Mahitou

Mahitou
Type	Monotheism
Founded	~200 BC
Reformed	~600 AD
Supreme deity	Zhana
Holy texts	Книга Луны (Book of the Moon)
Followers	~110 million
Practiced in	Laiatan and lupine immigrant communities
Stareyshina	Vladimir XII

Mahitou is the religion of the lupine people, and is practiced widely in the areas and countries where they live. The nation of Laiatan holds more than half of all the Mahitou practitioners in the world, at least 70 million people practicing it there. Once a strictly pagan religion, it was reformed by Nika Alkaev in 602 AD. He was the first Stareyshina, and effectively shaped how the religion would be for the next 1,400 years. Nika I's reformation of the religion is the only change Mahitou has seen.

Mahitou was the official state religion in Laiatan for some time until the formation of the Federation and the writing of the Constitution, which guarantees the freedom to practice any religion and forbids the establishment of a state religion. However, Mahitou is the de facto state religion, as most of the country follows it.

Mahitou has also found itself in small vulpine populations on the Itur continent. While the religion is effectively only for lupines, the current Stareyshina has not denounced these vulpines, instead welcoming them into the religion. It's believed Vladimir XII is heavily influenced by the Laiatanese Constitution and its protection of religious freedom.

Origins

Organization

Doctrine

Beliefs and Worship

Stareyshina

See also: List of Stareyshina

The Stareyshina is the leader of the worldwide Mahitou Church. This position is considered highly important in the Mahitou Church before and after its reformation, though before reformation it fell under a different name. The Stareyshina is believed to be the link between the mortal lupines and those who have passed on, as well as the "Мать и отец" (Mother) herself. The first Stareyshina was Nika Alkaev (Nika I), the man responsible for the Church's reformation. The current Stareyshina is Vladimir Urielsov (Vladimir XII).

The position is highly respected among the Mahitou and secular lupine community, though the Church has no right to determine politics directly through the heavy secularization of Laiatanese government. The Stareyshina of pre-reformation helped in the spread of Mahitou and the resolution of various doctrinal disputes. Post-reformation Stareyshina played a role of secular importance as Laiatan was forming, helping resolve disputes and continuing the resolution of doctrinal disputes. Currently, in addition to the expansion of the Mahitou faith and doctrine, the Stareyshina are involved in ecumenism and interfaith dialog, charitable work, and the defense of lupine and other sentient being rights.

According to reformed doctrine, only lupines can hold the position of Stareyshina.

	Laiatanese Federation
Main article: Laiatan
Important Topics: Culture ♦ Lupine ♦ Laiatanese language ♦ Mahitou ♦ Laiatanese korona ♦ Defense Forces
Government: Cabinet ♦ Federation Assembly ♦ Federal Council ♦ People's Council ♦ President ♦ Supreme Federal Court ♦ Political Parties
History: Pre-Mahigan Laiatan ♦ Kingdom of Laiatan ♦ Laiatanese Empire ♦ Laiatanese Junta ♦ Laiatanese Federation
Important Figures (Past and Present): Yuliya Surkova ♦ Zakhar Kreskov ♦ Aleksey Zukov ♦ Yuri IV ♦ Katerina I ♦ Nika Alkaev ♦ Yura Lainov