Elimine Church
- This article is about the religious organization. For the person of worship, see Elimine.
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| “ | Humans that act according to God's will alone would only be mindless puppets. God believes that we humans can change, that we can learn from our mistakes. God knows that we can overcome our hardships to achieve peace and harmony. | ” | — Saul |
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The Elimine Church (Japanese: エリミーヌ教団 Elimine religious organization) is the dominant religion on the continent of Elibe and reveres Saint Elimine as the voice of God. It is the most widespread in the nations of Etruria and Bern.[1]
Overview
History
During the days of the Scouring, Elimine traveled the land with the other members of the Eight Legends in order to defeat the dragons warring against the humans of Elibe. When the legendary weapons were forged, Elimine was deemed worthy to wield the light tome Aureola and the Staff of the Saint in battle. After the dragon's defeat, Elimine founded the Kingdom of Etruria as well as the Elimine Church.[1] She was buried inside the Tower of the Saint alongside her weapon.[2]
Some of her exploits were passed on in the form of parables, and her words form the basis of the religion's teachings.
In the time since the Scouring, the Elimine Church spread to most nations in Elibe and members of the church can be found in all nations, excluding Sacae[3] and Nabata,[4] which have their own religions. Etruria serves as the central seat of the religion due to Elimine's direct influence there and the holy site of the Tower of the Saint. The church also holds immense influence over public opinion.[5]
Role in The Binding Blade
The first follower of Elimine Roy encounters is Elen. She meets Roy soon after he left Pherae, and asks him to rescue Princess Guinivere, who was captured at the Bernese border. After Guinivere's rescue, Elen joins the Lycian Army.
When Roy stops bandits from looting a village, he encounters Saul and Dorothy. The two were sent by the bishop Yoder to investigate the disappearance of the Fire Emblem from the Shrine of Seals[6] and discover that it had been stolen by Guinivere to prevent it from falling into Zephiel's hands. With their investigation complete, Saul and Dorothy stay with the Lycian Army, though Saul continues to observe Roy and Guinivere.
The Elimine Church serve as major supporters of the Lycian Army once they enter Aquileia. The revolutionaries that overthrew Etruria's King Mordred with Bern's help persecuted the church because St. Elimine preached that the return of dragons to Elibe must be prevented.[7] By teaming up with the church, the Lycian Army gains public favor in Etruria and can reach Castle Aquileia without battling inside the city.
If Douglas survived the battle in Aquileia, Roy's forces will liberate the Tower of the Saint. The Tower of the Saint is an altar to Elimine and the most important religious building in Etruria, as well as the hiding place for the legendary weapon Aureola, which Elimine wielded during the Scouring. Roy retrieves the weapon and intends to return it to the church, but Yoder grants him permission to use it in the battle against Bern.
Roy and Yoder part ways after Etruria is saved, though Yoder returns once the Lycian Army marches on Bern itself. He retrieves whichever legendary weapon Roy did not encounter in his journey: Maltet, if Roy headed to Sacae, and Mulagir, if Roy headed to Ilia. From then on, Yoder fights alongside Roy's forces.
Role in The Blazing Blade
Unlike in The Binding Blade, the St. Elimine Church has no relevance to the plot of The Blazing Blade at large, though the characters Lucius and Serra are members of the church.[8]
Teachings
The Elimine Church is seemingly monotheistic. It believes in a central, all-powerful god who created both the world and humans.[9] This god also granted the seven elemental affinities to people.[10] As a result, the religion heavily emphasizes relationships as a source of strength.[11] For example, the parable of the owl and the eagle told by Yoder shows the necessity of teamwork.[12]
The concept of heaven as an afterlife seems to exist in the church, since Elimine is said to have ascended to heaven after her death,[7] and the tale of the owl and the eagle features a land of god in the sky.[13]
Priests of Elimine are expected to do good and heal the people, as healing staves are also associated with the Elimine faith. However, the ability to use staves appears to also require some talent in magic.[14] Priests often run orphanages or convents,[15] and a priest's duties also include missionary work,[16] though proselytizing to those of other religions is frowned upon.[3] Generally speaking, it is the duty of believers to enact good deeds in the name of god, as god does not directly interfere with the lives of humans. Instead, he trusts humans to learn from their mistakes and overcome hardship on their own.[17]
Because of the Scouring, dragons are seen as a threat within the Elimine faith. Elimine supposedly said that the return of dragons must be prevented,[7] though she may have actually advocated for their eradication.[18] Her words may have been softened over the years since the Scouring.
Members
| Character | Description | Appears in |
|---|---|---|
 Dorothy |
A girl from Etruria in service to the St. Elimine Church. Bodyguard to Saul. | The Binding Blade |
 Elen |
A young cleric serving Guinivere. Serene and gracious. | The Binding Blade |
 Kenneth |
The Black Fang's Shrike. Lost faith in Saint Elimine after meeting Nergal.[19] | The Blazing Blade |
 Lucius |
A traveling acolyte. Gentle and serene. | The Blazing Blade |
 Martel |
A bishop heading one of Bern's units in Ilia. | The Binding Blade |
 Orlo |
A bishop of the St. Elimine Church. Oversees the mine at Eburacum. | The Binding Blade |
 Saul |
A traveling priest of the St. Elimine Church. On an important mission. | The Binding Blade |
 Serra |
A cleric in service to House Ostia. Headstrong and bold. | The Blazing Blade |
 Windham |
A bishop of the St. Elimine Church who turned against his order. | The Binding Blade |
 Yoder |
A bishop of the St. Elimine Church who supports Roy's cause. | The Binding Blade |
Triva
- The St. Elimine Church bears a great resemblance to Christianity, due to a belief in a central unnamed creator god, heaven as an afterlife, and the presence of missionary work.
