Space Marine Chaplains are the spiritual leaders of Space Marine chapters. They are also warriors, and live and fight alongside their battle-brothers. In battle they are frequently found in the fiercest fighting, chanting the Chapter's sacred battle creeds, and inspiring their brethren to further feats of bravery. They are spiritual leaders as well as Marines, which means they fight with as much savagery as any of their brothers. To enemies they appear as terrifying and sinister figures in black power armour and skull-visaged helmets.
Each Chapter has its own unique cult, which is often thousands of years old. As these cults often predate the rise of the Ecclesiarchy and the general worship of the Emperor, the Chapter cults are not simply facets of the common Imperial cult of the Ecclesiarchy. The Ecclesiarchy and its parishioners (its lay followers) worship the Emperor as the most divine god. Although the reverence Space Marines have for the Emperor borders on actual worship, he is supposedly not seen as an actual god by some, but as a brilliant and inspirational man. As in all things, this view of the Emperor's divine status or lack thereof varies from Chapter to Chapter. The Space Marine cults are more ancient than the cult of the Ecclesiarchy, and their specific practices often primitive and barbaric. The chapter's own Primarch is also a major part of the Chapter's specific cult, revered as much as the Emperor.
A formal sign of entente between the differing interpretations is that of the rosarius. A rosarius is a holy symbol, taking the form of a necklace, amulet or brooch which often displays the Imperial Eagle or the Terminator cross, or other shapes to suit the particular devotional qualities of the Chapter concerned (for example, the Space Wolves and their wolf iconography). Gifted to Space Marine Chaplains by the Ecclesiarchy, this blessing represents the brotherhood of the Imperial Faith and formally marks the continuance of religious concord between the two groups. In practice, the link between the organisations remains rather tenuous.
Chaplains are the most well-versed in the knowledge of the Chapter's cult. This knowledge is put to practical use as Chaplains are responsible for the spiritual health, discipline and faith of the Chapter brethren. The bond between Marines and their Chaplains is a strong one. Chaplains are present in a Marine recruit's life as soon as he is chosen as a neophyte, presiding over their indoctrination as recruits as they progress toward becoming full battle-brothers.
Within a Chapter's fortress-monastery is the Reclusiam, a large chamber devoted to cult activities, and where the Chapter's holy relics and, sometimes, the body of its Primarch, are housed. The Chaplains lead their sermons from here, and rouse the Marines in their love of the Emperor. The battle barges and ships of the Chapter's fleet also include huge cathedrals in the heart of each ship, allowing the Space Marines to pray while away from the fortress. Chaplains always lead the Space Marines in prayer, but a Chaplain is not always needed for a Marine to pray.
Each company comprising a Chapter has its own Chaplain. At the headquarters level of the Chapter organization are Chaplains holding the ranks of Reclusiarch and Master of Sanctity, whose responsibilities extend to the Chapter as a whole.
The power armour suits worn by Chaplains are considered holy in themselves. Often they are hundreds, if not thousands, of years old.
A Chaplain's armour is highly stylised and archaic in appearance. Black is the colour associated with Chaplains, and most or all of their armour is painted in this colour. Symbols such as skulls and Imperial eagles commonly adorn the armour, but Chapter-specific symbols are also used. The face plate or the entire helmet is traditionally skull-shaped. Skulls are also repeated throughout a Chaplain's armour - adorning an entire shoulder plate, the upper chest armour or the groin guard. One area of the armour, such as a shoulder guard, is always left in the Chapter colours, displaying the Chapter symbol.
Part of the Chaplain's formal regalia is the crozius arcanum, the Chaplain's staff of office. Used in chapter ceremonies and worship, many Chaplains take them into battle, symbolizing that battle is the highest ritual of the Chapter. The crozius is usually topped with an Imperial Eagle or winged skull. It incorporates a potent energy field, allowing it to be used as a weapon; one that will punch through armour easily, showing the power of faith.
