The Holy Grail: The History and Legend of the Famous Relic

By Cre

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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Charles River Editors
• Release date: Sep 23, 2014
• ISBN: 9781475325942

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