The Order of the Templars is shrouded in myths and secrets, has numerous successors, admirers and several officially existing Orders of the modern sense. Speculators from history bring to light new fragmentary facts, building dubious conclusions on their basis, which by no means helps to find the truth. Even the symbolism of the Templars is not easy to understand: the historical thread that goes back to the early Christian centuries is illusory, and there are few sources that shed light on the origin of both the community itself and the distinctive signs in the hierarchy of the Order.
Variety of heraldry
There are not so many people who have studied the original documents of the Knights Templar, but among those bits of information that got into the public domain, one can authentically find out that the Templar cross has several variants of form. The change in the outline of the cross is due to several reasons: firstly, the geography of the Order's distribution entailed changes in heraldry, which made it possible to identify the knight during meetings; secondly, the hierarchy within the structure itself changed. The number of the first templars did not exceed a hundred, by the timedefeat, this organization actually replaced state power in Europe.
In the name of Pope Eugene III, the red Templar cross could only be worn by the Knights of the Temple. There is evidence of this in the documents cited in the book The French Monarchy. This right was granted to them in 1141, perhaps no one argues with this date, but disputes will constantly go on around the meanings inherent in the outline of the cross.
Papal Robe
According to one of the legends, the Templar cross first appeared on the right shoulder of the Knights of the Order of the Temple at the moment when Pope Urban II sent them on a holy mission to Jerusalem to recapture the Temple of the Lord from the invaders. The Roman pontiff delivered a fiery speech and blessed one hundred and thirty soldiers for the feat. In a fit of religious ecstasy, he tore the scarlet robe from his shoulders and tore it into thin strips. Parts of the papal mantle were distributed to the knights as a tangible blessing.
To support their spirit, militant monks, going on a long journey, sewed them crosswise on their mantles. Those who did not get a piece of papal vestments were sewn on crosses made of red fabric. Subsequently, the symbol became official. The first images of the Knights Templar, found in temples, depict a kneeling warrior in a white cloak, on whose right shoulder a red cross is placed.
Charter of Masters
Another version claims that all the symbols of the Order of the Templars were invented by the firstthe rulers of the organization, or rather, the masters Hugh de Paynes and Bernard of Clairvaux. They created the charter of life of wandering monks, the form of clothing and lifestyle. According to the treatise “Praise to the New Chivalry”, a warrior-monk should not wash, should be a beggar, his clothes should be white, like his thoughts, and the cross symbolized the blood of Christ. Where the symbol of belonging to the order would be located was not so important, and discrepancies in the form of the symbol itself are explained by various branches within the structure of the order.
Fundamentals of heraldry
There are several more legends about the origin of the heraldic image, but they all agree on one thing: the cross is necessarily scarlet, and the cloak on which the Templar cross is located is necessarily white. As the community of templars developed and spread, the cross began to be depicted almost everywhere: on the chest, on the back, horse blankets, on gloves, and so on. There are several known types of crosses, the origin and purpose of which can be explained based on documentary evidence.
Lorraine Cross
It is a cross with two crossbars, while the lower crossbar is either longer than the upper one, or both crossbars are the same. The Lorraine cross has multiple occult meanings, one of them symbolizes the "golden mean". It also has other names: "Patriarchal Cross", "Angevin Cross". The Knights of the Temple received the right to wear it from the hands of the Pope. The image of this symbol is immortalized in the large coat of arms of the Knights Templar. According to the legend,the cross of Lorraine was built from the fragments of the cross on which the Savior was crucified. In the heraldry of the templars, the cross of the Templars with two crossbars means the symbolism of the double protection of the knights: spiritual and physical.
Celtic Cross
The Templars' red cross, commonly used in the symbols of the order, has equal sides. The ends of the cross differed, the cross could be considered as octagonal if it expanded from the middle in the form of bells. This mark of the cross has its own sacred meaning, set forth in the eight virtues of a knight.
At the same time, it is believed that an equilateral cross with expanded ends came to the Templar symbolism from the Celtic epic and is a symbol of the discovery of the world of the Universe. It denotes the sacred number four: the four cardinal points, the four apostles, the four seasons, and so on. The second name of the Celtic cross is the pate cross. It is believed that this Templar cross was the first symbol of the Order.
Cross of the Eight Beatitudes
The surviving records of historical archives, in particular the Parisian manuscript of the 12th century, describe the geometric cross of the Templars. The photo of the symbolism shows a cross with broken ends: from the central point of intersection, the crossbars expand and end with branched corners (dovetail). It is believed that this type of heraldry is the key to the secret alphabet of the Templars. The eight ends represent the eight beatitudes:
- Spiritual satisfaction.
- Chastity.
- Repentance.
- Humility.
- Justice.
- Mercy.
- Purity of thoughts.
- Patience.
Modern sources of the Knights Templar indicate that this cross is a symbol of the Order's Scottish Priory. In addition to the templars, this type of heraldry belonged to the Knights Hospitaller of the Order of M alta, but in its main meaning it is regarded as the cross of the Templars. The meaning of this cross in some sources is interpreted as a symbol of prayer and meditation.
Fashion for symbols
The mystery of the history of the Knights Templar and the mystery of its current position in the world gave rise to a fashion for the symbols of the Knights of the Temple. The noble goals of the organization are rarely taken into account, especially since the templars themselves have deviated far from the principles proclaimed in the charter. The defeat of the Order occurred at the peak of the power of an organization that was more engaged in usury than escorting pilgrims to the Holy Land. Today, in order to join the order symbols, it is enough to purchase the amulet "Cross of the Templars". Knowledgeable people say that the amulet will keep its owner exactly as much as he is confident in the power of the security symbol.
In addition to the classic sign, lovers of amulets and mysterious symbols are offered a Templar cross with a pentagram. The meaning of this amulet is somewhat confusing, since in the classical story the cross and the pentagram are not combined in any tradition, religion or symbolism of any community. Separatelythe pentagram and the cross of the Templars have a strong energy, but their combination can unpredictably affect its owner.
