| http://www.thescotsman.co.uk/uk.cfm?id=64485
Imprint on shroud could be priest John Innes The "face of Christ" on the famous shroud of Turin may actually be that of a priest who inspired Robert the Bruce to win Scotland’s independence, an academic has claimed. The holy relic is held as one of the world’s most important religious artefacts and is widely-believed to hold the imprint of Jesus after his body was wrapped following his death. However, new evidence suggests the imprint belonged to Jacques de Molay who met up with the Bruce after fleeing his native France. Researchers believe the medieval priest came to Scotland to set up a safe haven for his followers, who went on to help Bruce defeat the English. De Molay, who was head of the monastic order known as the Knights Templar, left his base in France after being denounced by King Philip IV. Dr Robert Lomas, who is leading the study at Bradford University, said yesterday his evidence pointed towards away from the son of God. He added: "To begin with, the shroud was put on show by the widow of Geoffrey de Charney, a nephew of the man burnt with Jacques de Molay." "The Jerusalem Church the Templars worshipped in carried out a symbolic death and resurrection ceremony, and members had their own shroud." De Molay was envied around Europe in the early 14th century because of the power and wealth of the Knights Templar. From their base in Rhodes, they exercised similar powers to a sovereign state and became too strong for the most powerful king in Europe. Philip IV, embroiled in debt, denounced the group because he wanted to take away the fortune the Templars had amassed. In what became the Paris Inquisition, the Templars were rounded up and tortured, although a large number managed to escape to Scotland. Along with their leader, they sought refuge with Robert the Bruce. However, on 13 October, 1307, de Molay was taken before the Inquisition to extract a confession through torture. Dr Lomas said he believed de Molay was nailed to a door in a re-enactment of the death of Jesus. His research suggested soaring temperatures and sweat from de Molay’s body produced metabolic acids which left an imprint on a shroud wrapped around him. Jacques de Molay survived his ordeal and was imprisoned for seven years before being roasted alive along with another Templar called Geoffrey de Charney. Three months after his death, Robert the Bruce led the Scottish army to victory at Bannockburn. It is thought horsemen carrying the Beauseant, the Templar war banner, appeared to aid the heavily outnumbered Scots. |
