40 Episode 8 Alexander's Council and Edicts




 "So, what do you think? Can you grow it?
 "It will take some trial and error, but I think it will be possible.

 Hercule nodded in satisfaction at the landowning nobleman's question.

 It's good that you've announced the council, but there's no way that bishops from all over the world will be moving in an instant, and various preparations will be necessary.
 In the meantime, Hercule was making an inspection of the province of Misrule.

 Specifically, he wanted to see if it was possible to grow rice and sugar.

 First, he looked for a landowner who would grow rice.
 It was difficult to find a landowner who was crazy enough to grow such a strange grain as rice, but after Hercule offered some assistance, we finally found someone who was willing to grow it.

 We have already provided ten landowners with rice seeds and slaves who have experience in growing rice.

 It will take at least three years to expect a stable harvest. ......
 It will be worth the three years.

 In addition, sugar cultivation has already begun in areas under the emperor's direct control and on the private property of the royal family.
 Erkühl has also inspected this area and found it to be doing well.

 By the way, have you had any troubles lately?
 Trouble, sir?
 "Anything at all.

 The landowner crossed his arms in response to Hercule's question and worried. ......

 I've heard that some of the irrigation systems are outdated. Some of the irrigation systems in Misr Province are a hundred or two hundred years old.
 Don't all say the same thing.

 Hercule smiled bitterly.

 During his inspection, Hercule had seen a variety of people ......
 He spoke to landowners, nobles, priests, merchants, farmers, and peasants. ......

 The most common opinion was "flood control".

 For a long time, the empire had been in financial difficulties, and flood control and irrigation had been neglected.
 The bill for that has now come due.

 (When I think about it, I'm always cleaning up after my predecessors. ......)

 Hercule reminds me of Hadrian.
 He was not an incompetent man.

 In fact, Hadrian's reform of the military system to emphasize cavalry was right on target, and his vassals, bureaucrats, and soldiers, such as Galfis, Christos, Lucanus, Todoris, etc., were beyond reproach.

 If I had to pick a problem, it would be that they were a bit lax.

 "Well, we'll take care of the water control soon. Don't worry.
 "...... Yes, Your Majesty's wisdom is admirable.

 The landowner replies with a face of low expectation.
 He is well aware that the central government has no money.

 Well, Hercule knows that, too.

 We're on track to get the money.
 All that's left is to hold the council.







 Welcome aboard. Your eminence, Millenia (・・・・).
 ...... You've grown quite a bit, Your Highness, Hercule(・・・・・・).

 In the port of Alexandria, Hercule was greeted by an old woman.
 Her face was wrinkled, her waist was bent, and her silver hair had lost its luster.

 Her voice, however, was dignified and ageless.

 Her imposing figure in front of the Emperor of the Lemurian Empire reminded me of the time when she was young and shining.

 This old woman's name was Millenia Peter.
 She is the supreme leader of the Messianic religion, a princess maiden (medium). But a princess is still a princess.

 The first medium was an orphan girl who was found and raised by the Son of God.
 The girl was later revealed to be an angel in human form, sent by God to serve the Son of God.

 Later, the Son of God and the medium were executed. ......
 (According to one theory, the Son of God did not leave any children, while the Medium did. (According to one theory, she had a child with the Son of God.

 This child inherited the abilities of the first medium.
 This was the second generation of mediums.

 For the next several centuries, the mediums led the Messianic religion in place of the Son of God.

 Eventually, Messianism became the state religion of the Lemurian Empire, and after the emperor was made God's representative on earth, the mediums were assigned to assist him.

 In other words, the relationship between the "Son of God" and the "Medium" was to be recreated.

 Currently, the Medium is based in Lemuria, the former capital of the Lemurian Empire.
 This is because the first medium was martyred in Lemuria.
 The successive generations of Mediums have a mission to guard the grave of the first Princess Miko (Medium).

 As such, the Patriarchate of Lemuria, which assists the mediums, and the Patriarchate of Nova Lemuria, which assists the emperor (God's agent), have an antagonistic relationship and are vying for supremacy. ......

 I will not mention it here.

 In addition, the Medium has some Elven blood in her veins.
 This is because the emperor of Lemuria, who established messianism as the state religion, married a medium.

 The current generation of mediums are human, but their blood has faded.

 "You were almost as tall as me when I put the crown on your head. May I ask how tall you are?
 "One hundred and seventy-five, Master Millennia. Well, I'm growing.

 Hercule laughed.
 The two of them looked like a grandmother and her grandchild reunited after a long absence.

 Incidentally, mediums are usually called high priestesses and never by their first names, and emperors of Lemuria are usually called emperors and never by their first names.

 Considering the fact that Hercule and Medium call each other by name, ......
 The relationship is one of equality.

 On the other hand, a little further away from the two, another two people were peacefully holding hands.

 "Well, well, Mr. Loukanos. It's been a long time. Good to see you." (Hurry up and die, you ball-less bastard.)


 Yeah, thanks a lot. I'm glad to see you're doing well. Kronos-dono" (You're about to die, you bald bastard!)

 The man Lucanos is shaking hands with is Kronos Clorius.
 He is the Patriarch of Lemuria.

 In other words, he was Lukanos' enemy.

 Their faces were friendly, but their hands were clenched in a vise.

 "......, why don't you let go of my hand quickly?
 No, no, after you.
 No, thank you.

