First Prostration

First Prostration is depicted figuratively on the seal of the Prysostaic Council, with the Banners of the world arrayed in submission before the black banner under the Prophetic octad. The motto reads Proreči i verǐnyi zapove, "Let him speak and command the faithful".

First Prostration (High Secote: ⰒⰓⰠⰂⰀⰡ ⰐⰀⰎⰀⰈⰀ, Prĭvaja nalaza) is the doctrine in Vaestic law that the jurisdiction of the Prophetic Banner, flowing from the perpetual 'Throne-that-Ends' of the Sacred Prophecy, is universal, extending notionally even to non-Vesnites. The name of the principle derives from the observation that the obeisance of most Vesnites, and hence their figurative prostration, belongs to at least two Banners: first the Prophetic, and second the Banner to which they are immediately subject. The doctrine is given a physical form in cases of conversion by non-Vesnites: they will physically prostrate before an honoured replica of the Prophetic Banner, and then before whatever other Banner they will pertain to if, as is usual, there is one.

When exercised directly by a Universal Prophet, the authority of the Prophetic Banner supersedes that of all others; without one, as has been the case since 1926, the decisions of the Banner's interim administrators are accorded only a primacy of respect except where approved by the Standard-Bearers of Vaestdom acting as Elector Scholars and, latterly, Panarchs. In practice the post-Neritsovid Universal Prophets of the 18th–20th centuries adopted a relatively reserved policy in their application of First Prostration, following the principle expressed by Zafuvniprourkah, the first post-Neritsovid Prophet, that the universal scope of the Sacred Prophecy meant that its authority should be invoked mainly in the resolution of properly universal rather than local questions.

In general, and in view of the typical responsibilities of the Prysostaia, at the present day the assertion of the Prophetic Banner's jurisdiction over all non-Vesnites has limited practical effect beyond its supervision of missionary activities. In some unusual modern cases, however, mostly pertaining to non-Vesnites employed under special privileges in managerial capacities within estates, character tribunals have been constituted under the Prophetic Banner within the territories of empires in Outer Joriscia to try non-Vesnites.