Tomar
IV International Conference in Almourol
The weekend of the 13, 14 and 15 of October 2023, the Templar Interpretation Center of Almourol (CITA), Portugal, was host of the IV International Conference on Spiritual Chivalry, Templars and Templarism. For three days, scholars, specialists and the public were able to hear about new research on the Templars and debate a wide range of topics. Four new books were presented, including an expanded reprint of the original catalogue of the 2019 exhibition, that had since been out of print. The Conference is the largest and most prolific international Templar Event.
The Conference started on the evening of Friday 13, with the Mayor of Vila Nova da Barquinha, Fernando Freire, welcoming speakers, the public and members of the OSMTHU, whose Master, António Paris, attended the event. He remembered the date and the imprisonment of the Templars, adding that in 1195 Master Gualdim Pais died in Tomar on the 13 of October as well. Writer and Past CITA Curator Manuel J. Gandra, gave a brief presentation about the Conference and the topics to be discussed in the next couple of days, presenting the reprint of the first catalogue. Master Antonio Paris, who had flown from Rome to attend the event, spoke briefly about the importance of the event and the opportunity of cooperation presented by the fact that several branches of the Order today were invited to come to Almourol and share the knowledge and passion about Templar history and values. On midnight the Grand Priory of Portugal of the OSMTHU conducted a short, but evocative ceremony, in memory of the fallen Templars.
The proceedings started on Saturday, 14 with the presentation by Dom Nuno de Bourbon da Camara Pereira of a paper titled “The Saga of an Order of Chivalry of the 21st Century” about the recent history and court disputes of the Order of the Wing of Saint Michael. Founded in the 12th century by King Afonso Henriques, the Order was revived several times in history and had been in the center of a dispute between Dom Duarte Pio, head of the house of Braganza, and Dom Nuno Bourbon, founder of the last revival of the Order in 1981. The dispute was recently settled out of court, with the mediation of the Archbishop of Evora, resulting the the full reinstatement of rights to Dom Nuno as its Grand Master.
French writer and researcher Remy Boyer followed suit with “Figures of Perceval, archetype of the Knight”, a deep piece on the evolution of Perceval within the Quest, with all his adventures and challenges, a blueprint for Chivalric Initiation. The dichotomy between the Grail and the Spear was explained and the question of “who does the Grail serve?” that had to be formulated by Perceval once he saw both objects during the Fisher Kings banquet, pointed out as one of the symbolic keys of the Quest.
Heraldist David Fernandes da Silva spoke about “Catechesis and Confraternity, Examples and Thoughts”. He explained the role of catechesis as a source of testimony and the chain of tradition for the early communities, projected along the ages, giving some examples related to the Templars, including the “Non Nobis…” Psalm and the usage of the patée cross. He then explored the matter of the Templar brothers that were not professed but lived under the rule of the Order in Templar houses. To this level he called the “confraternity” as opposed to the “fraternity” of those who received the ordination.
After lunchtime the Templar Encampment was opened in the courtyard in front of the auditorium. For two days the Tomar Honoris group from Portugal and the Baucan group from Spain staged medieval reconstitutions that included dances, games and the reenactment of sword fight techniques.
The afternoon opened with João Pedro Silva, past Preceptor of the Portuguese Grand Priory, who gave a very detailed view of the procedures against the Templars in France, in his “The Templar Processus”. All the motivations by Philipp, the Fair and his dealings with Bertrand de Got (later Pope Clements V) were outlined. The subsequent fight for domination of the court proceedings between King and Pope, both wanting to be the ones spearheading the events, was explained. The account of the last days of the process and the eventual suspension of the Order was also detailed, giving the audience a vivid account of a subject that is usually wrapped in misinformation and attempts to oversimplify one of the most compelling court procedures of the middle ages.
