The holy Chalice of valencia (Spain): the end of the quest

23-07-24

In a remarkable convergence of archaeological evidence and unbroken oral tradition, the Holy See has officially endorsed the authenticity of the Holy Chalice of Valencia, positioning Valencia as a magnet for tourists and pilgrims. This relic, considered the most sought-after in Christianity, has generated renewed interest and a significant increase in religious tourism.

It is likely that Jesus celebrated his last Passover (Pesach) following the strict Jewish laws and customs of the time. The Passover meal required flawless and non-porous tableware, thus excluding wooden or clay cups that could retain traces of forbidden foods.

This Jewish filter rules out other non-kosher cups that have claimed to be the Passover cup. Indiana Jones' choice of a wooden chalice in popular culture has contributed to the confusion, but archaeology tells another story.

During the Passover meal, four blessings were performed in special wine vessels called Kosh Kidush. In the 1960s, Dr. Beltran, an archaeological authority of the time, conducted an exhaustive study of the Valencian relic, finding that it consisted of an upper cup, a shaft with golden handles and a supporting naveta.

The upper cup is an agate vase hand-carved in an oriental workshop between the first or second centuries BC, which makes it a true Kosh Kidush contemporary of Jesus. This discovery quiets the criticism about the rich gold work of the Valencian chalice, since it has been demonstrated that the ornaments were added in the Middle Ages in order not to touch the authentic relic.

According to Christian tradition, the cup was taken by St. Peter from Jerusalem to Rome, being used by the first Judeo-Christians in their clandestine liturgies. In 258 A.D., St. Lawrence saved the Grail from Roman sacking by sending it to his parents' home in Huesca, paying with his life for this act. For eleven centuries, the relic was hidden in Aragon, sheltered in hidden places in the Pyrenees, such as the Monastery of San Juan de la Peña. Finally, the cup passed into the hands of the kings of Aragon and arrived in Valencia in 1437, where it has been venerated in the cathedral since 1916.

In 2015, the Holy See granted Valencia the title of “Jubilee City in Perpetuity”, allowing it to celebrate a Jubilee every five years. This recognition places Valencia among the holiest cities in Christendom, just after Jerusalem and Rome, and above Santiago de Compostela which celebrates its Jubilee every seven years.

Valencia is already preparing to celebrate its second Jubilee in 2025, an event that promises to attract numerous pilgrims and devotees from all over the world.

The revival of interest in the relic has spawned a new pilgrimage route known as The Way of the Holy Grail. This 650 km route connects the Pyrenees with the Mediterranean, crossing almost a hundred towns and cities in the provinces of Huesca, Zaragoza, Teruel, Castellón and Valencia.

As in the Camino de Santiago, pilgrims carry a passport to be stamped in hostels, churches and iconic points of the Grail. During the upcoming Jubilee Year, they will be able to achieve plenary indulgence, or forgiveness of sins.

Unlike the Way of St. James, this road zigzags and stops at points where tradition claims the Holy Grail was guarded or passed through. Another difference of the Jacobean Way is its spirit, not so much based on penance or expiation but on the connection with the Rule of Universal Love, symbolized by the chalice of the Last Supper.

The increase in pilgrims and content uploaded to the networks during the last few years aroused the interest of Netflix, which has included this route in its docu-series “Mysteries of Faith”, episodes 1 and 2, premiering in November 2023. This prestigious platform has brought this pilgrimage into the homes of millions of people around the world, generating an exponential growth in the number of pilgrims.

This route was born with a profound international vocation. Although its route is currently limited to Spain, the candidacy for the Holy Grail Way to be recognized as a European Cultural Itinerary has already been presented in Europe.

This initiative is led by the Cultural Association The Way of the Holy Grail and Dr. Mafé, the world's leading expert on the proto-history of the Holy Chalice.

It is expected that, in the medium term, pilgrims will be able to travel the route from different parts of Europe, exploring cultural roots from the Christian faith to the literary tradition of art and literature.