 The first one to take his hand away loses.
 The wand swings down on their heads.

 Thump!

 They couldn't help but hold their heads.

 Hercule struck the heads of his men with the scepter, and the medium with the bishop's staff.

 "Don't play with me, let's go.
 You're not a child.

 They reluctantly followed their master.







 "Gentlemen, thank you for coming. The First Council of Alexandria is now in session.

 Hercule announced, looking around at the clergy who had gathered from all over the world at this time.  
 The clergy celebrated with applause.

 (I guess the Aretarians refuse to attend. Well, we're better off without them.

 Hercule had sent a letter to the Arethean clergy asking them to attend as well. ...... But they ignored the letter and did not attend.
 They must have thought they would be beaten to a pulp.

 In fact, the clergy who attended the council were all Orthodox.

 It was a reasonable decision.
 If they had been absent, they could have argued, "This is unjust! If you don't fight, you don't lose.

 If you don't fight, you don't lose.

 You all know it well. "You know as well as I do that we Messianics are in a crisis. In the east, the Church of the Holy Fire is gaining power, and in the west, the Western School ...... of heretics, the Warbeasts, have established a state and are spreading their twisted teachings.

 In the former western half of the Lemurian Empire, the warbeasts, who believe in the teachings of the Western School, have established a state and are competing with each other.
 In the west, the number of orthodox believers was small, and Messianism was on the brink.

 In the west, there were few Orthodox believers and Messianism was in danger. And above all, there is the ...... 'Holy Image Problem'! We, the Messianists, must prevent the division. That is the reason why we are holding this council.

 This is why we, the Messianics, are holding this council." Hercule said in his speech.

 Next, the medium stood up.

 We must be united. To do that, we must unify our doctrines. We need you to help us.

 Both Hercule and the medium are applauded.

 Thus began the ......
 The Council of Alexandria began.







 The Council of Aletheia proceeded according to the "secret agreement" made between Hercule and Medium, and ended without any particular disturbance.

 At this time, I would like to write only about the "Alexandrian Creed", which was confirmed and had a great influence on the later councils.

 It abolished the "New Orthodoxy" created by the previous emperor Hadrian. The old orthodoxy will be the orthodoxy, and the Aretarians will be eliminated.
 The Lemurian emperors and priestesses (mediums) are obligated to eliminate the priests of the "New Orthodoxy".
 Veneration and respect for the holy images is attributed to the images, not to the holy images themselves. There is a distinction between the worship of God and the worship of holy images, and only God is the object of worship. Only God is the object of worship.
 The "Decree of Destruction of the Holy Image" issued by the previous emperor Hadrian is abolished.
 The Lemurian Patriarchate is honorably the head of the Five Patriarchates. In honor, the Lemurian Patriarchate is the head of the Five Patriarchates, but its authority is equal to that of the Five Patriarchates, and its status is equal.
 Henceforth, doctrine shall be determined by the decisions of the High Priestess, the Emperor, and the Council, and any decision without the approval of all three shall be null and void, whether made before or after the Council.
 The medium crowns the emperor and assists him.
 The Emperor shall protect the mediums and guarantee their status.




 Also see ......
 On the same day and at the same time as this council.

 On the same day and at the same time as this council, Hercule had issued another, completely different edict throughout the Empire.

 This edict, commonly known as the "Edict of Alexandria", was as follows.



 Preamble
 The Lemurian Empire must be one.
 The state religion of the Lemurian Empire is Messianism, and only those doctrines defined by the Council are valid, all others are heresy and paganism.

 However, there are many heretics and pagans living in the Lemurian Empire, and they are the subjects who govern the Lemurian Empire, and sometimes fight as soldiers.
 Their rights must be protected.

 Article 1
 The memory of all events that took place before I issued this decree on this day, and during the conflicts that preceded it, shall be erased and put to rest as if they had never happened.

 Article 2
 The Alexandrians are Messianists who believe in the same God and are a people of the Book, despite their differences in doctrine. Therefore, their rights are to be upheld, exercised, and accepted without discrimination, regardless of any covenant to the contrary.

 Article 3
 A special exception is made for the establishment of an Aretan Patriarchate in Aletheia (the province of Misr) and Orontia (the province of Suria), where there are many Aretans, in parallel with the Orthodox. However, the Emperor shall have the right to ordain.

 Article 4
 In principle, all other heresies and heresies must be eliminated. However, those who have paid a per capita tax in proportion to their wealth shall be treated as subjects of our nation, and shall be allowed freedom of religion and religious activity, and shall have the same rights as Orthodox and Alexian Messianics.



 Article 5.
 Heathens and heretics who have agreed to convert to Orthodoxy or Alectianism shall be treated as Orthodox and Alectian from that day and hour.

 Article 6
 Religious institutions and societies of heretics and infidels shall report their activities to the Emperor, as well as the names and addresses of the believers to whom they belong.


 Article 7
 The per capita tax imposed on heretics and infidels is as follows: ......
 ......
 ......
 ......

 Heretics and infidels who refuse to do the above shall take up the sword.
 You have a choice: the Bible, tribute, or the sword.



 So, today, at this time, Hercule is ......

 At the same time as narrowing down the doctrine to the orthodox at the Council, ......
 At this time, Hercule has narrowed down the doctrine to the orthodox at the Council of and has granted freedom of religion in the Empire.