Topic: Why does Castlevania have a royal chapel

[Zacmac90]

In Sotn, the castle has a church like area called the royal chapel, isn't this kind of ironic since Dracula is evil and a church is supposed to be holy...I kinda doubt too many of Dracula's servants attend church

[Kamirine]

I always found it to be Dracula's way of mocking God.

[Alutwon]

I always found it to be Dracula's way of mocking God.

What he said. It goes way beyond being just another part of the castle.

[Odile Kuronuma]

Or it could be an unholy version of a church. I think it's more obvious in the Inverted version(with all of the inverted crosses).
Let's not forget that according to the legend (and to LoI), Dracula used to defend the Church against Muslim Turks. He was very religious, hence why he was so pissed when Elizabeth died. Once he renounced his faith and became a vampire, he prolly must have wanted to fuel his hatred towards God by having a chapel build inside his castle
Another theory would be that he must have build it for Lisa. I don't think Dracula would have forced her to renounce her faith, so he build such a place so she can pray, without having to go all the way to the village.

[beingthehero]

I think the technical reason for it being introduced was because of Castlevania for the X68000. It kind of clarified that CV1's stage 2 was supposed to be a chapel (given how there were only stained glass windows in the boss room). SotN reintroduced some elements from that title including a chapel-themed level, and it's sort of become a traditional stage ever since.

But storyline wise, yeah, I guess it's more or less a way to stick it to God. Still, SotN's chapel was pretty...holy, at least once you take out the monsters. In the other games, not so much.

[Kamirine]

Another theory would be that he must have build it for Lisa. I don't think Dracula would have forced her to renounce her faith, so he build such a place so she can pray, without having to go all the way to the village.

This isn't a bad theory, but has it ever been said that Lisa was remotely religious at all? I'll be honest, I may have missed that but I don't remember it ever being mentioned that she was religious or that it was a huge factor for her. I'll be honest, I think it's more likely that it was done as a way to mock God, for reasons you've already mentioned, considering the deep hatred Dracula seems to hold for things that piss him off. (And take his beloved wives away from him.)

I think the technical reason for it being introduced was because of Castlevania for the X68000. It kind of clarified that CV1's stage 2 was supposed to be a chapel (given how there were only stained glass windows in the boss room). SotN reintroduced some elements from that title including a chapel-themed level, and it's sort of become a traditional stage ever since.

Agreed. I could definitely see this being the case on a technical stand point.

But storyline wise, yeah, I guess it's more or less a way to stick it to God. Still, SotN's chapel was pretty...holy, at least once you take out the monsters. In the other games, not so much.

I will admit, the chapel in SOTN was pretty darn holy looking. There was even the guy Alucard could sit with that he could confess to, which I thought was an interesting touch.

[Kale]

Odile Kuronuma, love your sig pic.

Anyhow, he was a religious person before becoming dracula... even if you take out the Mathias cannon, it's not something that's farfetched, as back then lots of people were "religious." So his castle had it and he never took it out.

[Pemburu Vampir]

I just love the track that plays in the Royal Chapel.

[Odile Kuronuma]

This isn't a bad theory, but has it ever been said that Lisa was remotely religious at all? I'll be honest, I may have missed that but I don't remember it ever being mentioned that she was religious or that it was a huge factor for her. I'll be honest, I think it's more likely that it was done as a way to mock God, for reasons you've already mentioned, considering the deep hatred Dracula seems to hold for things that piss him off. (And take his beloved wives away from him.)

Agreed. I could definitely see this being the case on a technical stand point.
 
I will admit, the chapel in SOTN was pretty darn holy looking. There was even the guy Alucard could sit with that he could confess to, which I thought was an interesting touch.

It wasn't mentioned but it could be possible. It's just a theory. And you said it yourself, even Alucard, who's half vampire, could go in and  confess. So why not Lisa,  who is human? Besides both of Alucard and Lisa don't share Dracula's  ideas about humanity. So i guess it applies to religion too , at least in Lisa's case. She might not be a very religious person. She could  pray out of habit i guess.

Odile Kuronuma, love your sig pic.

I love it too. It's pretty funny  .

[PFG9000]

I suppose I assumed that the castle wasn't Dracula's at first; that he just took it over, and it had a chapel in it at the time. Chaos would have to have been introduced to the castle at a later date of course.  I think I got this impression from the write-up on the chapel stage on the Dungeon's RoB Stages page:

http://castlevaniadungeon.net/Games/rondostages.html

[Vampire Killer]

I think of it in two ways.


1) When the Castle was made into what it is (creature of chaos, ect...), there resided within the castle compounds a church. And while the Castle can change shape so to speak, I see it as being limited to building variations of what resided within the castle compounds itself.

2) God's way of adding balance to the Castle's power. Perhaps the presence of a church within the Castle keeps it's power somewhat in check.

[cecil-kain]

Speaking of the SotN confessional --there is a similar moment in Akumajo X68000 aka Castlevania Chronicles....

In the final stage, you can break a wall to find a tiny chapel hidden away with a crucifix and an alter --if Simon kneels down in prayer --a 1up will appear.

[darkwzrd4]

Perhaps it's there simply for the architecture.

[K.G. Morder]

I always thought it was this subconscious way of repenting. Like deep down he seeks for forgiveness, but is bound by his powers to eternally fight when he is called by the powers of chaos. I mean, it explains why he is good to go after Symphony even though by his defeat you would think he made peace with Lisa and understood her final wish. And is all like, "Farewell my son!"

He also quotes the bible. He WAS a crusader after all. Thats kind of how I saw it. He is bound by the power of chaos to rise when the evil of men call him back, but deep down inside, somewhere inside him, he longs for God's forgiveness.

And his reincarnation as Soma is his second chance.

[jestercolony]

Well, this may not add anything - but something I do wish to bring up with this post. The Royal Chapel is probably homage to the Bram Stalker's novel - because you will need to remember is that directly below the great castle (within the novel) that Dracula's tomb was inside a forgotten holy church and that the castle had been built over it.