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Changes
From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
→Vandire's legacy
While Vandire's so-called "Reign of Blood" had ended with his execution, the Age of Apostasy continued for a time afterward. Vandire was found to have meticulously kept records of every deed done in his name, and every word that he uttered. The Fabricator General who had led the invasion of the Ecclesiarchal palace insisted that every co-conspirator be brought up on charges, and many Imperial organizations took the initiative, purging their own ranks of those who had profited from Vandire's reign. New High Lords were chosen from among those officials who had joined the opposition against Vandire.
Sebastian Thor eventually became the new Ecclesiarch, and brought great reforms to the organization which finally ended the Age of Apostasy. He permanently moved the much of the organization to Ophelia VII, as a sort of dual capital along with Terra. This would prevent another incidence of a High Lord taking control of the Ecclesiarchy, and aid in dissemination of Ecclesiarchal dogma. [[Dioceses]] were diminished into smaller areas, so that a single Cardinal would not have control over a very large area, and also increasing the overall number of Cardinals, something which would further dilute power.
One notable change was the '''Decree Passive''' of the High Lords, which declared that the Ecclesiarchy could have ''no men under arms''. Thor complied with this, and all military functions of the Ecclesiarchy were disbanded, except for one - the Daughters of the Emperor remained, but were renamed the Orders Militant of the [[Sisters of Battle|Adepta Sororitas]] (aka Sisters of Battle). As "women under arms", they did not violate the decree; while the spirit of the decree may not have been followed, Thor believed that the Ecclesiarchy should have some military force of their own, so that it would not be completely reliant upon other Imperial military forces for its own defence.
