Discover Hertford Online Forum

Reply ID 3173

“Hertford, home of the Holy Grail” ... “An ancient secret society; a demand for a papal apology; and a network of hidden tunnels. Strange things have been stirring in Hertfordshire recently. The Guardian goes in search of the Knights Templar and the cup of Christ.” ... - The Guardian, 4 January 2005: “Hertford, home of the Holy Grail”, pp 6-7 (G2 section). Well done for finding this article and thanks for pointing it out. I've just seen it at the top of The Guardian homepage. I've just obtained a copy of the printed edition of the paper too and it's interesting stuff! There's a good picture in there of a certain stained-glass window...

Reply ID 3183

Cracking stuff!! TVA - is there one good book I can read to explain in a relatively simple form, the history of the Templars and what happened with the Vatican that is as factual as possible?

Reply ID 3184

If you're looking for a concise and accurate account of the fall of the Templars one of the best available is, ironically, the Catholic Encyclopaedia (Volume 14). Their entry on the Templars is divided into sections, the third of which concerns the "tragic" persecution of the Order. I provide a link for your convenience: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14493a.htm However, it is a complex case and there is much to be learned. Among the newer commentaries there are some interesting revisionist theories which, although not perfect, do provide an essential insight. Thus, I recommend the following two best-selling books, "Holy Blood, Holy Grail" and "Templar revelation", two non-fiction books which were the primary sources for the fictional Da Vinci Code:- Templar Revelation (read some of the Amazon reviews) http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14493a.htm Holy Blood, Holy Grail http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14493a.htm I also recommend The Templars by Piers Paul Read, himself a Templar, which is one of the most celebrated modern works. It is serious and uncontroversial, but by the same token scholarly and informative. It is more readable than a textbook but equally authoritative. You will find no DaVinci-Code-style conspiracy theories in this book, only cold hard historical facts: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14493a.htm I also refer you to news of recent developments, most notably the revelation in 2002 that the Vatican have always known the Templars were innocent but said nothing, even as the leaders of the Templars were slow-roasted alive, their charred flesh falling away from their bones, eventually dying in the intense agony of burning heat: The Times (UK), "Vatican file shows pope [secretly] pardoned massacred Knights", 30 March 2002. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14493a.htm And of course the request last year for a long-overdue papal apology to set matters right at last: The Times (UK), “The last crusade of the Templars”, p 13, 29 November 2004. [ http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14493a.htm ] [Note from Admin: Please read conditions regarding editing posts at http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14493a.htm Your account may be suspended if you continue to ignore these terms]

Reply ID 3193

Thanks for that - this will keep me busy!

Reply ID 3208

This is so fascinating..... I have now started to read up on this and research this on the internet. Does anyone know, is there a society of people who discuss or pool their research on this?

Reply ID 3222

Hi there just read the article in the Guardian very interesting, I am a Templar and more so a Rosslyn chapel historian and would love some better pics of the stained glass window in the church. If anyone has pictures of the window i would be most grateful, if you could email them to me thanks in advance Phil

Reply ID 3223

Welcome to the forum, Rosslyn Templar. For those who are not aware, Rosslyn in Scotland is a world-famous historical location, especially well-known among those who are interested in the Templars and Freemasons. Rosslyn chapel is a major tourist-attraction and thousands of fans and pilgrims from around the world visit each year. In contrast few but historians and insiders are aware of the significance of Hertford. We're rather like an undiscovered English Rosslyn; to coin a phrase, "the Rosslyn of the South". I would be interested in obtaining a photograph of the Eastern window of St Andrew's myself. For me it is just a matter of visiting the church with a camera. If I do so in the near future I will be sure to let you know. If anybody beats me to it, let me know!

Reply ID 3224

Umberto Eco has a lot to answer for.

Reply ID 3502

Here's photo of the stained-glass windows at St. Andrews (click on the photo to enlarge it): http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2005/01/817193.shtml This is the photo that was printed in The Guardian. It shows the church's main window, which has pride of place directly above the alter. The photo is clear and bright, but for some reason the pane on the far left, which shows John holding the Grail, is darkened and does not show up. Perhaps John did not want to be photographed that day! The window faces East and therefore catches the first rays of the morning sun each day. It is the tradition in Christian churches to orientate the alter to the East. This is the origin of the word "orientation", for Orient means East (e.g. China is Oriental). Some believe that Jesus was an Essene. The Essenes, an early Judeo-Christian community, kneeled-down to the rising sun each morning to pray. Muslims, who worship the same God as Christians and Jews, face East five times a day as they bow to pray. The people of ancient Egypt also bowed-down to the East each morning to pray. Their God was Amen-Ra, or Ra, whose name is the origin of the modern word, "ray" (e.g. ray of light). Christians say Amen at the end of every prayerm, but how many understand it as the name of He to whom their prayers are addressed? "For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever, Amen." Jesus was no ordinary first-century Jew, for he was raised and educated in ancient Egypt:- "Out of Egypt have I called my son." - Matthew 2.15.

Reply ID 3503

This is fascinating stuff TVA. Off topic but channel hopping the other night I watched a documentary on the conversion of Saul that gave rise to the established Pauline Church, leaving the disciples and the old religion into obscurity. But to bring myself back I have been asked by a few visitors lately for directions to our churches and one was particularly interested in Hertford Castle. Until i explained that the castle as such, no lnger exists. Perhaps all this publicity really is bringing tourists and those with an enquiring mind back into Hertford. Which is no bad thing at all.

Reply ID 3504

Exactly a point I made quite a while back [:D] Also, all the other 'grail' & Illuminati news, books, & documentaries lead the researcher through Hertford so it can only bring business to the town! P'raps they'll expand & finally build that cinema with the increased cash flow haha! [;)]

Reply ID 3505

P.S. Next time you're in Hertford take a closer look at the building currently used by Lussmans restaurant opposite Cafe Uno. The symbolism carved on the front, and the shape of the building and its windows, have a distinctly ancient Egyptian theme. Identical motifs are found on prominent buildings at ancient religious sites throughout Egypt. Look at the building next time you are there, because these symbols have a very specific meaning. The cartouche is the ancient Egyptian symbol for the Royal line. The Winged Disc of Ra, the disc representing the Sun and the wings representing its flight from East to West through the southern sky: http://www.anth.ucsb.edu/faculty/stsmith/research/images/KermaC.jpg There's one on the Wellcome Trust building opposite Euston Station in London, too:- http://www.anth.ucsb.edu/faculty/stsmith/research/images/KermaC.jpg In light of these ancient Egyptian religious symbols it is interesting to note that, according to the local newspaper, the Knights Templar, who some believe preserve an early Christian tradition, once had a Temple beneath this building.