establishing the state religion only grants that status to the "indigenous polytheistic traditions of the Selucian people ". Additionally the status of the highest Pagan priests and priestesses as elected public officials shall be restored, as they will be elected by the People's Assembly, while all other clergy will once again become civil servants of the state. Proselytism shall be made entirely illegal, perhaps owing to the fact that, unlike monotheistic religions, Selucian Paganism is not a missionary faith and is not based on belief.

Moreover, a Senatus Consultum passed by the Senate restoring the ancient Ludi (Games) was introduced to the People's Assembly for approval. The Senatus Consultum restores the religious character of the Ludi Seluciani, reintroduces a number of other religious celebrations, and, more importantly given the coming year MMM a.R.P.c., restores the ancient Ludi Saeculares. The Secular Games were held once every saeculum, believed to be the maximum length of a human life and counted as 110 years, and also involved sacrifices in honor of five Selucian deities. The last Secular Games were held under the Triariist Pagan nationalist regime that ruled Selucia between 2989 and 3163, and, owing to the millennial celebrations due to be held, they are now being restored and are set to be celebrated once every 110 years as well as to commemorate important events for the Republic.

As authorized by the Senatus Consultum, the four Aediles have already initiated preparations for the celebration of the Secular Games in Martius MMM (March 4811). In addition to traditional Selucian sports and artistic performances, the Aediles decided to send invitations to all nations with significant polytheistic, animistic, or pagan populations, inviting them to send athletes to perform in their own native cultural competitions dedicated to their own traditional gods. The invitation has been transmitted by the Praetor Peregrinus (Minister of Foreign Affairs) to all nations that match the criteria. It is clear that the government is planning for something grandiose for the Republic’s 3000 year anniversary. Whether this will be enough to revitalize tourism to Selucia in light of the decline in pilgrimage since the exile of the Arch-Patriarch of the Aurorian Church will soon be known.

[Aethan]

Total agreement for the renewal of the regional flags
At the proposal of COSIRA, the three political parties of the Assembly have approved the new designs


New flags of Calatia, Corgana, Oleria, Sadaria Occidentalis and Sadaria Orientalis (in order)

Despite the deep ideological differences between the current conservative government and the opposition, the agreement between them has proven to be possible as well.

This morning, the former Procurator of Oleria and current deputy in the regional chamber Agorastocles Proceus announced through a simple message on the networks the change, after publishing what will be the new regional flag of Oleria.



In the parliamentary debate, which has gone smoothly and with an atmosphere of compromise between the different political forces, the proposals of Naevia Cosmas and Agorastocles Proceus have been accepted without major problems, giving, in the words of Naevia Cosmas herself, a more "institutional" to regional flags.

Members of the Assembly,

Hereby, my party wants to present a proposal to change the regional flags of our nation. Those that are currently in use, although they have correctly fulfilled their function of differentiation and recognition of each of the regions, do not give a sufficient representative status, in our opinion. That is why we want to propose the following changes, and know the opinion of the rest of the Assembly on the matter:

Current Calatia Flag: https://particracy.fandom.com/wiki/File ... i_Flag.png
Proposed Calatia flag: https://i.imgur.com/itGDQLY.png

Current Corgana Flag: https://particracy.fandom.com/wiki/File ... a_Flag.png
Proposed Corgana flag: https://i.imgur.com/G1KbydW.png

Calatia and Corgana, which occupy the island of Aquilonem, each have an opposite representation: Calatia presents on its flag, being the most mountainous region, the green colors representing the countryside, while Corgana presents the blue colors of the sea and the coast . Both also present together the golden colors of the sun.

Current Oleria Flag: https://particracy.fandom.com/wiki/File ... h_Flag.png
Proposed Oleria flag: https://i.imgur.com/RWPjlhe.png

The flag, which preserves the blue as representative of the sea, uses a different color scheme than the others to represent one of the three islands that Selucia is composed of.

Sadaria Occidentalis Flag: https://particracy.fandom.com/wiki/File ... r_Flag.png
Proposed Sadaria Occidentalis flag: https://i.imgur.com/X7pAEsB.png

Sadaria Orientalis Flag: https://particracy.fandom.com/wiki/File ... r_Flag.png
Proposed Sadaria Orientalis flag: https://i.imgur.com/T36JOb1.png

The island of Australis, which is made up of the two Sadarias, applies a different concept. Using red as the main color, the gold color continues to be the common thread as in the other three flags.

It is expected that once the law is approved, an official ceremony for the raising of the new flags will take place with all solemnity and the highest authorities of the State and political representatives.

[Polites]

Republic Celebrates 3000th Birthday
a.d. XII Kal. Apr. MMM a.R.P.c.
(March 21, 4811)

This month Selucia celebrates three thousand years since the founding of the first state uniting the Selucian islands, the First Republic. The current Selucian regime, established in MMCMLXXXVIII a.R.P.c. by the Duodecemvirate, is consciously portraying itself as the direct heir of that ancient government, even going as far as to implement not just institutions and symbols derived from the First Republic, but also adopting its religious policies. As part of the religious and political restoration project the Republic introduced, through a Senatus Consultum, the Ludi Saeculares (Secular Games), an ancient religious and athletic celebration organized once every 110 years or to commemorate significant dates. One such significant date is the celebration of year MMM since the founding of the Republic, and this month was marked by the millennial celebrations:


Priestesses offering sacrifice to Aplus (OOC Apollo)


Procession in the honor of Terra Mater (OOC Magna Mater)


Military procession in Auroria


Military procession in Argona


Gladiatorial competition in Victoria


Horse racing in Victoria


Triumphal arch in Argona, built to commemorate year MMM


Fireworks in Argona

[Polites]

