July 26, 2002



THE SECRETS OF ROSLYN CHAPEL
Some of the greatest artefacts in archaeological folklore are said to exist under Rosslyn Chapel, the ancient home of the Knights Templar in the village of Roslin near Edinburgh. If speculation is to believed, its musty, undisturbed vaults may contain fantastic holy relics, including early gospels, the Ark of the Covenant, the Stone of Destiny, even the mummified head of Christ.

Now, in an attempt to end the speculation, and to throw further light on exactly what lies beneath the historic chapel, the Rosslyn Chapel Trust is seeking the opinion of Historic Scotland to allow a team of archaeologists access to conduct a sophisticated non-invasive survey of its vaults.

The foundations of the nave are said to have excavated in the 19th century and found to extend 91 feet beyond the chapel's original west door, under the existing baptistery and churchyard.

In 1962, an Edinburgh schoolmaster claimed that the Holy Grail was hidden in the Apprentice Pillar. He believed it contained a lead casket, containing the legendary cup used by Christ at the Last Supper and later used to collect His blood.

The Hiram Key, a book published in 1996, and its sequel The Second Messiah argued that the Apprentice Pillar concealed holy manuscripts as well as the Holy Grail. Its authors said there were credible grounds for suggesting Rosslyn was built as a shrine for the holy scrolls. - Read more here.


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