Church of Light
| {{#ifeq:-|-||Template:Sort}}[[File:{{#switch:alliance|alliance=Alliance|boss=Boss|combat=Combat|hostile=Combat|horde=Horde|aldor=Aldor|scryers=Scryers|kirin tor=Kirin Tor|rare=Rare|elite=Elite|both=Both|kyrian=Kyrian|necrolord=Necrolord|night fae=Night Fae|venthyr=Venthyr|neutral|#default=Neutral}}_{{#switch:{{{2}}}|xlarge=64|large=32|small=15|#default=32}}.png|{{#switch:alliance|alliance=Alliance|boss=Boss|combat=Mob|hostile=Mob|horde=Horde|aldor=Aldor|scryers=Scryers|kirin tor=Kirin Tor|rare=Rare|elite=Elite|both=Alliance & Horde|kyrian=Kyrian|necrolord=Necrolord|night fae=Night Fae|venthyr=Venthyr|neutral|#default=Neutral}}|link={{#switch:alliance|alliance=Alliance|boss=Mob|combat=Mob|hostile=Combat|horde=Horde|aldor=Aldor|scryers=Scryers|kirin tor=Kirin Tor|rare=Rare mob|elite=Elite mob|kyrian=Kyrian Covenant|necrolord=Necrolord Covenant|night fae=Night Fae Covenant|venthyr=Venthyr Covenant|both|neutral|#default=Faction}}]]Church of Light | |
|---|---|
{{#if:Cathedral of Light.png| }} | |
| Main leader |
[[File:IconSmall_{{#switch:human |night elf=NightElf |blood elf=BloodElf |high elf=HighElf |#default=Human}}{{#if:Male|_Male}}.gif|{{#ifeq:{{{3}}}|Large|26px|16px}}]] Archbishop Benedictus |
| Formerly |
[[File:IconSmall_{{#switch:human |night elf=NightElf |blood elf=BloodElf |high elf=HighElf |#default=Human}}{{#if:Male|_Male}}.gif|{{#ifeq:{{{3}}}|Large|26px|16px}}]] Archbishop Alonsus Faol† |
| Secondary leaders |
[[File:IconSmall_{{#switch:human
|night elf=NightElf
|blood elf=BloodElf
|high elf=HighElf
|#default=Human}}{{#if:Female|_Female}}.gif|{{#ifeq:{{{3}}}|Large|26px|16px}}]] High Priestess Laurena |
| Race(s) |
[[File:IconSmall_{{#switch:human
|night elf=NightElf
|blood elf=BloodElf
|high elf=HighElf
|#default=Human}}{{#if:Male|_Male}}.gif|{{#ifeq:{{{3}}}|Large|26px|16px}}]][[File:IconSmall_{{#switch:human
|night elf=NightElf
|blood elf=BloodElf
|high elf=HighElf
|#default=Human}}{{#if:Female|_Female}}.gif|{{#ifeq:{{{3}}}|Large|26px|16px}}]] Human |
| Capital | Cathedral of Light |
| Base of operations | Northshire Abbey, Hall of Mysteries, Ballador's Chapel |
| Theater of operations | Azeroth |
| Language(s) | Common, Dwarvish, Thalassian |
| Sub-group(s) |
Brotherhood of Northshire, Knights of the Silver Hand |
| Affiliation | Alliance |
| Formerly | Alliance of Lordaeron |
| Status | Active |
| {{#if:|Reputation}} | |
| Tabard | {{#if:|[[File:{{{tabard}}}|90px]]}} |
The Church of Light<ref name="WoW Manual">World of Warcraft: Game Manual</ref><ref>Alonsus Faol#Death and remembrance</ref> is the religious institution at the head of the predominant human religion, the worship of the Light.
History
First and Second Wars
At the time of the First War, the Church of Light was headed by Archbishop Alonsus Faol, Abbot of Northshire Abbey and leader of the Holy Order of Northshire Clerics that guided the kingdom of Azeroth during the First War. However, Stormwind was destroyed by the invading orcs and many of the Clerics were slain.<ref>Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness manual#Sire Uther Lightbringer</ref> Having perceived that the pious Clerics of Northshire, who suffered such terrible attrition in the First War, were ill-suited for the dangers of combat, the Archbishop - along with his apprentice Uther and many of the surviving Clerics of Northshire - sought those of only the greatest virtue among the knighthood of Lordaeron and tutored them in the ways of magic.<ref>Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness manual, Alliance Ground Units, Paladin</ref>
As the holy writ commandeth that the whole armor of righteousness be worn in the war against evil, the Archbishop convinced the ecclesiastic ministers of Lordaeron to gird their priests and followers alike with weapons of war.<ref>Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness manual, A Brief History of the Fall of Azeroth, The Alliance of Lordaeron</ref> Thus was born the Knights of the Silver Hand, led by the crusading Sire Uther Lightbringer.
Third War
A group of wretched and heretical priests appeared during the Third War. They once counted as the most devout amongst the clergy of Lordaeron. But, after years of constant war and suffering, they had lost their sense of the holy Light and decided to spread their frustration and negativity to their fellow men and women.<ref>Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos Game Manual, pg. 82</ref>
In the meantime, some priests of the Church had joined the Human Expedition and the Great Alliance to fight the Burning Legion. Following the Battle of Mount Hyjal, the Kul Tiras navy deployed Light-wielding chaplains and their elites, under the guidance of a superior officer, to fight the Horde and defend Theramore Isle during the Invasion of Durotar.
Some time after the Third War, the Monastery in Tirisfal Glades, once a proud bastion of Lordaeron's priesthood and a center for learning and enlightenment, was converted into a stronghold of the fanatical Scarlet Crusade.
