The Holy Grail

The Holy Grail(Laura Weber) Percival is a name of ancient Norman origin, (The French meaning: pierce the veil.) The name arrived in England with the Norman Conquest of l066. Percival is a reference to two towns named Percevill, in Calvados, Normandy. The name was first found in Somerset where they were seated from very early times, as they were granted lands by William of Normandy their liege for distinguished services at the Battle of Hasting in l066 AD.

I love the stories of Arthur and Camelot and would like to think some of it is based on the life and times of people and stories of what happened around them, in their every day lives. It is perhaps one of the most romantic periods in English mythology. I hope it always remains there in the mist of time.

The establishment of the Knights of the Roundtable is associated with codes of chivalry, flowery prose and elegant manners and some of those from the legends have been carried through and put in practice to day. The Magic of Merlin, and the story of Excalibur and the part Merlin played in Arthur’s life toward educating and teaching him to be the greatest of all British Kings. Morgan le Fey, Arthur’s half sister. The love affair between the Queen and Sir Lancelot is a case in point of why marriages break up and drift apart, is the same old theme, the wife straying away from the comforts of home looking for a more loving partner. The Queen was neglected by Arthur who was always going off to defend his kingdom, more often than being there besides his wife. After many battles, fought with velour, we have the wonderful dramatic finale with the Lady of the Lake, taking the sword back and sinking with it below the waters. The last journey of the dying Arthur as he set sail for Avalon somewhere across the sea, leaves one with such a vivid romantic imagination ticking away in the hopes for a once and future King’s return one day.(T.H. White.)
The numerous adventures of the Knights and their good deeds, some not so good, added to the excitement of Arthur. Camelot is a tale of the human spirit. Life was at its zenith then, maybe never to be repeated again in quite the same way.

This was the era when the Knights were advanced in romantic tales of poetical love affairs of the heart. New advanced religious ideas were sought after and other more advanced worldly knowledge and science. The crusaders, (Knights), and the courtiers, and the rich with their involvement and obsession of all royalty, were all mingling with the leading powerful figures. The monasteries and the church became very involved and influential so everyone it seemed was hungry for power, playing the dangerous game of politics and interfering in matters of state. Mystery surrounded the Knights of the Templar, as they were a secret force to be reckoned with. Life was a buzz with excitement as the experience of knowledge and learning is always associated with intellect and the future.
The most famous of stories to emerge from that time is the search for the Holy Grail because of its connotation with Christ. Sir Percival a Knight of Arthur’s Roundtable played a prominent role as the seeker for the Holy Grail.

The person who searches for the Grail has to be ideally suited to such a cause, and Percival was recognized as one such man. His belief never erred in his moral and ethical code of values. Few can follow the path and find fulfillment in what they do. Others feel tempted to gain prestige from it and so often fall by the wayside. To keep a cool head and eyes on achieving your goal is exactly what Percival did.

The Holy Land was a very powerful magnet and inspiration for the Crusaders. Percival was absolutely motivated to go on a crusade with some of the Knights, as he firmly believed the Chalice had never left Jerusalem, and was still hidden there.

One thousand years of so later Isabella Percival a reporter for the Global Press decided to take the challenge, encouraged by her sister Laura and their cousins Arthur and Richard, to search for the Holy Grail. After all they had similar names, which was part of the fun. Isabella was a journalist and knew how to follow a story, and she could dig around.
Isabella however, had to go to Japan first, and was travelling on a Pan Am flight back to New York to report on her findings of the situation there. She got into conversation with a journalist from Israel who had been down at the site of the Nuclear Power Plant.

“I hope you are not radio active,” Isabella said with a twinkle in her eyes speaking to Mathias “or I shall have to go and sit in another seat,” Mathias replied with a smile, “we all wore protective clothing so I am quite safe. The Japanese are a brilliant race of people, to combat a nuclear disaster of such magnitude was absolutely miraculous.”
Definitely attracted to her, he quickly established an easy manner and asked where she was off to after reporting to her bosses. Isabella told him she was going to Israel to search for the Holy Grail, a famous Christian story connected to Christ, to see if she could pick up the trail from the Holy Land, where it was last seen.

“Well,” Mathias said “right now I am going to change my plans and follow you to Israel and pay my parents an overdue visit. I do not want to lose my newfound friendship with you, so I am inviting you to stay with us in Tel Aviv. There is room at the Inn, and I am sure there is a spare comfortable manger for you to sleep in. And now we have settled your accommodation, you can tell me about this very interesting and intriguing story of the Grail” Mathias was a very direct man. “Well here goes,” Isabella said with a smile, it is quite confusing at times, but I think I am on the right tract.”

“The story starts with the three wise men” but the Holy Grail is wound round the Arthurian legendary tales of Camelot, brought to England by Joseph of Arimathea when he visited the British Isles. There are many accounts and versions, but the one I have chosen is based in the context of Christ’s Passion, the Last Supper and the Crucifixion.

At the Passover Meal, Christ held a silver wine cup in his hands and told his disciples to drink from the cup which is to be God’s new Covenant to his people. Christ told them to remember this night as it was their last meal together, as very shortly he was going away, back to his father.
To continue Isabella said, “At the Crucifixion a lance was used by a centurion named Longinus to pierce Christ’s side. A trench digger standing close by watching the proceedings saw what was happening as blood spurted from the wound. He took the silver cup from Joseph of Arimathea, who was standing close by, and held it to Christ’s side. He covered the cup for protection and gave it back to Joseph”.

