The Saint Calice indicates the cut used by Jesus-Christ and her twelve Disciple S during the Cène, meal which they made to commemorate together the Jewish Passover, the day before the day when Jesus was going to be delivered to the Romain S and crucifié.
There exist several cuts that some regard as the Relique cut used by Jesus-Christ, none being officially recognized by the Roman Église. One of them is currently with the Cathédrale of Valence, in Spain; according to historical documents, it is Saint Laurent, deacon of the pope Sixte II which would have made it give to his/her parents who lived Huesca to prevent that the Roman Emperor Vespasien who persecuted the Christians does not seize any. Certain authors think that the cut that had used Jesus at the time of Cène had arrived to Saint Pierre and that, since, all the popes had been transmitted it and like chalice to celebrate the Eucharistie the Maundy Thursday made use of it.
The " Calice" saint; was also often associated with the Graal, either by artists, or through popular legends. One then used the term of Saint Graal rather than simply of graal.
The chalice for the Church
The Saint Chalice in the texts
The three synoptic Gospels evoke same manner the cut that took the Christ during the institution of the Eucharistie after the Cène, without him of giving name nor of particular title.
26.27 It took then a cut ; and, after having returned graces, it gave it to them, while saying: Drink all;
26.28 because this is my blood, the blood of the alliance, which is widespread for several, for the remission of the sins| Gospel according to Matthieu | to read in line
14.23 It took then a cut ; and, after having returned graces, it gave it to them, and they drank tous.
of it 14.24 And he says to them: This is my blood, the blood of the alliance, which is widespread for several| Gospel according to Marc
22.20 It took in the same way the cut , after the supper, and theirs gave, while saying: This cut is new alliance in my blood, which is widespread for you| Gospel according to Luc
The Saint Chalice is also evoked in the First epistle with the Corinthians in the same way.
11.25 In the same way, after having soup, it took the cut , and known as: This cut is new alliance in my blood; made this in memory of me all times that you will drink some| First epistle with the Corinthians
Saint Irenee described the miracle caused by Marc the Gnostique which poured white wine in its chalice and which became red after having requested.
The Saint Chalice in Rome?
The Roman gun of the Messe indicates to us that at the time of the dedication of the wine of the Eucharistie the Pape S took a chalice and pronounced (in Latin): " Accipiens and hunc praeclarum calicem in sanctas ac venerabiles manus sweated… " (" (the Lord) also taking this invaluable chalice in its holy and worthy hands… ").The fact that they said " taking THIS calice" rather than " taking a calice" could indicate, as Antuñano announces it (see bibliography), that the chalice used by the popes in Rome was the same one as that used by Jesus.
No trace indicates how the Saint Chalice would have arrived at the Pape S: it is generally supposed that it is holy Pierre which had brought it, or holy Marc. Another assumption is that holy Pierre would have brought it to Antioche and that a bishop of Antioche would have then brought it to Rome.
The Chalice of Valence
The Cathédrale of Valence (in Spain) preserves since 1437 a Relique, supposed being the Saint Chalice, sent Rome in Spain by Saint Laurent in 258. (see another photograph)
History of the Chalice of Valence (from Rome to Spain)
258: Saint Laurent makes send the Chalice to Huesca
According to the history of the Chalice, in 258, during the persecution of the emperor Valérien, the Pape Sixte II would have, two days before its Martyre, given the Relique S, the objects invaluable and the money, with its Diacre, Saint Laurent, originating in Huesca (Spain).Laurent was itself ized Martyr, but before dying it had made dispatch the chalice with his parents, in his birthplace, Loret, close to Huesca, with a written letter of its main.
There was a Fresque 13th century in the Basilique Saint-Laurent-out-the-walls of Rome which represented the handing-over of the Saint Chalice by Saint Laurent with a Spanish legionary, but it was destroyed the July 19th 1943, during the Second world war, at the time of a combined Bombardement, and there remains only a poor Photo. The parents of SAINT LAURENT lived a small farm ( torre , into Aragonese) which is the current hermitage of the Virgin of Loreto.