World of Warcraft
Following Faol's death, and the fall of the Church in Lordaeron, Archbishop Benedictus took charge of the Church as its new leader and swore to continue the work his mentor had begun so many years ago.<ref name="WoW Manual" /> The Cathedral of Light now serves as the main spiritual hub for the Church of Light, and as headquarters for the Knights of the Silver Hand in the city. In order to support the Alliance, the Church also called upon adventurers to send them on various missions across Azeroth,<ref>{{#ifeq:-|-||Template:Sort}}{{#ifeq:-|-||Template:Sort}}[[File:{{#switch:alliance|alliance=Alliance|boss=Boss|combat=Combat|hostile=Combat|horde=Horde|aldor=Aldor|scryers=Scryers|kirin tor=Kirin Tor|rare=Rare|elite=Elite|both=Both|kyrian=Kyrian|necrolord=Necrolord|night fae=Night Fae|venthyr=Venthyr|neutral|#default=Neutral}}_{{#switch:small|xlarge=64|large=32|small=15|#default=32}}.png|{{#switch:alliance|alliance=Alliance|boss=Boss|combat=Mob|hostile=Mob|horde=Horde|aldor=Aldor|scryers=Scryers|kirin tor=Kirin Tor|rare=Rare|elite=Elite|both=Alliance & Horde|kyrian=Kyrian|necrolord=Necrolord|night fae=Night Fae|venthyr=Venthyr|neutral|#default=Neutral}}|link={{#switch:alliance|alliance=Alliance|boss=Mob|combat=Mob|hostile=Combat|horde=Horde|aldor=Aldor|scryers=Scryers|kirin tor=Kirin Tor|rare=Rare mob|elite=Elite mob|kyrian=Kyrian Covenant|necrolord=Necrolord Covenant|night fae=Night Fae Covenant|venthyr=Venthyr Covenant|both|neutral|#default=Faction}}]] [37D] Bring the Light</ref><ref>The Third Fleet quest chain</ref> notably to save a missing diplomat<ref>The Missing Diplomat quest chain</ref> and eliminate the necromancer Morbent Fel.<ref>Morbent Fel quest chain</ref>
As the teachings and philosophies of Light have since spread to the dwarves of Khaz Modan, their priests and paladins are mainly present in the Hall of Mysteries of Ironforge, a temple that serves as a center of arcane and divine practice and study, with the highest-ranking being High Priest Rohan and Valgar Highforge. In the Petitioner's Chamber of Stormwind Keep, Bishop DeLavey represented the Church at the King's court and handled several affairs.<ref>{{#ifeq:-|-||Template:Sort}}{{#ifeq:-|-||Template:Sort}}[[File:{{#switch:alliance|alliance=Alliance|boss=Boss|combat=Combat|hostile=Combat|horde=Horde|aldor=Aldor|scryers=Scryers|kirin tor=Kirin Tor|rare=Rare|elite=Elite|both=Both|kyrian=Kyrian|necrolord=Necrolord|night fae=Night Fae|venthyr=Venthyr|neutral|#default=Neutral}}_{{#switch:small|xlarge=64|large=32|small=15|#default=32}}.png|{{#switch:alliance|alliance=Alliance|boss=Boss|combat=Mob|hostile=Mob|horde=Horde|aldor=Aldor|scryers=Scryers|kirin tor=Kirin Tor|rare=Rare|elite=Elite|both=Alliance & Horde|kyrian=Kyrian|necrolord=Necrolord|night fae=Night Fae|venthyr=Venthyr|neutral|#default=Neutral}}|link={{#switch:alliance|alliance=Alliance|boss=Mob|combat=Mob|hostile=Combat|horde=Horde|aldor=Aldor|scryers=Scryers|kirin tor=Kirin Tor|rare=Rare mob|elite=Elite mob|kyrian=Kyrian Covenant|necrolord=Necrolord Covenant|night fae=Night Fae Covenant|venthyr=Venthyr Covenant|both|neutral|#default=Faction}}]] [28] The Missing Diplomat</ref> The Church also accepted the presence of Brother Crowley, an ambassador of the Scarlet Crusade.<ref>{{#ifeq:-|-||Template:Sort}}{{#ifeq:-|-||Template:Sort}}[[File:{{#switch:alliance|alliance=Alliance|boss=Boss|combat=Combat|hostile=Combat|horde=Horde|aldor=Aldor|scryers=Scryers|kirin tor=Kirin Tor|rare=Rare|elite=Elite|both=Both|kyrian=Kyrian|necrolord=Necrolord|night fae=Night Fae|venthyr=Venthyr|neutral|#default=Neutral}}_{{#switch:small|xlarge=64|large=32|small=15|#default=32}}.png|{{#switch:alliance|alliance=Alliance|boss=Boss|combat=Mob|hostile=Mob|horde=Horde|aldor=Aldor|scryers=Scryers|kirin tor=Kirin Tor|rare=Rare|elite=Elite|both=Alliance & Horde|kyrian=Kyrian|necrolord=Necrolord|night fae=Night Fae|venthyr=Venthyr|neutral|#default=Neutral}}|link={{#switch:alliance|alliance=Alliance|boss=Mob|combat=Mob|hostile=Combat|horde=Horde|aldor=Aldor|scryers=Scryers|kirin tor=Kirin Tor|rare=Rare mob|elite=Elite mob|kyrian=Kyrian Covenant|necrolord=Necrolord Covenant|night fae=Night Fae Covenant|venthyr=Venthyr Covenant|both|neutral|#default=Faction}}]] [39] Brother Anton (quest)</ref>
When they finished teaching everything they knew, priest trainers sent their apprentices to High Priestess Laurena who met these new promising priests who had caught the attention of senior members of the Church of Light with their dedication, and who were worthy to continue their training.<ref>Desperate Prayer (quest)</ref>
References
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