The day finished with researcher and Associação Saudade’s VP, Virgílio Alves, and his “The Cathars in Portuguese Templar Territories”. In a long and detailed research paper, Virgílio Alves gave the audience the origins, context and history of the Crusade against the Albigensis in the 13th century, focusing then on the escaping Cathars and the help provided by the Order of the Temple, including in escorting a large number of “bons hommes” to the Portuguese region of Castelo Branco, logistical headquarters of the Portuguese Templars.
On the 14th, Sigillum Templi’s president Victor Padilla Nieto from Spain opened the proceedings with his “Tacuinum Sanitatis, and its influence on the Templar Order”. It was a presentation that exposed the influence of the Tacuinum Sanitatis, a set of ancient sanitary rules related to food preparation and health habits, that was fundamental for the Primitive Rule’s prescriptions on hygiene and food on the daily life of the Order.
Luis de Matos, International Chancellor of the OSMTHU, spoke next remembering a short passage of the letter of Bernard of Clairvaux to the Templars in which the military actions of the Order are justified by Christs own rage in the Temple (Mathew 23). He then expressed how that passage is also an inspiration when it comes to the state of Templarism in the world today, setting himself apart of the whole movement – that he said to be incapable of defending or representing. He concluded by stating that it’s increasingly difficult and alienating to be a traditionalist in Portugal, giving a few examples of how the authorities mishandle the administration of culture and old Templar monuments in the country.
The last leg of the Conference was opened by Bulgarian Professor Yuri Stoyanov, of SOAS University of London, who offered the paper “The Importance of Russian and Eastern European Museum and Archival Collections for Study of the Historical Knights Templar, Spiritual Chivalry and Templarism”. He traced the importance of many pre-war archival sources on Chivalry and Templarism that were scattered and disappeared after World Wars I and II. Many of these have since surfaced in Russia and Poland and hold critical information on subjects such as the 18th century Swedish (Templar) Rite of Freemasonry, the Order of Malta tradition in Saint Petersburg and the Templar Orders of the early 20 century in Russia.
The Conference was closed by researcher Manuel J. Gandra with his “Did the Templars Profess a Secret Doctrine? Thoughts on a Loaded Topic”. By dismissing right from the start the two main popular references to a secret doctrine in the Order: the Baphomet, the Statutes of Master Roncelinus, Gandra was able to concentrate on the several failed attempts made by revivals of the Order in the 18th and 19th century to be recognized the the Portuguese Order of Christ, as the sole legitimate pure lineage at the time. By studying archeological findings made at the Almourol Castle and architectural iconographic elements still visible in the Convent of Christ – including those of an hermetic and rosecroix background over 100 years older than the German Manifests – Gandra explored some of the canons of a doctrine that is visible and intelligible in Portuguese Templar sources, but unknown to the scholars still today.
Overall, the IV Conference was an absolute success. It was heavily attended, the communications were original, interesting and informative and the conversations that took place during the intervals show great promise for future projects about the Templars. Next year, put it on your calendar: 13 and 14 of October 2024 the destination is Vila Nova da Barquinha / Almourol, Portugal.
Convento de Cristo 2023
Informações: incursoeshermeticas@gmail.com
A partir de hoje, os visitantes do Convento de Cristo, em Tomar, já poderão apreciar a fachada ocidental da nave manuelina, que inclui a famosa Janela Manuelina, ou do Capítulo, após obras de restauro na ordem de um milhão de euros. Venha connosco no dia 27 descobrir os segredos do Convento de Cristo. Visita guiada por Luis de Matos.
27 Agosto, 10:30h; Visita guiada: 35€ [Entrada no Convento de Cristo é gratuita ao Domingo; levar Cartão de Cidadão]; almoço livre; a visita termina pelas 18h
Inscrições: incursoeshermeticas@gmail.com
Secular Templi visita o país Templário de Almourol e Tomar
Realizou-se este Domingo, 30 de Abril de 2023, uma visita de estudo dos membros Portugueses da OSMTHU – Secular Templi. Guiada pelo Grão Prior de Portugal e Chanceler da Ordem, F+ Luis de Matos, a visita iniciou-se no Centro de Interpretação Templário de Vila Nova da Barquinha, onde todo o contexto Templário da zona geográfica visitada foi explicado. Além do Centro, obra apoiada pela Ordem e pelo Templar Corps International, procedeu-se a uma curta visita à Biblioteca dedicada ao tema Templário, convidando-se todos os presentes a fazerem doações em valor e em material para poder ampliar este equipamento de referência internacional.
