A new opportunity to position the city of Valencia in the world. The world expert in the protohistory of the Holy Chalice of the Cathedral of Valencia, Dr. Ana Mafé García, president of the Cultural Association The Way of the Holy Grail and president of the International Scientific Commission of Holy Grail Studies, recently presented the route of the Way of the Holy Grail as a European Cultural Itinerary to the Consell Valencià de Cultura.

The event was attended by important personalities such as Ms. Dolors Pedrós Company, acting president of the CVC, Ms. Ascensión Figueres Górriz, member and president of the Cultural Promotion Commission, Mr. Jesús Huguet Pascual, executive secretary and the members Ms. Amparo Carbonell Tatay, Mr. Xavier Aliaga Víllora and Mr. José Vicente Navarro Raga who followed the meeting from an online platform. The presentation of the Way of the Holy Grail is an excellent opportunity to enhance the historical and cultural heritage of the Valencian Community, as well as contributing to its tourist and economic promotion.

The Consell Valencià de Cultura has decided to set up a commission that is very interested in finding out who and how civil society is developing the historical route and the dissemination of the Holy Chalice of the Cathedral of Valencia through the Way of the Holy Grail. This dissemination work was started by the archbishopric in the 1950s and crystallised with the first official pilgrimage made in Spain by the Administration to commemorate the 16th centenary of the presence of the Holy Chalice in Hispania in 1959. To find out all the details, they have invited the prestigious Dr. Ana Mafé García, who leads the project from the presidency of the Cultural Association The Way of the Holy Grail.

But what exactly is the Consell Valencià de Cultura? It is an autonomous body dedicated to promoting and disseminating Valencian culture in all its facets. From theatre to literature, from traditional music to the history of the territory. The Way of the Holy Grail is an important project that will help to promote Valencia and its rich culture, so we are sure that Dr. Mafé and her team will do an excellent job. Members stressed this at the meeting.

The Holy Chalice of the Cathedral of Valencia is a unique and historical piece that has aroused the interest of the Consell Valencià de Cultura for some weeks now, which is why they have been meeting with different entities, including the Cathedral of Valencia.

This chalice has been the subject of studies and debates for years, since according to the Christian oral tradition, which has been uninterrupted for more than seventeen centuries, it is the chalice used in the Last Supper of Jesus Christ. The Consell Valencià de Cultura is determined to delve deeper into the history of the Holy Chalice, its origin and its trajectory. The importance of studying this piece is crucial in order to make a part of the past, culture and history of Valencia alive and accessible to future generations. Furthermore, the study of the path taken by the Holy Chalice over the centuries is an important part of its history and a way of better understanding its significance.

The work of the Consell Valencià de Cultura will be fundamental for the knowledge and understanding of the Holy Chalice of the Cathedral of Valencia in all spheres of Valencian society.

The Holy Chalice is the most relevant relic of Christianity, with an incomparable history. Professor Dr. Gabriel Songel, professor of design at the UPV, has spent years researching its history through the stonemason’s marks and presented his findings to the Consell Valencià de Cultura. These were very well received, especially those referring to the 11th century inventory document that includes the name of the sacred relic in Latin. Her contributions support the authenticity of this sacred cup which, according to tradition, was used by Jesus at the Last Supper.

Dr. Mafé also presented her main findings, as well as the cataloguing of the object which, until her doctorate, had not been identified. Dr. Mafé has dedicated her research career to unravelling the history surrounding the Holy Chalice of the Cathedral of Valencia, which in her prints at the beginning of the last century was already called the Holy Grail.

Dr. Mafé, through the application of advanced scientific techniques typical of the humanities and the comparison of historical documents and other artistic elements, has made an important and fundamental advance in the understanding of the authenticity and history of the Holy Chalice, which has awakened a growing interest in the general public and academics.

The fact that Valencia can position itself as the central nucleus of a European Cultural Itinerary thanks to the choral work developed by the Asociación Cultural El Camino del Santo Graal with people, entities, associations, town councils, etc. is a real “gift” for the professional future of many people who live in the different municipalities along the main route of the Way of the Holy Grail. Just look at the success story of Galicia itself with the development of the Way of St. James and the hundreds of thousands of euros of investment it receives each year. Let us not forget at this point that Valencia Cathedral is a Jubilee in perpetuity every five years, making it the third most important city in Christianity after Jerusalem and Rome. Cities which, by the way, form part of the route of the Way of the Holy Grail, the Route of Knowledge, the Way of Peace, the European Cultural Itinerary.

An itinerary that promotes European identity through the construct of “the quest for the Holy Grail” in its unity and diversity, which helps to preserve the diversity of European cultures along its route through artistic manifestations and the enhancement of its tangible and intangible heritage. With its expression, the Way of the Holy Grail, Route of Knowledge, Way of Peace promotes intercultural dialogue and facilitates conflict prevention and reconciliation through “Peace”. This path, Dr. Mafé explains, also induces the younger generations to become aware of a European identity and citizenship, and of the common values that are its basis.

Report by ‘24/7 Valencia’ team

Article copyright ‘24/7 Valencia’