Temple of the Savior Emperor
From Lexicanum
The Temple of the Savior Emperor was one of the many cults which grew up around the worship of the Emperor as a god after the Horus Heresy. It went on to become the dominant religious institution in the Imperium, the Ecclesiarchy, or the Adeptus Ministorum.1,p5
History
The original cult was based on Terra which enabled it to preach to the centre of the Imperium, the home world of humanity as well as being the resting place of the Emperor. It was also led by a man who renamed himself Fatidicus, which means 'Prophet' in an ancient Terran tongue. His original name is unknown. He was once a dedicated and high ranking officer of the Imperial Guard and fought in the defence of the Imperial Palace. Fatidicus managed to gather a massive following of men from all ways of life, including adepts of the Administratum, warriors of the Imperial Guard and members of the Imperial Navy.1,p5
Gradually the words of the Temple were spread throughout the galaxy; officers inducted their soldiers into the cult and missionaries moved among populations on other worlds. Fatidicus died aged 120 but by then there were billions of followers of the Temple. The Temple provided a uniting force for those who were left reeling after the terrible events of the Horus Heresy and at the same time destroyed any other cults which would or could not match their beliefs to those of the Temple.1,p5
At the start of the 32nd Millennium two thirds of the Imperium worshipped with the Temple and only the Adeptus Mechanicus and Space Marines on Terra didn't follow their views, having their own belief systems already set up. Eventually by the end of the first half of the 32nd Millennium the Temple was recognised as the official religion of the Imperium and was given the title of Adeptus Ministorum. From then on the power and influence of the Ministorum would grow until it became a total part of everyday life for all the members of the Imperium.1,p5