De seguida o numeroso grupo dirigiu-se ao cais de Almourol, onde apanhou a embarcação que o levou à ilha emblemática. O dia estava magnífico, com um glorioso céu azul, sem nuvens e uma temperatura muito agradável.
A escalada é difícil – afinal é um castelo defensivo Templário com centenas de anos! – mas muitos chegaram ao topo da Torre de Menagem de onde se desfruta uma vista impressionante do rio Tejo e das suas margens.
Já na cidade de Tomar o grupo fez uma visita à igreja de São João Baptista, recentemente restaurada, onde alguns dos detalhes mais surpreendentes foram destacados e explicados.
No largo, frente à Câmara Municipal, falou-se um pouco do impressionante percurso de Gualdim Pais, o mais influente e conhecido Mestre do Templo em Portugal, cuja obra inclui a fundação do Castelo de Tomar em 1160 e de Almourol em 1171.
Seguiu-se o almoço, de tom medieval, na Taverna Antiga de Tomar, onde o mais saudável convívio fraternal ajudou a preparar uma tarde de passeio. Dali, o grupo seguiu para a igreja de Santa Maria do Olival, mais um importante marco religioso da presença Templária na região. Assim se concluiu um dia maravilhoso em que a história da Ordem do Templo e a sua memória serviram de inspiração para três dezenas de peregrinos ao país do Templo.
Outras visitas estão em preparação para breve.
Info: templi@seculartempli.org
[ENGLISH]
This Sunday, April 30, 2023, a study visit was organized by the Portuguese members of OSMTHU – Secular Templi. Guided by the Grand Prior of Portugal and Chancellor of the Order, F+ Luis de Matos, the visit began at the Templar Interpretation Center of Vila Nova da Barquinha, where the entire Templar context of the geographical area visited was, explained. In addition to the Center, a work supported by the Order and by the Templar Corps International, a short visit was made to the Library dedicated to the Templar theme, inviting all those present to make donations in value and material in order to expand this equipment of international reference.
Then the large group headed to the Almourol pier, where they borded the boat that took them to the emblematic island. The weather was magnificent, with a glorious blue sky, without clouds and a very pleasant temperature. The climb is tough – it is a Templar defensive castle hundreds of years old after all! – but many reached the top of the Tower from where you can enjoy an impressive view of the Tagus River and its banks.
Once in the city of Tomar, the group visited the church of São João Baptista, recently restored, where some of the most surprising details were highlighted and explained. In the square, in front of the Town Hall, the Prior talked about the impressive career of Gualdim Pais, the most influential and well-known Master of the Temple in Portugal, whose work includes the founding of the Castle of Tomar in 1160 and of Almourol in 1171.
This was followed by lunch, in a medieval style, at Taverna Antiga de Tomar, where the healthiest fraternal interaction helped to prepare the afternoon.
From there, the group headed to the church of Santa Maria do Olival, another important religious landmark of the Templar presence in the region. Thus ended a wonderful day in which the history of the Order of the Temple and its memory served as an inspiration for three dozen pilgrims to the country of the Temple.
Other visits are in preparation for the near future.
Info: templi@seculartempli.org
Convento de Cristo
A MAGNIFICENT CASTLE OVERLOOKS THE river Nabão. It is known as a convent, but it was built in 1160 as a headquarters for the Knights Templar, the formidable Catholic military that answered to the Pope.
