For as long as Askav has been an empire, The Church has existed. Longer than that, even. The Askavic Church is one of the major forces operating behind the scenes of the Tsar, tugging at his pant leg for more power as the months go by. They beg him and beg him for him to go back on decades old bills and laws, even if morally questionable. They wish to stage a 2nd Askavic Inquisition against Heresy within Holy Askav. The Tsar has told them that they shan't be so hasty, lest they remember the thousands dead as a result of the last Inquisition. It would seem his reasoning has fallen on deaf ears.
For the Church.