713: Moslem conquest, voyage through the Pyrenees of the South
In 712 begins the Moslem Conquête from Spain.The Moors would have sought the Saint Chalice and the cathedral of Huesca not being more one sure shelter, the Acisclo bishop left the city in 713 with the Saint Chalice, travelling towards the Pyrenees of the South, while passing by several vaults, churches and monasteries: cave of Yebra de Basa (where Sainte Orosia was martyrisée), vault Saint-Pierre de Siresa (the Saint Chalice at summer hidden inside one of the walls; a star drawn on the ground had a branch which indicated the exact position of the hiding-place in the wall; towards 830, the kings and counts d' Aragon and of Navarre poured considerable contributions for the worship of the crowned relics, culto has tired santas reliquias ), church Santa María in Santa Cruz of Serós (a small cockpit in the wall makes think that the Saint Chalice could have been placed there), Saint Adrien de Sásave, church of Corte with Bailo (between 1014 and 1045 approximately), cathedral Saint-Pierre de Jaca (towards 1045), and other places remained secret. In 777 the Armée with Charlemagne crosses the the Pyrenees. A Théorie claims that the Rumeur of the presence of the Saint Chalice in this area would then have been propagated in Europe.
~1070: the Saint Chalice is placed at the Monastère of Jean Saint of Peña
In 1071 the bishop of Jaca, Gift Sancho I, placed the Saint Chalice at the Monastère of Jean Saint of Peña, where it had been Moine before, at the time of the arrival of the cardinal Hugo Cándido, sent by the Pape Alexandre II.
The document " S. Laurenzo" emptied; December 14th 1134 (page 109) written by D. Carreras Ramirez, Canon of Saragossa, testifies to the presence of the Saint Chalice to the Monastère of Jean Saint of Peña:
" In a arca of marfil está el Caliz in that Cristo NR. Señor consagró known sangre, el cual envió S. Laurenzo knew patria, Huesca. "
(" In an arch of Ivoire there is the Calice in which Our Lord the Christ devoted his blood, which was sent by Saint Laurent to motherland, Huesca. ")
In 1322 a Sultan of Egypt asserts to have acquired with Jerusalem the cut used by the Christ at the time of the Cène.
Jacques II of Aragon buys this chalice with the sultan and in the palate of the Aljafería of Saragossa (Source places it: Finke, Acta Aragonensia II. Berlin-Leipzig 1908])
J.A. Onate (see bibliography) formulated the assumption that, thereafter, Martin I {{er}} Human the would have made this cut the foot of the Saint Chalice.
1399: the Chalice is transported in Aljafería from Saragossa then in Barcelona
The September 26th 1399 the Saint Chalice was transported to the vault of the Palais Royal (the Aljafería) of Saragossa, at the request of the king d' Aragon Martin I {{er}} Human the with the support of the Antipape Benoit XIII.A notarial Acte indicates: " Cáliz of will piedra in el cual Ntro. Sr. Jesucristo consagró known preciosa sangre " (" Chalice hones some in which Our Lord Jesus-Christ devoted his invaluable blood ".)
The text which accompanied the Chalice - this text is preserved in the Archive S of the Crown of Aragon at Barcelona (Parchemin nº 136 of the Collection of Martin I {{er}} Human the (see the document)) - specified that the chalice had been sent of Rome with a letter of Saint Laurent.
Later the Saint Chalice was transferred in the Chapelle from the residence from the king to Barcelona (the Inventaire of the goods of Martin I {{er}} which was made in September 1410 in Barcelona little before its death indicates that the Saint Chalice was present in this city).
~1416: the Saint Chalice is transferred to Valence
In 1416 (or 1424), Alphonse V of Aragon took along the Saint Chalice in his Palais Royal to Valence (Spain) (this palate was demolished in 1810).Party to conquer Naples, his/her brother, Jean II of Aragon becomes viceroy. According to the act of the notary Jaume Monfort, the March 18th 1437 Jean II gave in the name of his brother the Saint Chalice to the Cathédrale of Valence where it is always preserved (Archive S of the cathedral, volume 3.532, pages 36-37).
The crown of Aragon then wanted to take it again and the Cathédrale of Valence gave to the Royaume of Aragon 40.000 Ducat S of gold to keep this relic perpetually.
1744: the Saint Chalice splits up after a fall
The April 3rd 1744, at the time of the service of the Holy Week, the Saint Chalice escaped with the hands of the Archpriest Gift Vicente Frígola Brizuela and fell, splitting up into two. It was a shock for all the people present and Gift Vicente died about it a few days later. Repair was carried out by large the jeweller Luis Vicent (in the presence of the notary Juan Claver which consigned the act) and fractures it is not noticed more, except two small cracks.