When sovereigns feared the Pope had too much power, they annihilated the Knights Templar. In France, many were burned at the stake. In Portugal however, King Denis I took pity, and instead renamed the knights the Order of Christ. This new order would answer to the King, but was later demilitarized and converted to an entirely religious order.
The subsequent heads of the Order added on to the castle in the centuries to follow. Additions included cloisters, connecting corridors, an aqueduct, and an expanded chapel, not to mention decadent ironworks, paintings, and tapestries. All of these were built in the various prevailing styles of the day, from Romanesque to Gothic to Renaissance. The greatest architectural draw is the Manueline chapel, an ornate architectural style found only in Portugal.
Today, the Convento de Cristo is preserved as a museum. It has been a World Heritage site since 1983. The striking architecture, beautiful gardens, and unparalleled view offered by the hilltop castle don’t disappoint.
in atlasobscura.com
III International Conference “Order of the Temple – Spiritual Chivalry – Templarism”.
The Templar Interpretation Center of Almourol (CITA) of Vila Nova da Barquinha promoted, on the weekend of November 13th and 14th, the III International Conference “Order of the Temple – Spiritual Chivalry – Templarism”.
The municipal auditorium hosted some of the best national and international experts on the subject, with speakers from countries such as Spain, the United States, Croatia and Portugal: Luis de Matos (Chancellor of OSMTHU), Carlos Trincão (Teacher and member of TREF), Álvaro Barbosa (Architect and former director of Convento de Cristo), Virgílio Alves (Philosopher and Senior Technician in Public Administration), João Pedro Silva (Researcher and member of OSMTHU), Ernesto Alves Jana (Historian and member of TREF), Jefferson Perry (former -military), José Miguel Navarro (OSMTHU’s Senescal expert in security systems), Lovro Tomasinec (Croatian Order of Knights Templar OSMTH) and Manuel J. Gandra (CITA Researcher and Curator).
The book “Almourol – 850th anniversary of its foundation, in the context of the Order of the Temple in Portugal”, was launched at the event.
Fernando Freire, Mayor of the City Council, and Paula Pontes, Councilor for the Department of Culture, were present at the conference. The initiative also featured the musical animation of Fernando Espanhol, in a medieval music moment.
The Almourol Templar Interpretation Center is the first of its kind in Portugal. It has a permanent exhibition room, a space for temporary exhibitions and a projection room for films on the theme of the Templars. The Library – Templar Archives is also located in the same building, which has a vast literary collection dedicated to this theme, the result of donations from Teresa Furtado and Manuel J. Gandra.
Centro de Interpretação Templário de Almourol; Largo 1.º Dezembro; 2260-403 Vila Nova da Barquinha Tel.: 249720358E-mail: cita@cm-vnbarquinha.pt
Tomar – Portugal’s Knights Templar Town
Tomar is a historically outstanding town in the Ribatejo region of central Portugal. Straddling the banks of the River Nabão, Tomar has narrow cobbled streets and a whole host of appealing buildings. It is also home to one of the most important architectural and religious monuments in the country – the Convento de Cristo, former headquarters of the Knights Templar. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this magnificent monastery and its associated castle sit in a commanding position on a wooded hill overlooking the town.
The Knights Templar was an elite fighting force and semi-religious order that was founded in 1119, during the Crusades. Under the guidance of Gualdim Pais, the visionary Grand Master of the Portuguese Knights, the order began construction of a castle on the hill overlooking Tomar around 1160. The design of the castle’s famous ‘rotunda’ church was inspired by similar structures in Jerusalem. Each knight took a vow of poverty and chastity and wore a white coat emblazoned with a red cross. Over the years, the Templars spread across Europe, gaining extraordinary wealth in the process – and also many powerful enemies!
By the early 1300s, amid accusations of heresy, the order was finally suppressed. However, in Portugal, the Templars re-emerged again in 1320, reincarnated as the ‘Order of Christ’, but now under the control of the throne. It was thanks to the wealth of this new order that Prince Henry the Navigator (who was Grand Master from 1417-1460) was able to fund Portugal’s legendary maritime voyages. The order’s proud symbol – the Cross of Christ – became the distinguished banner for the country’s great age of exploration and discovery. From the 13th to the 17th century, the Convento de Cristo underwent continuous expansion to become the superb monument it is today.
