Unveiling the Armed Secrets of the Fate Series: Why Every Priest is Strapped

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Summary

  • The Holy Church in the Fate Series plays a crucial role in eradicating supernatural phenomena deemed heretical through lethal means.
  • The Church and Mage’s Association have differing philosophies, though despite a history of conflict, they have an uneasy alliance.
  • Members of the Church are everywhere in Fate and associated Type-Moon Works, from Kirei Kotomine to Ciel, and recently, Hansa Cervantes.
Title Fate/strange Fake
Directors Shun Enokido, Takahito Sakazume
Studio A-1 Pictures
Release Date 2025

In every variation of the Fate Series, there are consistent elements that bind its numerous spinoffs and continuations together, whether it’s the Holy Grails or the Heroic Spirits. One entertaining recurrence, much like many aspects of Type-Moon legend, has potential to stand alone as a franchise – and that is this: whenever a priest appears in these tales, they are always heavily armed.

I’ve always found Kinoko Nasu’s imaginative concepts fascinating, but one that never fails to amuse me is his portrayal of the Catholic Church as an institution where its members hold powers akin to magi and blood-drinking vampires! With Fate/strange Fake making its way to anime screens this year and introducing us to the cyborg priest Hansa Cervantes, it’s never been a more opportune moment to delve into the role of the Church within the expansive universe of Fate.

What Exactly Is The Holy Church?Simply put, the Holy Church – as it is referred to throughout Type-Moon works – is shorthand for the secretive organizationwithin the Roman Catholic Church. The Church’s “Executors” specialize in the eradication of supernatural phenomena that are heretical to the teachings of God. Arcueid Brunestud, one of the main heroines ofTsukihime, describes the Church as humanity’s “defense mechanism” against species that threaten it – especially vampires.

This mission statement stands in stark contrast to the image of the Church commonly perceived by the public, which vehemently denies the existence of such doctrinal deviations. In this sense, they are similar to the Magician’s Guild, whose purpose is to conceal the world’s wonders, despite having very distinct objectives. Both parties strive to hide the concept of “Mysteries,” but while the Guild upholds Mystery as a fundamental principle, the Church aims to eliminate any heretical Mysteries.

The Church vs the Mage’s Association

It’s understandable that their contrasting beliefs have led to a significant rift, one that’s only been tentatively resolved in contemporary times by a truce. Although this peace accord hasn’t ended the violence between the factions, it has facilitated more collaboration, such as the Church overseeing the Holy Grail War. The Church acknowledges that what they are guarding isn’t the genuine Grail, but they still need to regulate anything with the potential to cause such a profound impact on the world, like a wish-granting artifact.

In the writings of Kinoko Nasu, mages aim to attain a transcendent realm known as “The Root” or “Akashic Records”, which lies beyond and surrounds existence itself. The Church, however, considers this quest as foolishness. Since it transcends the physical plane, they opt not to intervene. Instead, their primary focus is combating any heresy that endangers their own realm, such as the Dead Apostles (vampires) or other aberrations.

The Tools of the Trade

In essence, Church Executors often dress similarly to regular clergy, but conceal lethal objects beneath their garments. The most recognizable of these tools bear a resemblance to swords, specifically the Black Keys with red sword hilts that can extend blades. However, contrary to their appearance, they are not genuine swords. Instead, the Black Keys represent compacted and weaponized pages from the Bible, which are referred to as “conceptual weapons”.

The Black Keys merely scratch the surface; the Church’s powers are more akin to sorcery, which they call “Sacraments.” However, Ciel, another character from Tsukihime, sees the distinction as largely a matter of words due to the Church’s bias towards other mystics. The Church is not only involved in magic but also at the cutting edge of technology. In Fate/strange Fake Volume 2, Hansa reveals that more than seven-tenths of his body isn’t just a prosthetic, but it’s consecrated for exorcising monsters.

The Church serves as a guiding force for people. It’s logical to assume that with such a role, it would be at the forefront of technological advancements and understanding of hidden knowledge (mysteries).

The Church’s Strongest Soldiers

If you’re a fan of Fate and haven’t yet read Tsukihime -A piece of blue glass moon-, it’s highly recommended that you give it a try to witness the Church at its best. This highly-praised remake of the 2000 visual novel offers a striking depiction of the Church’s immense power. Among all Type-Moon’s characters, Ciel stands out as one of the most memorable Executors. She belongs to the Burial Agency, a unique division within the Church, and she is one of only seven Executors.

An elite club, so impressive that even Hansa admits he can’t compare. Ciel possesses not only profound skills with the Black Keys but also yields the “Seventh Holy Scripture”, an extraordinary weapon and sacred artifact. This powerful tool can transform into a rifle, a massive chain blade, a formidable stake launcher, a destructive ballista, and a terrifying suit of armor. In a world filled with tough women, Ciel stands out as exceptional.

The Church Is Everywhere

Although the Mage’s Association plays a significant role in Type-Moon narratives, it is important to note that the Church is an even more expansive organization, which accounts for its prominence. Kirei Kotomine, from Fate/Stay Night, serves as the original overseer of the Grail War. Furthermore, in Witch on the Holy Night, there are three characters who work for the church, each with abilities that might have been further explored had we received the sequels we were anticipating (I’m thinking particularly about Nasu). Lastly, let us not forget Ciel, along with numerous other characters.

In the coming episodes of Fate/strange Fake this year, we eagerly look forward to Hansa Cervantes’ contribution, with his intriguing debut at the season premiere serving as a tantalizing teaser. As Type-Moon’s works continue to be brought to life through animation, fans of the Fate series and alike can expect to uncover additional captivating aspects of this expansive franchise. The Holy Church is but one facet, yet it is a significant and intriguing one that promises further exploration in the episodes ahead.

Fate/strange Fake is available to stream on Crunchyroll.

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2025-01-15 19:04