1809: advanced Napoleonean troops, the Saint Chalice is transferred to Alicance, Ibiza and Palma de Majorque
In March 1809, in front of the advanced Napoleonean troops, the Saint Chalice left Valence for Alicante first of all. It is turned over to Valence in February 1810, but in March of this year, it had to be transferred from Valence with Ibiza, and in February 1812 with Palma de Majorque.The Saint Chalice is turned over to the Cathédrale of Valence in September 1813, at the end of the war of Independence.
1916: The Saint Chalice is installed in a vault
In 1915 the chapter of the cathedral decides to transform the old chapter room into Chapelle of the Saint Chalice, where this one was installed in 1916, the day of the Épiphanie.
1936: civil war, the Saint Chalice is entrusted to faithful
The June 21st 1936 in the morning, during the civil war which opposes the republicans to the nationalists of Franco, the republicans having devastated the adjacent temples with the cathedral (San Valero, San Agustin and others), the council of the cathedral decided to give the Saint Chalice to faithful; he was entrusted, camouflaged in newspaper, in Maria Sabina Suey Vanaclocha, who was escorted by two disguised ecclesiastics, to her residence, 3 rue Primado Reig. A few hours after, the republicans entered the cathedral. A Franc-maçon was put at the research of the Saint Chalice with republicans and sought it among members of the council and their amis.The August 7th, of the republicans quickly excavated the residence of Maria Sabina who was being a friend of Elias Olmos Canalda (archivist of the Cathedral) and did not find the Saint Chalice hidden in the wardrobe. It was then dissimulated under a dalle.
The August 29th, they returned but still did not find it. Maria Sabina then hid it in her brother with 7 rue Pelayo, before again hiding it at it the January 30th 1937.
Meanwhile, a Jewish group of Amsterdam offered approximately 100.000 $ for the Saint Calice.
The June 20th 1937, Maria Sabina placed the Saint Chalice in his sister, in Carlet, a small village to 25 km of Valence.
The March 30th 1939, shortly after the victory of Free, Maria Sabina gave the Saint Chalice to the autorités.
Thursday April 9th the Saint Chalice was returned to the council of the cathedral. He was placed at the " Lonja of the seda " during three months time that the Cathedral is repaired and the July 9th it returned within the cathedral.
D. Elias Olmos Canalda wrote there a book, Como Fue Salvado el Santo Caliz of Cena: Rutas del Santo Grial desde Jerusalén has Valencia (published in 1946, ISBN B0000EDNKO), which tells all these events.
1982: the pope Jean-Paul II celebrates the mass with the Calice saint with Valence
In 1982, the Pape Jean-Paul II visited Valence. He kissed twice the Saint Chalice and used it for the Messe (see photo).
2006: the pope Benoît XVI celebrates the mass with the Calice saint with Valence
At the time of his arrival for the World Meetings of the Family, the pope Benoît XVI celebrated the mass with the Calice saint. (see it video on YouTube). A counterpart was offered to him (see photo).
Structure of the Chalice of Valence
In 1960, Antonio Beltran, chief of the department of Archeology of the University of Saragossa, in collaboration with other European colleagues, made a complete study of the Saint Chalice.It would have been manufactured between the IV E and the year 1.
Il has a 17 cm height.
It is formed by a cut, a body and a foot.
The cut, cut of a great piece of Agate (or Eastern Chalcedony) has a Diamètre of 9 cm.
The body, is composed of:
- a) a central column hexagonal with a round nut in the medium and surmounted by two small dishes, that of the top supporting the cut and that of the lower part supporting the foot;
- b) two side handles, in form of Snake, cut hexagonalement.
- c) the base, entirely in Gold.
Others alleged Saints Chalices
With the Moyen-âge more than twenty cut S claimed to be the Saint Chalice.
The " Sacro Catino" cathedral of Genoa
One of most famous is the " Sacro Catino ". (see photo)It would have been not only that which the Christ would have used, Sacro Catino, but before that it would have been offered by the Queen of Sheba (Yemen, Arabia) to the king Solomon to furnish the temple, built to shelter the Ark of the Covenant, this trunk which contained the table of the Ten Commands, received by Moïse with the the Sinai.
According to Hérodote, a cut of emerald was in the temple of Héraclès (the Hercules of twelve work) to Agrigente.
For some, Sacro Catino would be the dish on which the head of Saint Jean-Baptiste, claimed by Salome was deposited.
During the countryside of Italy led by Napoleon Bonaparte, it catch with the cathedral and was taken along to Paris in 1809, where it was studied by a commission of the Academy of Science of the Institut of France) which concludes that it was made in Byzantine Cristal and not in emerald. It was restored in 1815.