We entered the castle grounds through the main gate and stopped to admire the outside of the circular 12th century church. After entering the monastery, we realised that there was a surprise around every corner. We counted eight cloisters, the largest of which is regarded as a renaissance masterpiece. There are charming terraces with great views over the countryside, an infirmary, a pharmacy and some gloomy monks’ living quarters.
The interior of the beautiful round church, known as the charola, is the chief attraction. The aisle is circular with a high altar enclosed within a central octagon, and the surrounding walls are decorated with murals of sacred art from the 16th century. This was the knights’ private oratorium and they attended services here whilst seated on horseback!
Just outside the church, the tiny Santa Bárbara cloister has a grandstand view of the chapter house’s amazing ornate Manueline window. This bizarre masterpiece is structured around two carvings of ships’ masts, adorned with knots, cork, coral and seaweed. Although covered in lichen and clearly in need of renovation, these somber blemishes just add to the window’s extraordinary appeal.
A secure supply of water to the complex was provided in the early 17th century by means of a six-kilometre aqueduct. This supreme engineering structure is most impressive where it crosses the steep Vale da Ribeira dos Pegões just outside Tomar. It has two magnificent 30m high tiers of arches and there is a tempting high-level walkway along the top of the conduit – but a painful drop should you stumble and fall!
The ordinary town residents have always been able to enjoy a plentiful water supply from the River Nabão itself.
From Roman times onwards, waterpower was used to drive mills, oil-presses and water wheels for irrigation and industry. The Roda do Nabão is a modern and much-admired water wheel located next to the town’s lovely central Parque de Mouchão. Constructed of pinewood, it is a perfect example of how the force of the River Nabão was used for local economic benefit.
Tomar has many other noteworthy attractions and we began our exploration on the east side of the river at the Santa Maria do Olival, a simple church dating from the 12th century and home to many Templar tombs, notably Gualdim Pais, the Grand Master himself. Plain on the outside and plain on the inside, this is a church with considerable charm and overlooked by most visitors.
Crossing the river using the scenic ‘Old Bridge’ and turning left, we found the Match Box Museum in a shady courtyard of the Convento de São Francisco. It has a mind-boggling collection of 43,000 matchboxes from 120 countries displayed like colourful tapestries.
The medieval heart of Tomar lies nearby and we wandered through its cobbled lanes to visit Portugal’s oldest surviving medieval synagogue. Many Portuguese have Jewish ancestry and Tomar was once the home of a thriving Jewish community. This 15th century Hebrew temple has variously been used as a prison, a hayloft and a grocery warehouse during its long history, but has now been splendidly renovated and is home to an interesting small museum. There are strange upturned earthenware jars set high in its walls to improve acoustics!
The spacious Praça da República, surrounded by attractive 17th century buildings is at the very heart of the old town, and overlooked by the lovely Igreja de São João Baptista. The church has an octagonal spire and two superbly ornamental Manueline doorways. The handsome city hall lies directly opposite and between the two, in a befitting place in the middle of the square, stands an imposing statue of the city’s illustrious founder, Gualdim Pais.
Every four years, the square becomes the centre of activities for Tomar’s most famous cultural event – the Festa dos Tabuleiros. This ancient celebration, associated with the Feast of the Holy Spirit, is actually thought to have its roots in earlier pagan fertility rites. Its highlight is a procession of hundreds of local girls (traditionally virgins) carrying tall ‘tabuleiros’ on their heads. These unusual headdresses are built from loaves of bread, decorated with flowers, and have a white dove at the top to symbolize the Holy Spirit. A local boy helps each girl to support her enormous ‘hat’ as it can weigh up to 15kg. However, these male attendants are not apparently required to be virgins!
