Holy Grail
The Holy Grail is a legendary object often depicted as the chalice that Jesus used during the Last Supper, gaining prominence in literature and myth, particularly from the late twelfth century onwards. Initially, the term "grail" referred to a serving dish, but it evolved into a symbol of divine grace and miraculous power. The most notable narrative suggests that Joseph of Arimathea, Jesus's great uncle, used the grail to collect Jesus's blood during the Crucifixion and later brought it to England, where it supposedly remains hidden. This story and others surrounding the Holy Grail flourished through Arthurian legends, portraying it as a quest pursued by knights.
Throughout history, the Grail's existence has been debated, with various locations across Europe claiming to house the relic, yet definitive proof remains elusive. The legends have seen a resurgence in interest since the 1800s, inspiring numerous artists, writers, and musicians. Today, the Holy Grail continues to intrigue many, with ongoing theories and claims regarding its whereabouts, including the Nanteos Cup in England and the Valencia Chalice in Spain, which is recognized by the Roman Catholic Church. The enduring appeal of the Holy Grail lies in its blend of spirituality, mystery, and the quest for truth.
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Holy Grail
Prior to the twelfth century a grail was a serving dish for different stages of a meal, transliterated from the Latin gradus. Thanks largely to a novelist, the Holy Grail became the chalice Jesus drank from at the Last Supper. The source of Holy Grail anecdotal records appears not to be liturgical but rather in literature: an enduring legend taking root sometime during the late twelfth century. It appears to have gained traction after a romance titled Le Roman de l'Estoire dou Graal (also titled Joseph d’Arimathie, ou le Roman de l’estoire dou Graal), which was written by Frenchman Robert de Boron, in about 1180. Five Holy Grail stories emerged that period, the major one says the cup was used by Joseph of Arimathea to collect the blood from the wounded chest of Jesus on the cross. The story holds that Joseph brought the vessel to England, where it remains hidden.
Background
Translations into European languages garnered renewed interest in the tales of the goblet and King Arthur’s court. In addition to the religious connotations, the vessel is believed, by supporters, to have miraculous or magical properties. Dramatic differences in Holy Grail theories abound regarding where and what it is.
The prevailing stories vary, but the Joseph of Arimathea tale explains he was the great uncle of Jesus. Another has Joseph being imprisoned (one version without food or water), in a crypt like the one in which Jesus was buried. That account, too, has deviations. One has the grail providing food and drink to sustain him for years; while another states the risen Christ freed him. None of these accounts are found in the New Testament or by early Christian era historians, such as Josephus or Eusebius. The only relevant references to Joseph in the scriptures are of him providing a crypt for the slain Jesus. However, Eastern Christian Apocrypha has additional written accounts: Gospel of Nicodemus, The Narrative of Joseph, and The Passing of Mary.
Joseph, the Holy Grail, and his life abundantly appear in literature and non-biblical sources. The most significant identifies him as the uncle of Mary (the mother of Jesus). These references claim Joseph took Jesus to Cornwall and/or Somerset (England) as a boy or young man. It would appear this relationship offers validity of the Holy Grail story to legend advocates.
There is no biblical or historic record of the chalice after the account of the Last Supper. One theory states it was taken by Joseph to Glastonbury (England). Stories of the Knights Templar claim they removed the cup from Jerusalem during the Crusades. The Arthurian stories make the search for the Holy Grail a quest. Some legends put the descendants of Joseph in France, they became the guardians of the goblet.
A book by Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh, and Henry Lincoln (Holy Blood, Holy Grail, 2005) imagined the blood of Christ as his progeny. Mary Magdalene, his spouse, was the vessel. It is written as an historical account, but historians decry the inaccuracies. Fact or fiction, a growing number of readers believe the story is plausible.
Overview Today
When speaking of the Holy Grail, there are two issues of note. The primary consideration is whether or not the relic is actually a goblet (and still exists). The powers it is alleged to possess would seem to be a matter of legend or myth. But the legend continues to grow and morph. The initial burst of stories in the Middle Ages gradually diminished until reviving in the 1800s through today. As the printing press and literature advanced, so did the number of popular writers, artists, and musicians who delved into Holy Grail legends, from Lord Alfred Tennyson to C. S. Lewis to Richard Wagner to Charles Williams, among others.
Ancient anecdotes and modern genetics notwithstanding, new theories continue to come forth. The Holy Grail has been identified several times in various countries. In addition to England and Spain, Bulgaria, France, and Greece all claim ties to the relic. Curators at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City) bought what they believed to be the cup used by Jesus and the apostles. It was later proved to be from a period at least 500 years after the crucifixion.
Torres and Ortega del Río, Spanish historians, claimed to have found the vessel in Leon, northern Spain. The New York Post relates that unintended discovery was derived from a study of two medieval Egyptian documents describing an unrelated subject. Analysis determined the goblet to be the proper age, but there is no certainty it was used by Jesus. The provenance does not cover the first 400 years of that particular goblet.
A cup believed to be the ancient relic was stolen from a home in West Mercia, England. It was returned a year later (2015). The ancient wooden vessel is called the Nanteos Cup. It was on loan to a sick woman for its healing properties. And, finally, the European Union is investing 200,000 euros for pilgrims to travel as the keepers of the relic—the pilgrims are using the legendary route from Glastonbury, England, to Valencia, Spain. The Valencia Chalice, as this relic is known, is held in their cathedral and is recognized by the Roman Catholic Church as the Holy Grail. There are multiple stories, which are likely endless. Though there are many claims, absolute proof is yet elusive.
Bibliography
Baigent, Henry, Richard Lincoln, and Michael Leigh. Holy blood, Holy Grail. London: Arrow, 2004.
Fredericks, Bob. "Historians Claim to Have Recovered Holy Grail." New York Post 31 Mar. 2014: News sec. Print.
Lovett, Richard A. "Holy Grail Legend Endures for Centuries." National Geographic, n.d. Web. http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/archaeology/holy-grail/
Lupack, Allan. "The Holy Grail." Robbins Library Digital, Camelot Project. U of Rochester, n.d. Web. http://d.lib.rochester.edu/camelot/theme/holy-grail
Mat, Ian. "EU Funds Trail for Holy Grail. First Stop: Glastonbury." Central Somerset Gazette 31 Oct. 2015. Web. http://www.centralsomersetgazette.co.uk/EU-funds-trail-Holy-Grail-stop-Glastonbury/story-28063862-detail/story.html#ixzz3sjk8fEZT
Matthews, Sam. "Have POLICE Found the Holy Grail? Wooden Relic Thought by Some to Be Christ's Chalice Is Recovered a Year after It Was Stolen by Burglars." Daily Mail 26 June 2015. Web. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3140518/Have-POLICE-Holy-Grail-Wooden-relic-thought-Christ-s-chalice-recovered-year-stolen-burglars.html
Scavone, Daniel C. "Joseph of Arimathea, the Holy Grail and the Turin Shroud." U of Southern Indiana, 1996. Web. https://www.shroud.com/scavone2.htm