Holy Church

Holy Church
Intentions	Enforcing the practices of Christianity

The Holy Church was a very powerful religious organisation in Lyra's world who enforced the practices of Christianity to its society. Those who went against the teachings of the Church were deemed heretics and subject to harsh punishments including execution.

The Holy Church used the Bible as its scripture and the basis of its teachings.

Structure

The Church was composed of various courts, councils and colleges which did not always agree. Among them were:

• The College of Bishops
• The Consistorial Court of Discipline
• The Society of the Work of the Holy Spirit
• The General Oblation Board (semi-private)
• The Office of Inquisition
• The League of St Alexander
• The Security of the Holy Spirit
• The Office of Child Protection
• The Committee for the Propagation of the True Faith
• The Society for the Promotion of Celibate Virtue
• The Red Chamber
• The School of Dogmatic Logic
• The Court of Common Order
• The Sisters of Holy Obedience
• The Priory of Grace
• The Secretariat of the Holy Presence
• La Maison Juste
• The Order of St Julian
• The Sublime Porte
• The Court of Faculties
• The Temple Hospitallers
• The Synod of Deacons
• The Office of Right Duty

Behind the scenes

• The Holy Church is referred to exclusively as the Magisterium in the film adaptation, in an effort to avoid offending religious organisations.
• The Holy Church is based on the Roman Catholic Church.

Appearances

• Northern Lights
• The Golden Compass (film)
• The Golden Compass (video game)
• The Subtle Knife
• The Amber Spyglass
• La Belle Sauvage

Notes and references

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