Traditionalists Remain in Power
a.d. VIII Kal. Dec. MMMI a.R.P.c.
(November 24, 4812)


Faustinus Pamphilus will continue to serve as one of the two Consuls

With the final votes being counted, it appears that the Selucian Traditional Movement has emerged victorious in this month's elections and will thus continue in power for another five years. Although the party lost some of its support to the opposition Liberal Party, left-wing COSIRA's losses were even greater. Underwhelming as it is, this election result confirms the Traditionalists in power and grants them a renewed mandate to continue their political and religious restorationist project. Last year's millennial celebrations in honor of Selucia's 3000th anniversary, extravagantly celebrated throughout the nation and explicitly dedicated to the gods of Selucia's traditional pantheon must certainly have played a role in maintaining the Traditionalists' popularity, although another factor may have been several legislative proposals sponsored by COSIRA, seen by many as promoting statism and left-wing extremism. The Traditionalists have certainly managed to portray themselves as the defenders of the status quo against secularist and communist assault, prompting even many Hosians to reluctantly support the Pagan party, seeing it as a lesser evil to the secular parties on the left.

Former Consul and Traditionalist founder Euthymia Bellona was herself elected as the third Censor of the Republic, and as mandated by the law, she is due to perform the lustrum and oversee the Taurian Games in Ianuarius (January) next year. In her victory speech she proved less conciliatory and neutral than her predecessor, the politically unaffiliated Imperator Heliodorus Vibianus:

The People of Selucia have entrusted us with a renewed mandate and placed their confidence in us, trusting that we will continue to restore the mos maiorum. The atheists and Hosians have been defeated once more, and the vile communists, the enemies of our Gods, of our traditions, and our very liberties, have been cast further from the reins of power! I guarantee that we will not falter, and I swear I will do everything in my power to lead to the final destruction of atheism and the absurd Hosian superstition.

Her belligerent words were not echoed by her colleagues in her party who chose to strike a more conciliatory tone. Regardless, the policies that first brought the Selucian Traditionalist Movement to power five years ago and have reconfirmed their leadership of the nation this month are likely to remain in place.

[Aethan]

"One has to know when to retire"
The general secretary and the leader of COSIRA announce their resignation to continue leading the party after another bad electoral result


General Secretary Naevia Cosmas (left) and Leader Simo Iulius (right) announcing their respective resignations

The person who seemed to be a promising shining star in the new political stage that appeared in Selucia after the fall of the Hosian dictatorship has ended up turning off her shine sooner than many anticipated.

Former actress Naevia Cosmas, who became the first Consul of the new democratic era of Selucia when in 4805 she finally managed to seal a government agreement with the liberal party to form a coalition, saw her political aspirations abruptly stopped after the elections of 4807, when COSIRA suffered a hard electoral defeat after its surprising and unexpected victory in the first elections. By blaming this bad result on her government pact with the Liberals, during the second legislature her leadership tried to put more distance with the previous policies, but it seems that the steps followed have not finished convincing the electorate, since after these third elections COSIRA has returned to obtain a bad result. After losing 22 seats and lowering the 20% vote barrier, her current secretary general has decided that it is time to jump off the ship. If, after the past electoral results, she decided to stay in office to try to make a big comeback, this new defeat has made her make the decision to step aside and allow a new person to lead the political project represented by COSIRA.

"For me"

she said at the press conference in which she announced her resignation as secretary general of the party, visibly moved

"it has been very hard to make this decision. When I was offered to lead this political project, I did so with the conviction that it was the best for our citizens. A fresh, modern project of freedom and equality, heir to everything that the tides represented at the time. Ignoring the criticism I received, ignoring the blacklash, and following my heart and mi own ideas. And although it seems that at first it was like that, the passage of the elections has shown that now I do not have the confidence of the citizens to lead this party. When I announced that I would stay after the last elections, I did so because I believe that our citizens, both our voters and those who are not, do not deserve a rudeness, and when some results are bad, you have to take them with your head held high in the same way as if they were good, not run away from them. However, after we have not managed to come back, it is palpable that the party needs to have a new leadership, and for that, I have to step aside. This does not mean that I renounce my convictions and ideals, that I think that this party has no future, but rather that someone new is needed, someone who knows how to attract voters again, teach them why they should opt for our party in order to build together the Selucia that we want to leave our children and grandchildren and in which we ourselves want to live. "

The already former general secretary, who has been throughout the press conference with teary eyes, has congratulated the MTS for a new victory, but has asked them again "not to forget that their party does not represent more than 50% of the population ", so that they cease to carry out unilaterally deep religious laws to divide society. Asked about her near future, Mrs. Cosmas acknowledged that she would love to return to acting again, although she considers that in the coming years her future will still be closely linked to COSIRA.

For his part, Simos Iulius, the discreet leader of the party and another of its founders, has acknowledged that after being elected Censor in the first elections, seeing his electoral popularity plummet was not "something pleasant to see." Therefore, he has decided to resign from his position within the party to allow a new candidate for the Censorship of Selucia - in COSIRA, the party leader is the candidate for the Censorship -.

None of the general secretaries has resigned for the moment, and everything indicates that the five will continue, at least until the next elections, topping the electoral lists in their respective regions.

The resignation of Naevia Cosmas and Simo Iulius to continue leading the party seems to open a new stage for COSIRA, since Artamo Commidus remains as the only founding member who will continue in the party, and only as a member of the Federal Committee.

Likewise, the party has announced that, if they once again reach power, they will reform the "Iudi Seluciani" in a profound way, starting by detaching them from all religious symbols, and that in the meantime, none of their political representatives will attend the religious ceremonies that are officiated prior to the start of the games.