Vase of the Holy-Sophie basilica of Constantinople brought back then to the Cathedral of Troyes
In 1199, a Russian pilgrim called Antonius (Antoine), which will become later the Archevêque of Novgorod, traversed the Sanctuaire S of the Byzantine Empire drawing up a catalog of principal the Relique S met.A Handwritten (which was published only in 1872), teaches us that at the time of its visit to the Basilique Holy-Sophie, he had noticed small a Vase of Marbre of appearance, which one said that he had been used by Jesus-Christ the Maundy Thursday when he celebrated the last Cène.
" Catinum parvum marmoreum, quo usus is Christus, quum coenam cum discipulis celebravit feria quinta majori " (Niore. Antonius, Novgorodensis archiepiscopus; liber which dicitur Peregrinus, seu Descriptio S. Locorum Caesareae ciritatis. ED. Paulus Sawaïtov. Petroburgi, 1872. See also Mr. Sreznevski 1875. Spicilège of the Academy of Saintt-Pétersbourg, volume XII p. 340-349. See also Mr. count of Laughing: Exuriae sacrae Constantinopolitanae. Volume II page 218-230).
For a Fourth crusade against the Moslem S in Egypt, a cross army was consisted the Count Thibaut III of Champagne and counted a great number of Champenois of which, at their head, in the capacity as large chaplain of the Latin army, the bishop of Troyes, already old, Garnier de Trainel.
In 1202, of share the alliance of crossed with the Venetian , the crusade will be diverted of its initial goal to attack the Byzantine S orthodoxe with Constantinople, the city with many the Relique S, especially since the fall of Jerusalem, and which deserved the title of Holy City.
In 1204, the crusaders made control on the treasures (relics and precious stones) of Constantinople and one needed the energetic intervention of the legate of the the Holy See, Pierre de Capoue, so that this raid stops and that the spoils are given between the hands of Garnier de Trainel become the guard of the “goods” of the Church. Garnier, that death waited downtown this, had piled up a priceless treasure which it prepared, in its turn, to divert if not with its profit, at least for that of its good town of Troyes. They are its chaplains who undertook some, bringing back with them a considerable share of this treasure in which one found a piece considerable of the Vraie Cross, blood of Christ, but also the chief of Saint Philippe, the arm of Saint Jacques Major the or the whole body of Sainte Helene virgin. (Mentioned in the Inventory S of the churches of Troyes).
The vase of Cène was, undoubtedly, most invaluable of the treasures. The Inventaire S of the churches of Troyes mention it as follows: “A fort beautiful vase of Jasper, surrounded by an edge of Money on which there are four Towards Greek S iambic which is engraved in ancient capital letters (version hereafter in Latin): “ East go in quo duet pisces fuerunt handle Dominum Jesum Christum in mensa portati, and depost illud go flees in quo Corpus Domini deportabatur .” (“This vase is that where two fish were brought on the table in front of N.S Jesus-Christ and, since, the body of the Lord was deposited there. ”)
There remains about it testimony in the Verrière S carried out under Nicolas de Brie (canopy 10, the second on the right of the chorus).
In January 1794 all the reliquaries and relics were delivered to the revolutionary flames .
Chalice of Antioche
Preserved at the Metropolitan Museum off Art with New York, this object was presented like the Saint Chalice. It dates from and today one thinks rather than this object was used as lamp.
The Saint Chalice in the popular culture
Graal was often compared to the Saint Chalice
The Graal, sought by the Knights of the Roundtable, often was compared to the Saint Chalice and was called Saint Graal.
Joseph d' Arimathie would have collected the blood of Christ in the Saint Chalice
It is (according to certain Legends associated with Graal), in this same chalice that Joseph d' Arimathie would have collected the Sang of the Christ who ran of a wound to the right side caused by the Longin soldier with the Sainte Lance.
Bond between the Saint Chalice and Graal
The " Graal ", mysterious object symbol of search, fed from the legends and the literature; according to the stories, it is not described in the same way. In its first literary evocation, Perceval or the Tale of Graal of Chrétien of Troyes (12th century, in Vieux French), it is only known as that the Graal is decorated of invaluable stones, but its nature is not defined. It is in the estoire dou Graal of Robert de Boron that it is compared to the Saint Chalice. It is besides from there that appears to name “Graal Saint”.
- to see the article detailed on the Graal.
The Blazon of Galicia
The Saint Chalice is represented in the Blason of Galicia, that is due probably to the resemblance of the two names, Calice and Galicia.
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