The Faith of the Seven

The Faith of the Seven, often simply referred to as the Faith, is the dominant religion in most of the Seven Kingdoms. Followers of the Faith are rare in the north and on the Iron Islands, where the religions of the old gods and the Drowned God, respectively, are still strong. The gods of the Faith are sometimes known as the New Gods to differentiate them from the Old Gods of the First Men.

The Seven
Members of the Faith worship the Seven Who Are One, a single deity with seven aspects or faces. For the less educated, however, this concept is often difficult to grasp, causing them to often believe that there are indeed seven different gods. Depending on their need, worshippers pray to specific faces of the Seven. The seven faces are:


 * The Father, also referred to as the Father Above, is depicted as a bearded man, with a stern and strong face. Judgement is said to belong to the Father. Additionally, he protects “his children”. He is often prayed to for justice, and the phrase “may the Father judge [him/her/them/you] justly” is often said among followers of the Seven. Additionally, one might pray to the Father asking him to defend someone in battle, the strength to seek justice, and the wisdom to recognize it.
 * The Mother, sometimes also called the Mother Above, is a loving and protective aspect of the Seven. She is often asked for mercy, and to keep loved ones safe. Offerings can be made to the Mother when a woman becomes pregnant, to praise the Mother for giving the gift of life.
 * The Warrior is always depicted with his sword, and protects followers of the Seven from their foes. The Warrior is often prayed to for courage, as the septons teach. Most men make offerings to the Warrior before battle, while others might say a prayer. Additionally, people might beseech the Warrior for a favorable condition during battle, to watch over soldiers, give them strength, keep them safe, both in battle and outside of battle, and help warriors to victory. He might also be asked to bring peace to the souls of the slain and give comfort to those who are left behind. A septon might ask the Warrior to lend his strength to the arm of the man whose cause is just during a trial by battle. The phrases “may the Warrior defend you” and “may the Warrior give strength to your sword arm” are frequently given.
 * The Smith, depicted with his hammer, is the mender of broken things who puts the world of men to right. Septons teach to pray to the Smith for strength, and sailors might make offerings to the Smith prior to launching a ship, as to keep their ships safe. Others might pray to the Warrior for protection. Followers of the Seven can show their devotion to the Smith by wearing a small iron hammer about their neck.
 * The Maiden, also called the Maid, is a beautiful, innocent looking young woman. People might pray to the Maiden to keep young women safe. A mother can pray to the Maiden to lend courage to her daughters and guard them in their innocence, while a bride might light candles in thanks if a suitable marriage offer is made. A woman may ask the Maid for forgiveness when admitting to having used sex to convince men to do her bidding.
 * The Crone is an old, wizened and wise woman, whose statues often show her with a raised lamp in one hand. People pray to the Crone for wisdom and guidance.
 * The Stranger is neither male nor female, yet both at the same time. He is the outcast, the wanderer from far places, less and more than human, unknown and unknowable. His face is the face of death. He leads the newly deceased to the other world. Those who feel like outcasts might light a candle for the Stranger.

The High Speton
The head of the Faith is the High Septon, the Father of the Faithful, the voice of the new gods on earth. The Most Devout, a council of the highest-ranking septons, elect the High Septon, usually from among their own ranks, although there have been notable exceptions. The septon who is elected gives up his name, as the Faith believes that the High Septon no longer has any need of a man’s name, since he has become the Avatar of the Gods. Typically, the High Septon wears long white robes and a crown. Septons from the Most Devout wear robes of cloth-of-silver and crystal coronets.

Septons and Septas
The male and female godsworn of the Faith are called septons and septas, respectively. Upon taking their vows, they set aside their last names, even if they come from noble families. Septons often wear white robes, seven-stranded belts of different colors, and a crystal about their necks. They lead worship with incense, censers, and songs. Septas typically dress in white robes with woven seven-color belts. They sometimes wear hoods, but not always, and their hair can be seen. Septas may serve as governesses in noble households.

In villages which are too small to support a septon, a septon from a neighboring village might visit twice a year. Other times, a "wandering septon", a septon who travels from village to village without a specific sept at which he serves, might visit these small villages. These septons perform holy services, marriages, and forgive sins. While the septon is visiting the village, the people must provide him with food and a place to sleep.

The Silent Sisters
The silent sisters are tasked with preparing the deceased for the grave. They dress in grey robes, their faces hooded and shawled so only their eyes remain visible, as it is "ill fortune to look on the face of death." The silent sisters do not speak to the living, and although some claim that the silent sisters have their tongues cut out,[44] in truth the silent sisters have simply taken a vow of silence.

The silent sisters remove the bowels and organs, and drain the blood from the corpses in their care. They may also stuff the body with fragrant herbs and salts to preserve it and hide the smell of decomposition. When the deceased is transported back home, one or more silent sisters might accompany the body. Due to their task, the silent sisters are also called “death's handmaidens” and “handmaidens of the Stranger”. Some even say that they are wives to the Stranger.

Holy Brothers and Sisters
Humbler members of the Faith include "holy brothers" and "holy sisters". Many of the holy brothers wear tonsures, cutting the hair on their scalps as an act of humility and to show the Father that they have nothing to hide. Holy brothers often wear robes of brown, dun, or green. Holy sisters can wear robes of white, blue, or grey.

Brothers can serve at septries, monastic communities of the Faith similar to monasteries. Some holy brothers wear the iron hammer of the Smith about their neck. The brothers live in penitence, quiet contemplation, and prayer at these septries, and they often take vows of silence. The leader of the community, the Elder Brother, is assisted by proctors. Motherhouses are corresponding communities for women.

Begging brothers travel from place to place, but are not to be confused with wandering septons, as the latter are one rank higher in the Faith's hierarchy. The begging brothers are often dressed in threadbare or roughspun robes of undyed wool belted with hempen rope, and some go about barefoot. Some wear a bowl on a leather thong around their necks. Wandering the realm as a begging brother might be done as a penance.

Seat of the Faith
The Starry Sept, also called the Sept of Oldtown, is a large sept near the Honeywine in Oldtown. It has been the seat of the High Septon for over a thousand years and is the center of the Faith in Westeros. The Starry Sept has black marble walls and arched windows. Mansions of the pious are located near the sept. The Starry Sept is rivaled only by the Golden Sept of Lannisport and the castle sept of Highgarden.