[WraithLord]

I agree with most of the suggestions here.
The smiting works well for early game. I used it successfully with several nations that have H3 priests. I didn't try it with EA Ermor in MP, but in SP test games it worked great.

Another thing that worked well is a sleeping rainbow pretender that also gives four minor blesses: F4E4N4B4.
The E4 helps your sacred mages. Plus you can stick a shroud on the odd old age diseased mage.
The bless helps your sacred equites.

Perhaps an E10 bless on an imprisoned pretender would work as well. It will allow your A. bishops to smite forever and your sacred mages to last much longer. The protection bonus could be triggered by throwing an armor on those sacred mages that lack it and/or giving them bracers of protection.

All considered I think a rainbow pretender that complement's the national path is probably the most efficient choice.