The Holy Chalice

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The Holy Chalice

What is the Holy Chalice?

It is the cup which Jesus used at the Last Supper to serve the wine. For the meal on Passover, traditional Jews preferred stone vessels, since only stone was considered kosher (ritually pure). Clay was too porous and could contain impurities, while silver could have been used before for coins with the images of pagan Gods and there therefore considered to be impure as well. It was not impossible that an agate cup was used, such as the Valencia Chalice, as it could be possible that Jesus did not actually own the cup he used.

According to Roman Catholic Tradition the Holy Chalice was guarded by Saint Peter, who used it to say mass. He took it with him to Rome, and after his death it was passed on to the Church leadership. In 258 AD when Christians were being persecuted under Emperor Valerian, the Romans demanded that the relics be turned over to the government. Pope Sixtus gave the cup to a Spanish soldier with instructions to take it to safety in Spain. Tradition then states that it was safeguarded by the Spanish kings, until King Alfonso needed money for a military campaign. He borrowed money from the Cathedral of Valencia, using the Holy Chalice as collateral. He later defaulted on the loan and the relic became the property of the church.

Chalices claimed to be The Holy Chalice:

The Jerusalem Chalice

One account is that of a 7th century Anglo-Saxon pilgrim who described a Chalice located in a reliquary in a chapel near Jerusalem between the Basilica of Golgatha and the Martyrium. It was described as a two-handled silver chalice which was held with veneration by the people of the city. The is the only mention of the Holy Chalice being in the Holy Land.

The Genoa Chalice

Only two Chalices survive today, one being in the cathedral at Genoa. It is a hexagonal vessel known as the Holy Basin, and it was traditionally believed to be carved from emerald. It is thought to actually be a green Egyptian glass dish, about 18 inches across. During Napoleon's conquest of Italy it was sent to Paris, and was later returned broken (which is when it was identified as glass). The origin of the Chalice is uncertain, with several stories having developed. It is known that the Holy Basin was not identified as the Holy Chalice until late in the 13th century by Jacobus de Voragine.

The Valencia Chalice.

The only other known surviving contender as the Holy Chalice is an agate cup in the Cathedral of Valencia, where it is preserved in a chapel consecrated to it. It is a hemispherical cup made of dark red agate about 3.5 inches in diameter and 7 inches high, including the base which has been made of an inverted cup. The lower part contains Arabic inscriptions and is a later addition.

In 1960 the Spanish archaeologist Antonio Beltrán came to the conclusion that the cup was made in a Palestinian or Egyptian worship between the 4th century BC and the 1st century AD.

An inventory from 1134 AD mentions the Chalice, which is described as the vessel in which Jesus "consigned his blood." Another reference was found from 1399 when it was given to King Martin I of Aragon in exchange for a gold cup. Later the legend described earlier came to be associated with it.

The Holy Grail?

There is a tradition which says that the cup of the Last Supper is the Holy Grail. In this tradition the cup was used to collect and store the blood of Jesus at the crucifixion. While the legends for both items greatly contradict each other, they do have one thing in common: They show the cup which holds the blood of Jesus. One literally, the other symbolically.

It has been suggested that the Holy Chalice inspired the legend of the Holy Grail.


	Astennu's Tower Sanctum Sanctorum Contact Astennu's FAQ Astennu's Blog/Myspace The Holy Chalice What is the Holy Chalice? It is the cup which Jesus used at the Last Supper to serve the wine. For the meal on Passover, traditional Jews preferred stone vessels, since only stone was considered kosher (ritually pure). Clay was too porous and could contain impurities, while silver could have been used before for coins with the images of pagan Gods and there therefore considered to be impure as well. It was not impossible that an agate cup was used, such as the Valencia Chalice, as it could be possible that Jesus did not actually own the cup he used. According to Roman Catholic Tradition the Holy Chalice was guarded by Saint Peter, who used it to say mass. He took it with him to Rome, and after his death it was passed on to the Church leadership. In 258 AD when Christians were being persecuted under Emperor Valerian, the Romans demanded that the relics be turned over to the government. Pope Sixtus gave the cup to a Spanish soldier with instructions to take it to safety in Spain. Tradition then states that it was safeguarded by the Spanish kings, until King Alfonso needed money for a military campaign. He borrowed money from the Cathedral of Valencia, using the Holy Chalice as collateral. He later defaulted on the loan and the relic became the property of the church. . Chalices claimed to be The Holy Chalice: The Jerusalem Chalice One account is that of a 7th century Anglo-Saxon pilgrim who described a Chalice located in a reliquary in a chapel near Jerusalem between the Basilica of Golgatha and the Martyrium. It was described as a two-handled silver chalice which was held with veneration by the people of the city. The is the only mention of the Holy Chalice being in the Holy Land. The Genoa Chalice Only two Chalices survive today, one being in the cathedral at Genoa. It is a hexagonal vessel known as the Holy Basin, and it was traditionally believed to be carved from emerald. It is thought to actually be a green Egyptian glass dish, about 18 inches across. During Napoleon's conquest of Italy it was sent to Paris, and was later returned broken (which is when it was identified as glass). The origin of the Chalice is uncertain, with several stories having developed. It is known that the Holy Basin was not identified as the Holy Chalice until late in the 13th century by Jacobus de Voragine. The Valencia Chalice. The only other known surviving contender as the Holy Chalice is an agate cup in the Cathedral of Valencia, where it is preserved in a chapel consecrated to it. It is a hemispherical cup made of dark red agate about 3.5 inches in diameter and 7 inches high, including the base which has been made of an inverted cup. The lower part contains Arabic inscriptions and is a later addition. In 1960 the Spanish archaeologist Antonio Beltrán came to the conclusion that the cup was made in a Palestinian or Egyptian worship between the 4th century BC and the 1st century AD. An inventory from 1134 AD mentions the Chalice, which is described as the vessel in which Jesus "consigned his blood." Another reference was found from 1399 when it was given to King Martin I of Aragon in exchange for a gold cup. Later the legend described earlier came to be associated with it. The Holy Grail? There is a tradition which says that the cup of the Last Supper is the Holy Grail. In this tradition the cup was used to collect and store the blood of Jesus at the crucifixion. While the legends for both items greatly contradict each other, they do have one thing in common: They show the cup which holds the blood of Jesus. One literally, the other symbolically. It has been suggested that the Holy Chalice inspired the legend of the Holy Grail.