The Cross of the Chosen

The Chosen have adopted the object of crucifixion for a holy symbol.  The cross, or ‘X,’ is still considered an implement of death.  The Chosen preach the execution of their Mortal God as man’s triumph over divine subjection. Besides carrying souvenirs of god-slaughter, Chosen and UnChosen make the “sign of the cross,” passing hands from opposite shoulders and hips.

The church of the St. Erasmus parish, inside Capital, like all Chosen churches – and there are only Chosen churches – displays a tarnished bronze cross.  The symbol earned a green patina, hanging in silence while the military evacuated a warehouse. The redbrick building became the St. Erasmus church.

The interior of St. Erasmus, in the walled city called Capital.

The Mortal God is the same deity worshiped by the heathen, who call him the Living God.  The tribes that would become the Chosen tied the messiah to a cross upside down.  To speed death, the rebels eviscerated the unfortunate man, though that is not discussed in the Pazuzu Trilogy.

Intestines play a recurring role in the trilogy, from food for monsters to components of an exorcism/possession.  Bill Tik, the mad heathen-shaman Hen Cortras meets at the Smyrna detention camp, cuts guts from dead soldiers, believing the souls of his enemies will be barred from heaven.

Heathens originally defaced the Chosen symbol, but ceased when they realized juvenile delinquents spread their propaganda unbidden. Once the vandalism blanketed the Shur desert, the disfigured ‘X’ became known as the “Star of Lucifer.”

Star of Lucifer

* The censored image  above is available to view, uninhibited, at Deviantart (Free registration encouraged).

Visit the blog entry concerning Chosen, UnChosen and heathens.

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