In Christian mythology the Holy Grail was the cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper, which was said to possess miraculous powers, and the gift of eternal life to all who drank from it. According to tradition, Joseph of Arimathea used the Grail to catch Christ's blood from the foot of the cross. He then took the object to Britain where his descendants continued to keep it safe. The quest for the Holy Grail is an important aspect of Arthurian myth and legend, immortalised in the many Grail romances.
The original Grail romances consisted of 8 stories written within a period of 30 years, from 1190 to 1220 AD. The first of these was written in France by Chrétien de Troyes, entitled Le Conte du Graal. This was followed shortly afterwards by 2 so called continuations to the original unfinished story, written by anonymous authors. Robert de Boron's Joseph d'Arimathie then appeared around 1200, at the same time as an anonymous French romance known as Didot Perceval. The German epic Parzival, written by Wolfram von Eschenbach was then composed in 1205. A revised edition entiled Perlesvaus and 2 further Grail stories known as the Vulgate Cycle were the final versions to appear around 1220.
Chretien de Troyes claimed to have obtained his story from a book left to him by his patron Count Philip of Flanders, shortly before Philip left for the crusades. The hero Perceval is introduced as Perceval of Wales, a young warrior brought up in the forests of Snowdonia by his widowed mother. He travels to King Arthurs court in order to train as a Knight, but due to his naiveity, his master teaches him to remain silent and not ask questions. After his training, Perceval sets out to return home, but during the journey he encounters two fishermen who direct him to a mysterious castle. Once inside Perceval is invited to a banquet in honour of the castle's Lord, known as the Rich Fisher. During the banquet Perceval witnesses a strange procession, in which he sees the Grail. However due to his training, Perceval refrains from asking the meaning of what he has seen. He leaves the castle, unable to remember its whereabouts. Eventually he meets a hermit who informs him that he is, unbeknown to him the grandson of the Rich Fisher and heir to the Grail. However before he can claim this birthright he must ask the right question. Here the story ends, without telling us what the question is.
These early romances then centred around the Grail hero Perceval and his quest to uncover the true meaning of the Grail. In most versions, the hero must prove himself worthy to be in the presence of the sacred object and fulfil his role as guardian. In the earlier tales, Perceval's immaturity prevents him from fulfilling this destiny, as he fails to ask the right questions. Before he can take his rightful place, he must grow both spiritually and mentally. In the later stories the Grail is a symbol of God's grace, available to all but only realised and understood by those who work on themselves in a spiritual sense.
Each successive romance added more detail to the mystery surrounding the Grail. The Continuations tell us that the Grail was made by Joseph of Arimathea, who collected the body of Jesus after the crucifixion. We are told that he placed it at the feet of Jesus as he was crucified, and collected the blood which flowed from his feet. He then left Palestine and journeyed to Britain, where the Grail was entrusted to the care of his descendants. This is the first romance to describe Perceval and the Rich Fisher as direct descendants of Joseph. The later romance entitled Didot Perceval portrays Perceval as the grandson of Bran the Blessed. According to historian Laurence Gardener Bran is a true descendant of Joseph of Arimathea, as was King Arthur himself.
Some believe that the Grail legends originate with Celtic myth and folklore, citing similarities between the Grail and the mystical cauldron of Bran the Blessed. Bran's cauldron was said to possess the gift of restoring life and supplied a never ending supply of food. Some versions of the legend feature magical dishes or platters that test the heroes power or worthiness to rule, as only the true sovereign of the correct lineage could possess them. It seems though that Bran and his descendants were part of that lineage.
Others believe that the Grail is a purely Christian symbol, the cup of the last supper, which in Catholicism is used to promote the sacrament of Eucharist or Communion. It was not until 492 CE that Pope Gelasius I introduced the practise as part of Christian orthodoxy, believing it to be symbolic of the blood of Christ. In so doing, he denounced all those who did not partake of alcohol as heretics. This same Pope also stated that babies who died having received Baptism but not Communion would go straight to hell. He sounds like a nice man.
Most scholars accept that both Christian and Celtic traditions contributed to the legend's development, though the more orthordox play down the Celtic influence. The central theme certainly appears to be Christian in origin if not in meaning. In each romance the Grail is kept by the family of Perceval, who are themselves the direct descendants of Joseph of Arimathea. Joseph is said to have been appointed guardian by none other than Jesus himself. The only problem is that according to Church doctrine it was Peter who was Jesus' successor, and not Joseph. It seems then that the Grail romances could be an allegory for an alternative apostolistic succession.