Etymology and other languages
This section has been marked as a stub. Please help improve the page by adding information.
| Names, etymology, and in other regions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Language | Name | Definition, etymology, and notes |
| English |
Elimine Church |
Named after Saint Elimine. |
| English (unofficial) |
St. Elimine Church |
Used in fantranslations of The Binding Blade. |
| Japanese |
エリミーヌ教団 |
Elimine religious organization |
| German |
Kirche der Hlg. Elimine |
Church of the holy Elimine |
Gallery
This section has been marked as a stub. Please help improve the page by adding information.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "The St. Elimine Church was founded by Saint Elimine, one of the Eight Legends. The church has legions of followers, particularly in Bern and Etruria." — Beginning Log of Chapter 16 in, Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade
- ↑ "This is the Saint's Tower. Saint Elimine's legendary weapon, the Aureola spell tome, lies within." — Douglas in Chapter 16x, Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Of course, my mission is to guide those in need of direction. But you Sacaeans already have the sky and earth to worship. God would not approve of me pushing my beliefs on to you." — Yoder Yoder to Dayan in their C support, Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade
- ↑ "Yes, I know. I used to believe in God as well. Although it is a different God from yours, I think I was fairly serious about it." — Igrene to Saul in their B support, Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade
- ↑ "The St. Elimine Church supports the Lycian Army, turning popular opinion against the revolutionaries, forcing them inside the castle." — Beginning Log of Chapter 16 in, Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade
- ↑ " I was sent by the church to confirm the truth. Why did you take the Fire Emblem?" — Saul to Guinivere in Chapter 5, Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Roy: Persecuted? Why?
Yoder: I can only presume it is because of our investigation into Bern's dragons. Before she ascended to heaven, our founder, Saint Elimine, said these words: "Allow not dragons to return to this realm, for that would bring suffering to many." That's why we must do everything we can to send the dragons back to their world.
Roy: ...The revolutionaries are with Bern, so that explains the persecution of the church." — Roy and Yoder in Chapter 16, Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade - ↑ " [...] We serve St. Elimine, right? I mean, we're the same? [...]" — Serra to Lucius in their C support, Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade
- ↑ "God, who created this world, is all-powerful. He can change people and the world." — Saul to Igrene in their A support, Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade
- ↑ "The Elimine Church has similar beliefs. When the creator made man, he blessed them all with one of the seven affinities." — Yoder to Dayan in their B support, Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade
- ↑ "Dayan: The seven affinities... Their effects will only appear through bonds with other people. When your heart is linked with someone else's... That is when the elements reveal their true power.
Yoder: Yes. Saint Elimine also said to cherish your relationships." — Dayan and Yoder in their A support, Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade - ↑ "Yes. The two birds traveled to God's land together. The eagle used his powerful wings to carry the owl, and the owl used his great eyes to guide the eagle through the night. Together, they were able to reach God's domain. That is the end of the story. Do you understand, Dorothy?" — Yoder to Dorothy in their B support, Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade
- ↑ "[...]God's domain lies high above the clouds.[...]" — Yoder to Dorothy in their C support, Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade
- ↑ "Dorothy: Do you know why I can't use the sacred healing staves?
Yoder: Hm...
Dorothy: I want to help injured people by using the staves like Father Saul and you do. I've been praying every day, and I don't think I've done anything particularly bad, either.
Yoder: Yes, your faith is an example to us all.
Dorothy: But I still can't help hurt people... I want to heal them, but I can't. Will I never have that power? Am I not worthy to be God's servant?" — Dorothy and Yoder in their C support, Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade - ↑ "Lucius: My mother died shortly after of a wasting sickness. When she breathed her last... they took me in at the orphanage, where I spent several years...[...]
Serra: ...No... You don't understand... I... I... I was raised in a convent." — Lucius and Serra in their A support, Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade - ↑ "No...I thought we might talk a bit. Are you properly performing your missionary duties?" — Yoder to Saul in their C support, Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade
- ↑ "Humans that act according to God's will alone would only be mindless puppets. God believes that we humans can change, that we can learn from our mistakes. God knows that we can overcome our hardships to achieve peace and harmony." — Saul to Igrene in their A support, Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade
- ↑ "Never forget that dragons are but destruction given form. Our sacred weapons are our only defense." — Elimine: Scouring Saint, Fire Emblem Heroes
- ↑ "Eliwood: You... You're a holy man. What are you doing in this place?
Kenneth: Are you referring to my relationship with the "gods"? [...] You've met Lord Nergal, haven't you? Then there is something you must know. Gods are lies created by the weakness in all mankind. ...If a god truly exists, then it is my lord Nergal. Only him." — Eliwood and Kenneth in Chapter 25E, Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade
