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Key information
The Holy Chalice
The Chalice
Agate cup, 1st century oriental art. Medieval handles and feet.
The Tradition of the First Centuries
Tradition tells us that it is the same Cup that the Lord used at the Last Supper for the institution of the Eucharist.
The Chalice was brought to Rome by Saint Peter and was preserved by the following Popes until Saint Sixtus II. In order to safeguard the Holy Chalice from the persecution of the Emperor Valerian, Saint Sixtus II, through his deacon Saint Lawrence, native of Spain, sent it to his native land of Huesca in the 3rd century.
During the Muslim invasion, the chalice was hidden in the Pyrenees region and, finally, in the monastery of San Juan de la Peña (Huesca).
In 1399 the relic was delivered to the King of Aragon Martin The Human, next it was in the royal palace of the Aljafería in Zaragoza and in the Royal Palace of Valencia, until, on the occasion of the trip of King Alfonso V the Magnanimous to Naples, the chalice was delivered to this Cathedral of Valencia in 1437.
The Holy Chalice in Valencia
The vessel was preserved and venerated for centuries among the relics of the Cathedral, and until the 18th century. it was used to contain the consecrated form in the “monument” of Holy Thursday. It was finally installed in the old Chapter House, enabled as the Chapel of the Holy Chalice in 1916. During the civil war (1936-1939) it remained hidden in the Valencian town of Carlet.
The Relic
The relic itself is the vessel or cup made of finely turned carnelian agate stone, to which archeology attributes an oriental origin and dates it to the 1st century AD.
Eucharistic prayer
It is therefore completely plausible that this simple cup was in the hands of the Lord when on the eve of his Passion, he took bread in his holy and venerable hands, and, raising his eyes to heaven, towards you, God, his almighty Father, giving thanks He blessed you, broke it, and gave it to his disciples saying:
Eucharistic Prayer I, Roman Canon
Take this, all of you, and eat of it: for this is my Body which will be given up for you.
In a similar way, when supper was ended, he took this glorious chalice in his holy and venerable hands, and giving thanks, he said the blessing and gave the chalice to his disciples, saying:
Take this, all of you, and drink from it: for this is the chalice of my Blood, the Blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of me.
Eucharistic Prayer I, Roman Canon. Cf. Matthew 26-29; Mark 14, 22-25, Luke 22, 1520 and I Corinthians 11, 23-25
Every Thursday, at 8:00 PM, a Holy Mass is celebrated before the sacred relic, supported by the Royal Brotherhood and the Confraternity of the Holy Chalice. The solemn feast is the last Thursday of October.
