The Templars and the Shroud of Christ: A Priceless Relic in the Dawn of the Christian Era and the Men Who Swore to Protect It

by Barbara Frale

The most powerful military religious order of the Middle Ages and their sacred treasure.

For a certain period in history, the Knights Templar—the most powerful military religious order of the Middle Ages—secretly guarded the Shroud of Turin. Worshipped in a relentlessly secret manner, and known in its intimate nature by only a handful of the order’s officials, the swathe of fabric was kept in the central treasury of the Knights Templar, who were known for their expertise in the field of relics. The precious cloth’s history and whereabouts were known only to the highest dignitaries of the secretive order. In an era of widespread doctrinal confusion in much of the Church, the Templars considered the Shroud to be a powerful antidote against the proliferation of heresies.

Easy to read and thoroughly researched, this book tracks the Templars from their inception as warrior-monks protecting religious pilgrims to the later fascination with their secret rituals and incredible wealth, which ultimately led to their dissolution and the seizing of their assets. Following the Shroud’s pathway through the Middle Ages, Vatican historian Barbara Frale has gone back in time, to the dawn of the Christian era, to provide a new perspective on the controversial relic. The author also includes several photos of the Shroud itself that reveal in startling detail a human face, mysterious writing, and marks of a crucifixion that many have claimed identify it as the true burial shroud of Jesus of Nazareth.

Genres: History, Religion, Nonfiction, Medieval

306 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Barbara Frale è una storica italiana, nota per gli studi sui Cavalieri templari e sulla Sindone di Torino.
Nel 2001 pubblica per l'editore scientifico Viella di Roma una parte dei risultati della tesi di dottorato, svolta sui documenti del processo ai Templari (L'ultima battaglia dei Templari. Dal codice ombra d'obbedienza militare alla costruzione del processo per eresia): la sua tesi è che, nell'atto di accusa lanciato dal re di Francia Filippo IV il Bello che portò al processo a seguito del quale l'ordine fu sciolto, vi fosse una serie di fatti reali opportunamente stravolti dalla pubblicistica regia per costruire l'accusa di eresia, l'unico tipo di reato per i quali l'ordine non godesse della piena immunità. La colpa dei Templari, secondo l'autrice, non era l'eresia ma un rituale segreto d'ingresso come prova d'obbedienza militare che conteneva atti di vilipendio della religione.

Reviews

[Matty K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just know this before reading this is just a overview of the order's orgins to their demise. It doesn't go into detail about their missions or crusades. Still a good book though.

[Chuck Springer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Frale, historian on staff at the Vatican Secret Archives, presents a very compelling case that the Shroud of Turin was once in the possession of the Knights Templar. In1204 the Crusaders sacked the city of Constantinople. Among them were the Knights Templar, whom some scholars contend took the Burial shroud of Jesus from the city and kept it hidden and possibly venerated it as part of their private rituals.

As to the authenticity of the Shroud itself, she doesn't argue for its authenticity but simply reviews the consensus of the scientific studies conducted to date, all of which are at a loss to explain the anatomically perfect, historically accurate, three-dimensional image contained on the cloth.

I appreciated that she did not hypothesize that the Shroud is the actual burial cloth of Christ and cautioned the reader to keep an open mind. There were additional details and characteristics that were peculiar to the image and how these might be further evidence of a link to the Templars. Over all, I enjoyed the book and highly recommend it for anyone interested in the Knights Templar or the Shroud.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barbara Frale is an excellent writer. She is a researcher/archivist at the Vatican Library. Her work is thorough and well researched.

[Carol Mcgrath · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book on the history of the Templars and the Shroud of Christ, a/k/a the Shroud of Turin. It is broken down in three parts, the first giving you the history of the Templars, the second, the history of the Shroud and the final part showing how the Templars came into possession of the Shroud and other relics. If you are interested in the Templars you will enjoy this book. It is a work of non-fiction written by the Vatican Secret Archives Historian.

[BRT · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit dry presentation of the authors theory that the Templar Knights were in possession of the shroud of Christ, more popularly known as the Shroud of Turin. She further speculates that the charges of idol/devil worship laid against them by a king greedy for their riches was, in fact, legitimate reverence for the cloth showing the death image of Jesus Christ. Lots of sources cited and, at times, told with a near worshipful tone, that might stem from the author being the Vatican's archivist.

[Dasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who had never read about the Templars before I enjoyed this book. Barbara Frale makes note that some of her sources include material that few scholars had access to in the past, making this a significant advancement of the literature. I also enjoyed that Frale focused on uncovering the Templars based on historical evidence and material, sometimes deconstructing myths often associated with the Templars.

[A.J. Fotheringham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating

I found this to be a very well-researched and informative book with lots of food for thought. I highly recommend it.

[Todd Howell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short and concise, an interesting read but not too in-depth that it becomes dry or boring.

[Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent background information on the Shroud of Jesus. Author is knowledgeable and experienced in the Templars and the Shroud. An excellent book.

[Alessandro Nicolai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Molto interessante la teoria della Frale, anche se non chiude la storia pone tante domande e alcuni insizi sul autenticità della sindone, non mi ha convinto ma mi ha molto affascinato

[Christopher Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating!! Riveting!! Even putting aside the Catholic dogma associated with the subject matter and the on-going emotional debate about the shroud's authenticity, what I found so engrossing was the range of scientific, cultural, historical, archaeological, social, linguistic disciplines that have been brought to bear on this one artifact. I could've added to that list almost as nauseam ....I've never heard of epigraphy before. The scope of the knowledge that Frale, herself a Vatican Secret Archives Historian
brings to the mysteries surround the shroud is compounded by centuries of studies and research by outside agencies, mostly with no religious connection .... it's all just mind-bogling. How about identifying and dating plant spores captured in the shroud's fabric to determine where it had been and when? This is not just an outline of a journey of Faith but a real-life detective story (with villains) that spans centuries.

And it ain't over yet...

[SeaShore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading her book made me want to know more about the author and her interest in the history of the Shroud.
She was born in 1970 and is Italian. Her extensive research is included in the Bibliography. Trying to pack information in about 300 pages made it a confusing read at times. Digging deeper into the research helps.

Professor Barbara Frale wrote her thesis in Medieval History, which is based on the examination of more than 7000 notary documents of the 14th century. In 1996 she obtained a post-degree specialization in Paleography, Diplomatics and Archival Science at the School of the Vatican Secret Archives. Since October 2001 she has been working as Paleographist at the Vatican Secret Archives.

[J. Bryce · Rating 4 out of 5]

I expected this to be one of those dumb conspiracy-theory, Dan Brown-ish, Illuminati/Freemasons/Templars/Holy Grail books, but was pleasantly surprised to find it a serious bit of sindonology.

If, like me, you acquired a taste for the mysteries of the Shroud of Turin during its controversial heyday in the latter part of the last century, when it was being carbon-14 tested, etc., etc., this will help with one facet of the Shroud's history, and pretty good evidence for the author's conclusions is offered.

Highly recommended for the right reader.

[Antos73 · Rating 4 out of 5]

La Frale è una vera autorità negli studi sui Templari e questo libro ancora una volta dimostra una conoscenza approfondita e una buona verve narrativa. Agile nella forma e nella sostanza con una teoria di fondo supportata con buona documentazione anche se con qualche supposizione non totalmente supportata. Risente forse in alcuni passaggi di una scrittura dei capitoli non seguenziale che porta ad alcune ripetizioni ma decisamente un buon libro per chi è interessato all'argomento in modo serio.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been interested in the Shroud of Turin for a long time, and enjoyed reading Frale's work on the connection with the Shroud and the Templar knights. I'd read about the connection in Ian Wilson's book, but Frale has done a lot more research on the Templars, which allowed her to offer some new facts.

[NVTony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not exactly what title suggests. Good presentation of historical material. Will be of interest to folks curious about history. Author had chance to see material most never see. More for historians than mystery fans.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author discusses the purpose of the Knights Templars and the events of their demise. He talks about the factors surrounding the Shroud of Turin and its reputed history. The Shroud is supposed to have been possessed by the Templars.

[Sheri · Rating 2 out of 5]

I find the Templars enthralling. I am still trying to figure out how this book-about something I'm utterly fascinated by, could be SO booooooring. It was a BookBub freebie, so I suppose I shouldn't be surprised.

[Jakenv · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well researched. Not quite on topic in beginning. A well written historical book for any history buff who likes to know where material was obtained.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, well-researched, informative... I found the potential cathar link interesting.