from Zariste’s Concise Guide to World Religions

The Great Temple in Ormas is the most magnificent temple of the Goddess in all of Damensea, although it is a pale shadow of the Great Temple in Oress that was razed during the Stone Wars by a crazed chimera. Construction of the current Great Temple began within a year of the erstwhile Lystrans settling in Ormas, but the temple was not completed until the coronation of Adrian I 111 years later.

The Great Temple is a massive complex occupying the entire length of Our Lady’s Way. Like most temples of the Goddess, the Great Temple faces east toward the rising sun. Three stories tall, the Great Temple is built from white limestone and full of light from the many stained-glass windows.

The entrance to the main temple has twelve steps leading to six pillars before the three massive, green and gold, wooden doors. Four bells hang above the narthex and ring every hour with special melodies at the start of the four daily services. The bells and the tribune are accessible from stairs at the back of the nave.

Between the nave and aisles, massive pillars support the tribune above the aisles. Like the pillars before the entrance, these pillars are engraved with scenes about the Goddess. The elaborate, stained-glass windows along the aisles depict different aspects of the Goddess. The tribune is two stories tall with stained-glass windows on both stories. Between the rib vaultings, the ceiling is painted white with profusions of plants in the center.

The nave has no pews, although foldable chairs are arranged in rows except during the four festivals of the Goddess. Since many people visit the temple then, the chairs are removed to allow more to enter. The tile floor is mostly white, although interlaced knotwork in green, gold, and brown run along the pillars.

After the nave, four steps lead up to the sanctuary containing the gold-veined white marble altar. Gifts from worshippers to the Goddess cover the altar, and priests collect these gifts after Nocturns every night. Behind the altar is a massive statue of the Goddess that matches the altar. On occasion, the Goddess has been known to infuse this statue to communicate to her worshippers.

Along the sanctuary are the four avatar shrines. The shrine for the Winter Queen and her mate the Water King is the first on the left. The second on the left is for the Spring Queen and the Earth King. The second on the right is for the Summer Queen and the Air King. The first on the right is for the Autumn Queen and the Fire King.

Behind the sanctuary are the chapels. The Sun Chapel is the largest with three stories and directly behind the sanctuary; Lauds is often held here. Connected to the main temple by covered walkways and only two stories tall, the Moon Chapel is to the left, and the Nature Chapel is to the right. Unlike the nave of the main temple, the chapels all have pews. The Sun Chapel has two aisles between the pews, while the Moon Chapel and Nature Chapels only have one.

The Great Temple has two cloisters accessible from the front of the nave on either side. At the heart of the North Cloister to the left is the Magic Garden, while at the heart of the South Cloister is the Harvest Garden. Both cloisters have several buildings attached with covered walkways.

Attached to the North Cloister, Charmed Blessings faces the street and is the witch shop for the Great Temple. The Center for Healing and the Center of Learning share the same covered walkway on the far side of the North Cloister, but the Center for Healing is also accessible from the street.

Attached to the South Cloister toward the street is the chapter house, with offices on the floors above. The priest quarters are attached on the far side of the South Cloister, but they are accessible from the street as well. The temple’s dining hall is in the center of the priest quarters, and the kitchen is on the floor below.