The Rosarius that Chaplains wear around their neck incorporates a powerful force field generator, offering the bearer protection against weapons that even power armour would offer no hope of survival against. In light of this, the rosarius is sometimes referred to as a Chaplain's 'soul armour'.
source : http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Chaplain#.Todvz1l62Sp
Each Chapter has its own unique cult, which is often thousands of years old. As these cults often predate the rise of the Ecclesiarchy and the general worship of the Emperor, the Chapter cults are not simply facets of the common Imperial cult of the Ecclesiarchy. The Ecclesiarchy and its parishioners (its lay followers) worship the Emperor as the most divine god. Although the reverence Space Marines have for the Emperor borders on actual worship, he is supposedly not seen as an actual god by some, but as a brilliant and inspirational man. As in all things, this view of the Emperor's divine status or lack thereof varies from Chapter to Chapter. The Space Marine cults are more ancient than the cult of the Ecclesiarchy, and their specific practices often primitive and barbaric. The chapter's own Primarch is also a major part of the Chapter's specific cult, revered as much as the Emperor.
A formal sign of entente between the differing interpretations is that of the rosarius. A rosarius is a holy symbol, taking the form of a necklace, amulet or brooch which often displays the Imperial Eagle or the Terminator cross, or other shapes to suit the particular devotional qualities of the Chapter concerned (for example, the Space Wolves and their wolf iconography). Gifted to Space Marine Chaplains by the Ecclesiarchy, this blessing represents the brotherhood of the Imperial Faith and formally marks the continuance of religious concord between the two groups. In practice, the link between the organisations remains rather tenuous.
Chaplains are the most well-versed in the knowledge of the Chapter's cult. This knowledge is put to practical use as Chaplains are responsible for the spiritual health, discipline and faith of the Chapter brethren. The bond between Marines and their Chaplains is a strong one. Chaplains are present in a Marine recruit's life as soon as he is chosen as a neophyte, presiding over their indoctrination as recruits as they progress toward becoming full battle-brothers.
Within a Chapter's fortress-monastery is the Reclusiam, a large chamber devoted to cult activities, and where the Chapter's holy relics and, sometimes, the body of its Primarch, are housed. The Chaplains lead their sermons from here, and rouse the Marines in their love of the Emperor. The battle barges and ships of the Chapter's fleet also include huge cathedrals in the heart of each ship, allowing the Space Marines to pray while away from the fortress. Chaplains always lead the Space Marines in prayer, but a Chaplain is not always needed for a Marine to pray.
Each company comprising a Chapter has its own Chaplain. At the headquarters level of the Chapter organization are Chaplains holding the ranks of Reclusiarch and Master of Sanctity, whose responsibilities extend to the Chapter as a whole.
The power armour suits worn by Chaplains are considered holy in themselves. Often they are hundreds, if not thousands, of years old.
A Chaplain's armour is highly stylised and archaic in appearance. Black is the colour associated with Chaplains, and most or all of their armour is painted in this colour. Symbols such as skulls and Imperial eagles commonly adorn the armour, but Chapter-specific symbols are also used. The face plate or the entire helmet is traditionally skull-shaped. Skulls are also repeated throughout a Chaplain's armour - adorning an entire shoulder plate, the upper chest armour or the groin guard. One area of the armour, such as a shoulder guard, is always left in the Chapter colours, displaying the Chapter symbol.
Part of the Chaplain's formal regalia is the crozius arcanum, the Chaplain's staff of office. Used in chapter ceremonies and worship, many Chaplains take them into battle, symbolizing that battle is the highest ritual of the Chapter. The crozius is usually topped with an Imperial Eagle or winged skull. It incorporates a potent energy field, allowing it to be used as a weapon; one that will punch through armour easily, showing the power of faith.
The Rosarius that Chaplains wear around their neck incorporates a powerful force field generator, offering the bearer protection against weapons that even power armour would offer no hope of survival against. In light of this, the rosarius is sometimes referred to as a Chaplain's 'soul armour'.
source : http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Chaplain#.Todvz1l62Sp
nice photo
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