Red priest

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Thoros of Myr, by Matt Olson ©

Red priests[1] and red priestesses[2] are the clergy of the religion of R'hllor.[3]

Culture

Red priests wear robes of crimson and scarlet[4] or scarlet satin and blood velvet.[5] They are a common sight in the Free Cities of Essos, where worship of R'hllor is widespread.[6]

In cities like Volantis where slaves are branded with facial tattoos, slave red priests have flames tattooed across their faces.[7][8][9][10]

There are few followers of the Lord of Light in Westeros,[11] but red priests can be found in Dorne,[12] Dragonstone,[2] King's Landing,[13] and Oldtown.[14]

Duties

Red priests light nightfires at sunset[15] and gather in the morning to welcome the return of the sun.[14]

Red priests administer the last kiss to deceased followers of R'hllor.[16]

Children are sometimes given to the red temples of the Lord of Light to be raised into the priesthood. The temples also buy children to serve as slaves of R'hllor and raise them as priests, temple prostitutes, or warriors known as the Fiery Hand.[7]

Known Red Priests

Moqorro, Melisandre, and Thoros of Myr, by Jaydeewis

Quotes

Red priests are human beings, and like other human beings, they vary greatly.[17]

Jaime had once heard Thoros tell the king that he became a red priest because the robes hid the winestains so well.[18]

—thoughts of Jaime Lannister

The red priests lit their fires every day at sunset, to thank R'hllor for the day just ending, and beg him to send his sun back on the morrow to banish the gathering darkness.[15]

—thoughts of Davos Seaworth

For the night is dark and full of terrors. Pate had heard them cry those words a hundred times, asking their god R'hllor to save them from the darkness.[14]

—thoughts of Pate

References

  1. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 30, Eddard VII.
  2. 2.0 2.1 A Clash of Kings, Prologue.
  3. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 3, Daenerys I.
  4. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 63, Victarion I.
  5. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 10, Davos I.
  6. The World of Ice & Fire, The Free Cities: The Quarrelsome Daughters: Myr, Lys, and Tyrosh.
  7. 7.0 7.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 27, Tyrion VII.
  8. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 33, Tyrion VIII.
  9. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 56, The Iron Suitor.
  10. The World of Ice & Fire, The Free Cities: Volantis.
  11. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 31, Catelyn III.
  12. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 2, The Captain Of Guards.
  13. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 29, Sansa II.
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 A Feast for Crows, Prologue.
  15. 15.0 15.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 63, Davos VI.
  16. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 39, Arya VII.
  17. So Spake Martin: R’hllor and Evil, January 02, 200
  18. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 11, Jaime II.