One wonders exactly what Gualdim Pais would think about modern Tomar if he were alive today – international tour groups tramping through his beautiful church and young ladies walking the streets with stacks of loaves on their heads? However, he and his fellow Templar Knights would no doubt have been very happy to collect the considerable tourist income for their charitable coffers!
by Nigel Wright in portugalresident.com
II International Conference Confirmed for October 2020
In a meeting in Almourol / Vila Nova da Barquinha this week, the local municipality confirmed the final dates for the II Conference “Order of the Temple – Spiritual Chivalry and Templarism”. Taking place at the Templar Interpretation Center (CITA) in Almourol , Portugal, the International Conference follows the groundbreaking event that joined together in Barquinha experts from all over the world and different branches of the Order in October 2019.
The current COVID19 pandemic has severely disrupted traveling plans and large events. Because of that, it was decided that the Conference will have an opening session on October 13 for a limited number of invited guests, when a new exhibition will be inaugurated in the Interpretation Center, followed the 17 and 18 of October by a mixed online and live event from the auditorium in Barquinha, Portugal.
The full Program will be available soon. If you are interested in attending online (free), please send us an email to conference@templarcorps.org or stay in touch with these pages.
I International Conference of the Temple, Spiritual Chivalry and Templarism in Almourol available in video (full lenght, all conferences and visits, 9h30m)
The Municipality of Vila Nova da Barquinha just released the full 9h30m of video that documents the full I International Conference of the Temple, Spiritual Chivalry and Templarism that took place in Almourol, Portugal in October, where the milestone Protocol of Almourol was signed.
The I Conference was the first International Event organized by the CITA (here and here), an Interpretation Center for the Order of the Temple and the Order of Christ that complements the world famous Templar Castle of Almourol.
During the Event the OSMTHU and the OSMTJ, represented respectively by Master Antonio Paris and Regent Nicholas Haimovici-Hastier, signed a Protocol with the Municipality, declaring the CITA and Almourol as an International Place of Templar Cultural Interest. Both branches of the Order also committed to the development of the library and archive available at the CITA and the organization of three yearly Conferences where members of the Order, the academic community, researchers and the general public can come together and celebrate the Templar heritage (here).
Short clip of how the collaboration came to be:
PROGRAM OF THE I CONFERENCE
The released videos extensively document the Guided Tours and the Conferences that took place along three days in October 2019. A large part of the content is in English. The footage will be edited shortly in order to make the conferences more accessible and subtitle in English those that are only available in Portuguese.
The present uncut release is, however, very useful for all those who were not able to attend and want to have access to all the discussions and groundbreaking research presented. Reviewing the videos will also provide almple reason not to miss the II International Conference to be held in Almourol in October 2020. (more info: osmthu@mail.com)
THE VIDEOS (Parts 1, 2 and 3)
Yes, the light remains in the East
Nicholas Haimovici-Hastier, Regent of the OSMTJ and Antonio Paris, Master of the OSMTHU
Following a few requests for information and clarification, after the new year started with one more of the many ill advised and irregular “coups d’etat” that recurrently affect fraternal groups, this one resembling the Wild West of fearless cowboys and bandits, we are pleased to make the following DECLARATION:
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Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem Universal (OSMTHU)
Having started an unstoppable movement of International Cooperation between all good willing legitimate Templar Branches of the Order, announced in October 2018, confirmed by the OSMTHU and the OSMTJ in June 2019 and signed in an Agreement with the creation in October 2019 of the International Conference of Almourol between the Municipality of one of the oldest and most significant Templar locations in Europe and the OSMTHU and the OSMTJ, that will take place again in 2020, 2021 and 2022, becoming the most important single Templar location for cultural, academic and fraternal Templar exchange in the world, we declare that:
a) The Agreement Signed in Almourol, Portugal the 13 of October 2019 between the Municipality, the OSMTHU and the OSMTJ is valid until the year 2022