Mathias remarked that this is a real New Testament Christian story of love and martyrdom, indeed very fascinating to him as he did not know much about her religion, as he tended to regard Christ as an enemy rather than a friend. Isabella put her arms around him, and said she was truly sorry for the past and about what had happened. “I have been a Christian since I was 6 yrs. old. I cannot right the wrong that was done, but maybe this can be our small beginning.”

Isabella carried on, trying to go back nearly 2000 yrs. Joseph of Arimathea got into trouble with the law and the cup was taken away from him. He was subsequently imprisoned, when Christ appeared and made hi m the keeper of the Chalice. Pontius Pilot gave the cup back go Joseph for safe keeping.

Funny thing is, Peter denied Christ three times. The cup was only ever seen three times before it vanished.

Only a person pure of heart and faith seeking the Holy Grail would ever find the truth. When Percival decided to go with the crusaders to Jerusalem, he stayed a little while with them, and then without saying goodbye, he just became scarce, as it was surmised by his friends who often saw his figure in the distance invariably wandering around the Holy City, where he chose to spend the rest of his life as a hermit, living in a cave close by, mainly to guard the Chalice.”

Mathias was impressed as he said it was quite a story, but who were Percival’s parents? He must have come from somewhere. Isabella was very thoughtful when she said,” although there are many versions, he must have been brought up in a stolid background to have such a strong character. I would like to think his father was a soldier in King Arthur’s army and Percival grew up in Camelot, an ideal place and environment for children, learning from the Knights. At an early age they would have been taught games, jousting, fencing, archery, and hunting.”
“It will be fun to help you find the Grail but one small point," Mathias said, where does the Bible story of the Three Wise Men come into your theory of things?” Isabella answered with a smile, “there is a myth that Percival had three birth marks in a row on his right ribs, which confirmed that he was indeed the right seeker for the Grail.”
Mathias suddenly perked up and asked if she had such a mark. Isabella succeeded in looking slightly mysterious.

Once in Israel, Isabella met his parents and was greeted with typical Israeli warmth, so she felt at home straight away. She was fascinated by Mathias’s parents. His mother was of Moroccan descent and made the most delicious savory dishes with a spice only grown in Morocco, she used to blend in the meat, and an orange cake for desert, the best she had ever eaten. His father was an Englishmen from Yorkshire, and they had met at the UN in New York where they were both working.

Mathias’s father said it would be better if the were to go on a tour and visit all the biblical spots to get the feel and vibe of the land first. Mathias heartily agreed, and softly murmured to her, “ and to get better acquainted with each other, and oh by the way don’t think I have forgotten about the three tantalizing marks on your ribs, which I shall take a good look at one of these days, so be warned.” Isabella gave a little giggle, she liked his direct flirtatious words, and he was also so handsome.
With the help of his father, they organized phone calls to his pals for any information. Plans, and maps, the decision to go was without doubt Jerusalem, as there were many caves and tunnels around and under the city. For now they settled into a routine of work, and then went off on a Christian religious bus tour, which Mathias’s father assured them were the best to take, as they will take you directly to the sites that matter. Mathias also had his sights set on some of the areas he had been to as a child - in the north magnificent Mount Harmon, and then south to where the landscape changes to the desert country, the famous Negev where he and his pals loved to spend a night out camping. “We will take my Dad’s car for my personal tour, as I want to show you the whole of Israel.”

Tired but very exhilarated by what she seen and the feeling of something she could not describe yet, Isabella decided she was ready to explore the Holy City. She told Mathias’s father, when she was at the Wailing Wall, the historical scared religious monument, it suddenly impacted in her, that she was standing before the most priceless building in the world. She said when her sister had been in Israel on a tour years ago. Laura had asked the tour guide if he had a piece of paper, as she wanted to leave a message. She left a quick scribbled note. “I am sorry for what we did to you.”

Two week later after spending hours and days going through the tunnels and caves with a fine tooth comb, they reached a dead end. Feeling very despondent and disappointed she turned to go and said “nothing here Matty, we are just wasting our time, its like looking for a needle in a haystack.”
Isabella never knew that there were so many winding tunnels, steps and caves under Jerusalem. Mathias said the whole of the Middle East is practically tunneled. We really do have all the experts on tunneling living here. She admitted that she found the hunt very tiring and at times became quite despondent. Well at least she had started to get fit with all the exercise, as they trod every square inch of the way.
One day going through a particularly long winding downward tunnel which seemed to go further than the usual route, they stopped to pause for a rest, when Isabella noticed a narrow opening in the side of the wall. She said to Mathis, we should try and squeeze through, just out of curiosity to see if there is anything inside there.

They both gasped at what they saw. Trembling with excitement, a skeleton lay on the floor with a lance at his side, in a rotting and aged old Knight’s armour. A small blackened wine cup lay at his hand. She shouted, its Percival, and if I am not mistaken, it is the Holy Grail. After a long while Isabella whispered to ”Matty”, her endearment for him and their new found love,” we have to think about this, do we want the cup to be found and exposed to a ruthless world? Percival must have though it better to keep the Grail hidden for now. Whatever is decided on one day by the unseen powers that will be their decision to make.. We can however keep the grail alive, and yet hidden, and that can do no harm. I think we were led to this hole in the wall. I feel very privileged and honoured.” Mathias agreed with her.

An Israelite and a Christian, suitably united and good for each other, perhaps building a bridge for a future peace between two great religions, a better understanding between the old and the new.
Isabella and Mathias stayed on in Israel. They had three children.
What of the lance used to pierce Christ’s side? It just went missing, and has never been seen again.