According to legend, Joseph formed the first Christian church in Britain, and this is confirmed by several manuscripts within the Vatican archives. During the mid 5th century around the time that Arthur is said to have existed, there existed in Britain an alternative church known as Pelagianism. They seem to have many similarities with the Cathars who flourished in France 500 years later. Both questioned the apostolistic succession of Peter, as first Bishop of Rome, both also questioned the notion of original sin and the need for sacraments, as they they did not believe in the concept of a judgemental God, rather that man was saved by his own grace and efforts. The Cathars also believed that Jesus was married to, or had a relationship with Mary Magdalene, who was the mother of his children.
The word Grail derives from the French graal, or sangraal meaning blood Royal leading to speculation in books such as The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail, and the Da Vinci Code that the Grail is in fact symbolic of a bloodline or dynasty which may have been founded by Jesus himself, through his offspring with Mary Magdalene. There is a wealth of evidence to suggest that this may well be the case, since the Grail legends are confined only to those regions where Gnosticism, the original version of Christianity in its purest form was taught. Books such as the Gospel of Thomas, from the Nag Hammadi library show that Gnosticism was closer to the original form of Christianity than we have today. Christianity teaches that the only way to God is through the church, but Gnosticism taught that intermediaries were not necessary as we could commune with God direct.
The Merovingian dynasty of France, who ruled from the 5th to the 8th centuries are said to be the descendants of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. According to legend, after the crucifixion of Jesus, Mary Magdalene is said to have fled to France with her family and servants, where she later gave birth to a daughter, supposedly Jesus' daughter.
The idea of a marriage between Jesus and Mary Magdalene, although controversial has found widespread acceptance within the secular community. The orthodox view maintains that Jesus was as the Bible suggests, celibate, and by definition could not have had children, with Mary or anyone else. The Merovingians then cannot be his descendants, although this is not to say that they were not party to his teachings, as passed on via his Disciples and other followers.
Despite my non Christian upbringing, I viewed the idea of Jesus fathering children with a huge amount of resistance. All my instincts or perhaps ego, told me this could not possible be true. Having weighed up all the evidence, I now believe that there is every possibility that this could indeed be true. The fact that a man or woman is ascended does not preclude the possibility of a sexual relationship and the need to express this aspect of human nature. Whilst in physical form they still have the same needs as everybody else, including the need to maintain appearances and fit in with society.
For all his enlightenment Jesus was still very much a man incarnate upon the physical plane, capable and very much in need of giving and receiving love. This is a fact which is often overlooked by mainstream scholars and other writers, both on and off the spiritual path, who seem to believe that one who is ascended by nature has no need for expressing his love in a physical sense This stems from a basic misunderstanding as to the true purpose of sex, which is in its own way to bring us closer to God.
Many scholars today believe that Jesus was not in fact Jewish at all, but rather an Essene. Central to the Essene teachings and way of life was the importance of both masculine and feminine, and that when joined, these two polarities became the ultimate representative of divine power, united in perfect harmony. This is why he chose both male and female Disciples, and why he took Mary Magdalene, his twin soul as his life partner and companion. So it was that Jesus and Mary each had their own Disciples, he with the men and she with the women, teaching and imparting both masculine and feminine principles.
It is commonly thought that the practise of Eucharist or Holy Communion was a re-enactment of the rites of the Last Supper. However, the ritual is in fact far older, dating back to Atlantis and possibly beyond. It was actually a re-enactment of an ancient initiation ceremony utilised in Atlantis (from where the Essenes ultimately derived) and later by the Druids, which symbolised the joining of the masculine and feminine energies. The bread symbolised the masculine energy whilst the wine symbolised the feminine. The bread and wine were transformed into vessels for this energy by a simple blessing ceremony, which would have been performed by two people, one of each sex.
At the Last Supper, and during his entire ministry, Jesus took the part of the man, while Mary Magdalene, his twin soul and possibly wife, took the part of the woman.
Belief in the Grail, and interest in its possible whereabouts, has never ceased. Ownership has been attributed to various groups, including the Knights Templar. This is probably because they were at the peak of their influence and power around the time that the Grail stories began to circulate. One story, the famous Parzival by German poet Wolfram von Eschenbach, immortalised in Wagner's opera Parsifal, claims that the Knights were protectors of the Grail castle, in which the sacred object was hidden. According to some sources, all nine of the original Knights were descendants of the Jesus bloodline.
There are cups claimed to be the Grail in several churches throughout Europe, most notably Valencia cathedral and also Genoa in Italy. Some believe that the Grail is today hidden in Spain, while others claim it is buried beneath Roslyn Chapel in Scotland, or at the foot of the Chalice Well in Glastonbury. Some believe it was taken by the Templars to the new world, where they hid it at Oak Island, Nova Scotia. Local folklore in Accokeek, Maryland says that it was brought to the town by a closeted priest aboard Captain John Smith's ship.
