OSMTH® - Knights Templar - SMOTJ®
ORDO SUPREMUS MILITARIS TEMPLI HIEROSOLYMITANI®
A UK Registered International Charity
A
non-governmental organization (NGO) non-profit, voluntary Christian group organised on a
local, national and international level
The Magistral Grand Priory of The Holy Lands
(Notre Dame, Saint Mary of Magdalene)
H.E. The Magistral Grand Prior of the Holy Lands photographed by “the Apprentice Pillar” during an official OSMTH-SMOTJ visit to Rosslyn Chapel
Knights Templar to use latest imaging in search for Grail
By Paul Kelbie, Scotland
Correspondent - 06 January 2003
Independent
Newspaper (London)
For
centuries the intricately carved stones of Rosslyn Chapel near Edinburgh have
tantalised historians, archaeologists and devoted Christians.
A
labyrinth of vaults beneath the 15th-century home of the Knights Templar is
reputed to contain dozens of holy relics, including early gospels, the Ark of
the Covenant, the fabled Holy Grail – and even the mummified head of Christ.
More
than 550 years after the first foundation stones were laid, modern technology is
about to put the legend to the test.
A
group of Knights Templar, successors to the warrior monks who sought asylum from
the Pope by fleeing to Scotland in the early 14th century and fought for Robert
the Bruce at Bannockburn, are to make a "non-invasive" survey of the
land around the chapel. They will use the latest ultrasound and thermal imaging
technology in the hope of finding evidence of the existence of the vaults.
The
plan is to investigate the land around the chapel to a depth of at least 20ft.
"The
machine we are using is the most sophisticated anywhere and is capable of taking
readings from the ground up to a mile deep without disturbing any of the land.
"We
know many of the Knights are buried in the grounds and there are many references
to buried vaults, which we hope this project will finally uncover."
Rosslyn
Chapel, or the Collegiate Chapel of St Matthew as it was to have been, was
founded in 1446 by Sir William St Clair, third and last Prince of Orkney. Built
as a celebration of Christ, it is also a monument to craftsmanship.
Bristling
with flying buttresses and gargoyles in the highest Gothic style on the outside,
the interior is carved with scenes from the Bible, the fall of man, the
expulsion from the Garden of Eden, the birth of Christ, the crucifixion and the
resurrection.
"Rosslyn
is an amazing building. It is a book in stone but, because the symbolism which
is written into the chapel is in a medieval language, we haven't even cracked
the introduction page yet," Mr Ritchie said.
Pillars
and arches are covered with hundreds of exquisitely carved leaves, fruit,
animals and figures. Some curious carvings are said to depict cactus and
sweetcorn, chiselled before Columbus set foot in America in 1492.
"There
is a whole series of stuff on each section of the chapel, which relates to a
different period of time," Mr Ritchie added. "We have to go back to
the 15th century and read it with a medieval eye
One theory suggests that one of the ornate columns, known as the Apprentice Pillar, may contain a lead casket in which is hidden the legendary cup used by Christ at the Last Supper and later used to collect his blood, the so-called Holy Grail. "Once we understand the introduction page we will begin to understand what this book in stone means," Mr Ritchie added. "We hope to start as soon as possible and get a load of readings from it. We hope to at least find this burial place and maybe the Holy Grail itself.
copyright 2000, 2001, 2002, The Magistral Grand Priory of The Holy Lands, ( Notre Dame, Saint Mary Magdalene) ORDO SUPREMUS MILITARIS TEMPLI HIEROSOLYMITANI® - OSMTH® - SMOTJ®, All rights reserved. No part of this copyrighted website may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission of the copyright holder, including distribution via electronic means such as eMail or Internet.
Non nobis, Domine, non nobis, sed Nomini Tua da gloriam!
webmaster: commander@ordotempli.org