Recognition

And upon the parents the duty of care is bestowed, and when the child reaches maturity, it shall be grateful for the care given.

— The Testament of Reaching

Sealing of the Covenant

In Bel Senir, love for one’s family is one of the central doctrines. Recognition is the coming-of-age rite that takes place at the age of seventeen. It is seen as the sealing of the covenant between the adherent and the Mother and the Father, as well as the show of gratitude from child to parents.
During the ceremony, the adherent, now at an age of developed cognition, professes their faith and recites the tenets of filiation: the most important principles of how one is to perform within their familial bonds. Where before, the child was just that, the adherent is now an adult and will take upon them new responsibilities with respect to their parents. While gratitude is expressed during Recognition, it is expected that the child will now repay care with care.

The Family Embrace

In general, Recognition takes place on the first Sunsday after the summer solstice. All seventeen-year-olds of a church are expected to partake in Recognition. In some small devoted communities, Recognition is held on the day after the individual turns seventeen.
During the church service, a child is called forward, father on their right, mother on their left, their hands on their child’s shoulders. They all bow to the statue of the Mother and the Father. The parents turn around and kneel in front of the statue with a straight back, mother in front of the Mother, father in front of the Father. The child kneels in front of its parents to recite the tenets of filiation. Afterwards, they embrace in the Embrace while the priest seals the vows with a hymn.

The Embrace

The most common symbol in Bel Senir is the Embrace. Often depicted as statues of the Mother and Father embracing, but also in a more abstract version as seen below. The dot in the centre resembles the world or an individual being embrace by the Mother and the Father.