Clerics of Northshire

File:NortshireAbbey.jpg

Northshire Abbey, rebuilt following the Second War

Before the events of the First War, the mission of the Holy Order of Northshire Clerics of Northshire Abbey was to spread the message of the [Holy Light] to people of the Kingdom of Azeroth. Following the invasion of the Horde which triggered the First War, Archbishop Alonsus Faol led the clerics into battle to aid the people of the kingdom. The clerics, although brave and powered by both healing and destructive powers of the Light, were unprepared for the dangers of war, and suffered heavy losses. This, following the end of the First War in orcish victory, prompted Faol, along with his apprentice, Uther Lightbringer, to found the paladin Order of the Silver Hand. The paladins, although possessing spirit of the clerics preceded them, were mighty knights talented in the arts of war. The Order of the Silver Hand greatly helped the Alliance of Lordaeron to overcome the Horde's might during the Second War.

After the end of Second War, Archbishop Faol returned to his native Azeroth, which would be known as the Kingdom of Stormwind in the following years, to aid in its reconstruction. A new clerical order, comprised of both priests and paladins, was founded: the Brotherhood of Northshire.

Beliefs

In Warcraft: Orcs and Humans, the Clerics of Northshire are described as believing in "God", "angels", "daemons", "hell", and "heaven".Template:Cite This is continued through into Warcraft II, with references to "God", "angels", and "heaven"Template:Cite. A reference to "God" is also in the church building's sound in the game, "Deo Gracias"[1], Latin for "Thanks be to God,", which is a traditional cathedral hymn, fitting the image of holy paladins in the game. In Warcraft III an angel appears during the mass resurrection spell.

The traditional view of hell & God is also alluded to in the novels as well;

"A paladin had indicated to Rhonin that he believed that, after death, the mage's soul would condemned to the same pit of darknes shared by the mythical demons of old. This no matter how pure Rhonin's soul might have been otherwise."Template:Cite...a damned soul...Template:Cite

...clearly it was chosen by a higher power that your paths would lead you to us.Template:Cite

The religious structure and practices also keep in time with typical European medieval and even some modern Catholic structures and thought, such as the places of worship being called chapels, churches, abbeys, monasteries, and cathedrals.

Also typical Christian and Catholic clergy names are employed, even up to World of Warcraft, such as some male priests being called "Father" and "Brother" and prelature ranks such as Abbot, and Bishop and Archbishop.

Like the practice of the Catholic Pope, archbishops take on a special name when they take office. Like Jarl, becoming Archbishop Benedictus.

Also in the original Warcraft, it is described that something similar to the practice of Confession takes place, as mentioned in the description for the cleric's invisibility cast (as a tool to make the confessing of secrets that weighed heavily upon the souls of worshippers easier to speak)as quoted from the guide. Though all this could just be put on the developers trying to make the game seem more "Medieval" with no real implications to actual religion implied. Although it does seem that in later versions of Warcraft, just to be safe, the developers halted all reference to anything that could be tied to any actual religious practice, and made the "Light" ambiguous in nature, so one could not really label it as being a parody or mimic of any particular religion. In Warcraft III and later games, followers of the Holy Light are described as non-theistic.

It is possible that the Clerics & some Knights of the Silver Hand, being originally unaware of the power behind the Light, found their basis of this "God" from one of the creation myths of Azeroth. Several references state that some in Azeroth believe that the universe was created by "a singular, all-powerful entity".Template:Cite

See also

• Stormwind Army of the First War