The Hidden Order of St. Demetrius

Founded by the Patriarch of Constantinople in 1052, the Hidden Order of St. Demetrius is the Orthodox Church's answer to the Holy Inquisition. Much smaller than the Inquisition, the Order still protects one of the world's largest libraries of occult and esoteric knowledge, though much has been lost in conflicts against Crusaders, the Ottomans, and even the Soviets. Unlike the other religious orders, the Hidden Order of St. Demetrius prefers to act indirectly, using agents and influencing governments towards their end. A surprising number of their members have supernatural abilities, and they have formed alliances with the fey and spirits of the east. They have operated out of Saint Petersburg since the mid-18th century.