Reasons Every Priest in the Fate Series Is Well-Equipped

Overview of the Holy Church in the Fate Series

In the expansive Fate Series, the Holy Church plays a significant role in combating supernatural threats considered heretical, employing lethal means to ensure safety.
Although the Church and the Mage’s Association might share a common interest in the supernatural, their contrasting philosophies have fostered a tumultuous yet cooperative relationship.
From Kirei Kotomine to Ciel, and now the newly introduced Hansa Cervantes, the Church’s presence is pervasive within the Fate universe and Type-Moon narratives.

Title	Fate/strange Fake
Directors	Shun Enokido, Takahito Sakazume
Studio	A-1 Pictures
Release Date	2025

The Fate Series maintains several recurring themes that interlink its various spin-offs and sequels, whether it’s through the pursuit of Holy Grails or the exploration of Heroic Spirits. However, one intriguing element that stands out in Type-Moon lore is the consistent depiction of priests within these narratives, who are invariably equipped with an arsenal.

Kinoko Nasu, the creative mind behind many concepts in this universe, crafted a unique portrayal of the Catholic Church. In this fictional world, Church operatives are depicted as combatants equal to mages and actual vampires. As anticipation builds for the upcoming anime adaptation of Fate/strange Fake, featuring the cyborg priest Hansa Cervantes, it’s an opportune moment to delve into the Church’s role within the Fate franchise.

What is the Holy Church?

The term “Holy Church”broadly refers to a covert organization linked to the Roman Catholic Church, tasked with the critical mission of eliminating supernatural occurrences deemed heretical. In Tsukihime, one of the central heroines, Arcueid Brunestud, encapsulates the Church’s function by describing it as humanity’s protective apparatus against threatening entities, particularly vampires.

This operational mandate starkly contrasts with the Church’s public persona, which tends to dismiss such supernatural beings. Similar to the Mage’s Association, which also prioritizes secrecy around magical phenomena, the Church approaches these mysteries with a destructive agenda. Where the Mage’s Association seeks to preserve mystique, the Church aims to obliterate heretical mysteries.

The Church and the Mage’s Association

The ideological divide between the Church and the Mage’s Association is profound, yet contemporary circumstances have prompted a tenuous truce. While historically marred by conflict, this uneasy alliance has opened doors for collaboration, particularly with the Church’s oversight in the Holy Grail War, despite understanding that the Grail they encounter isn’t the authentic article.

In the works of Kinoko Nasu, mages aspire to access the “Root,”or “Akashic Records,”a state beyond the physical realm. The Church views this aspiration as misguided but chooses not to interfere with it. Their focus remains on combating heresies that directly threaten the internal structure of their world, which includes entities like Dead Apostles (vampires) and other malevolent beings.

Arsenal of the Church

Church Executors typically don garb reminiscent of traditional clergy, yet they conceal lethal weapons beneath their attire. The most notable of these is the Black Keys—unique blades that unfurl from red sword hilts. Contrary to their appearance, Black Keys are actually conceptual weapons derived from condensed pages of the Bible, crafted for divine battle.

The Church also employs its own distinct brand of magecraft, referred to as “Sacraments.”Ciel, another critical character from Tsukihime, highlights the nuanced differences in the Church’s approach to magic, often viewing other mystics with disdain. Additionally, the Church remains at the forefront of technological advancement. In Volume 2 of Fate/strange Fake, Hansa Cervantes reveals that a significant portion of his body is prosthetic and consecrated for the purpose of exorcising malevolent entities. This showcases the Church’s adaptable and innovative nature in both technology and mysticism.

The Church’s Elite Executors

To truly grasp the Church’s formidable capabilities, fans of the Fate Series should explore Tsukihime -A piece of blue glass moon-. This celebrated remake vividly illustrates the Church’s might, with Ciel emerging as its most emblematic Executor. Part of the elite Burial Agency, Ciel stands among only seven Executors, establishing her as a rare and powerful figure in this realm.

She is not only an expert with her Black Keys, but also wields the “Seventh Holy Scripture,” a conceptual weapon regarded as the ultimate foe against vampires. This weapon can transform into various forms, including a rifle, a giant chain blade, a stake driver, a ballista, and even a suit of armor. In a universe rich with complex and compelling female characters, Ciel distinctly stands out.

The Ubiquity of the Holy Church

Watch More Here

Despite the central role of the Mage’s Association in Type-Moon narratives, the Church is represented as an even more extensive organization. Kirei Kotomine serves as the primary overseer of the Grail War in Fate/Stay Night. The adaptation of Witch on the Holy Night features three Church agents whose capabilities promise further exploration in future sequels. As for Hansa Cervantes, anticipation grows as he makes a memorable appearance in the inaugural episode of Fate/strange Fake.

As Type-Moon expands its adaptations, numerous anime enthusiasts will be introduced to the remarkable facets of this franchise. The Holy Church is one prominent aspect worthy of exploration and promises to reveal even more intrigue in future installments.

Fate/strange Fake can be streamed on Crunchyroll.

Source & Images