"And He took a cup and when He had given thanks He gave it to them saying 'Drink this, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I shall not drink again of the fruit of the vine until I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom.'" – Matthew 26:27
"The Grail is the womb of the beloved." – Robert Anton Wilson
The Holy Grail is one of the most famous relics of Christianity, but also one of the least understood. Today, it is mostly associated with Christ's Last Supper, possibly used during the meal as a serving cup. The gospels in the New Testament specifically mention the Holy Chalice that Jesus used to serve wine, so it's no surprise that images of the Holy Grail depict a similar kind of cup. Initially, the Holy Chalice was a separate tradition, but over time, the Holy Grail has come to be indistinguishable from the Holy Chalice itself, a concept that probably would have been foreign to the earliest Christians. While churches throughout Christendom were familiar with traditions regarding the Holy Chalice and some even claimed to have the venerated object, the legend of the Holy Grail was given life during the Middle Ages through folklore. .
Today, the legends written about the Holy Grail are better known than the traditions surrounding the Holy Chalice. The Holy Grail is a prevalent theme in the Arthurian tales, and it eventually became linked to other events in the crucifixion narrative by subsequent legends, including the belief that Joseph used the Holy Grail to catch some of Christ's blood after he was crucified and was being interred. Conveniently, the British writers who wrote of the legend related the tale of how special protectors of the relic brought it to Britain, a simple but effective way of boosting the legitimacy and prestige of the motherland.
While the Arthurian tales about Galahad and Perceval continue to fascinate readers, and the concept of undertaking an arduous quest to attain the Holy Grail has become a secular part of the modern lexicon, scholarly debate also arose over the actual history of the relic. Given the passage of time, and the addition of the literature surrounding it, it should come as no surprise that the historical debate continues today. In addition to the Christian traditions, scholars have looked for other sources that might have influenced the beliefs and legends about the Holy Grail, including searching Celtic mythology and literature, all in an attempt to better understand the emergence of the Holy Grail legend.
The Holy Grail: The History and Legend of the Famous Relic chronicles the legends and theories about the famous holy relic, examining the historical record to piece together an understanding of the known and unknown about the Grail. Along with pictures and a bibliography, you will learn about the Holy Grail like you never have before, in no time at all.