b) On the OSMTJ side, the Agreement was signed by Regent Nicholas Haimovici-Hastier, binding the Order and his International Council
c) Regent Haimovici-Hastier maintains his position as Head of the OSMTJ, maintaining regular status regarding the OSMTHU, the Municipality and all matters relating to the Agreement and Conferences
d) The recent mutiny perpetrated by rogue groups that had past associations with the OSMTJ is not recognized as legitimate by the OSMTHU and has no bearing in the Agreement or future efforts of International Cooperation
e) The OSMTHU recognizes that misguided ambitions and an empty hearted hunger for fragmentation frequently find safe harbor within the Order; when such forces become visible, leaving the dirt behind has been the best way to carry on with the good work
f) Since the determination to Cooperate and Converge at an international level is the scope of our work in the next few years, the Order rejects any association with irregular illegitimate movements that seek to hinder that purpose
g) We take this opportunity to invite all Templars of good faith and provenance to converge in Almourol, Portugal in October 2020 for the Second International Conference and partake the friendship and fraternal welcome extended to all men and women of heart
h) Yes, the light remains in the East
Luis de Matos
Chancellor, OSMTHU
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We would like to wish Regent Haimovici and his International Council a great year of 2020.
VN Barquinha celebrates protocol with Templar order that will make CITA the “world’s most important repository on the Order of the Temple”
The Vila Nova da Barquinha Municipality has entered into a protocol with two branches of the Templar Order – the Ordo Supremus Militaris Templi Hierosolimitani Universalis (OSMTHU) and the Ordre Sovereign et Militaiire du Temple de Jerusalem (OSMTJ) – to declare the municipality and the Interpretation Center Almourol Templar (CITA) as an International Place of Templar Cultural Interest.
The proposal for the protocol came to the Municipal Chamber meeting on October 9 and deserved a positive opinion from the executive.
Councilor Marina Honório explains that the initiative results from the association of OSMTHU and OSMTJ who also wants Vila Nova da Barquinha to host “an annual event of the International Congress type and the recommendation that bibliographic collections and objects could be sent to the Center and enrich the CITA as an unavoidable international reference on the Order of the Temple and its cultural influences across the ages.”
As a starting point for this collaboration, Fernando Freire explained that both branches of the Order have already approved several initiatives aimed at encouraging collectors, archives and library owners to make donations and to make CITA by 2021 the “most important, complete and extensive”. repository and bibliographic collection on the Order of the Temple ”.
On the OSMTHU side, one of the initiatives is the negotiation of the passage of the Temple Archive, consisting of multiple original documentation concerning the International Chancellery and the International Federative Alliance Secretariat since 1988, as well as various objects and archives, on loan to the locality of Soria, Spain since 2007, for CITA in Vila Nova da Barquinha.
Another initiative to be taken by OSMTHU is to designate CITA as the “custodial institution to be handed over the update of the Order’s Archives, composed of the official documentation produced by the International Chancellery annually” as well as the “addition of historical documentary collections. bibliographic and objects of archaeological, academic or museological interest that can be donated ”.
The OSMTHU will also offer a forged replica, according to traditional rules, of the sword of the crusader Godofredo Bulhões, symbol of the historical context that gave rise to the Order of the Temple.
The OSMTJ will contribute with the deposit of a thematic bibliographic collection as well as an extensive documentary archive about the activity of the Order in the last half of the twentieth century.
In addition to the initiatives in terms of Archive and Library, the protocol also provides for cultural exchanges, through the loan and exhibition of specific pieces.
Finally, this collaboration also aims to hold an International Conference. An “annual international event taking place in 2020, 2021 and 2022”, as explained by the mayor of VN Barquinha, Fernando Freire.
The venue for the annual event will be CITA, whose organization, programming and promotion will be the responsibility of the two orders involved in the protocol.
It is recalled that the Templar Interpretation Center of Almourol was opened to the public in November 2018 and is a pioneer center for the Order of the Temple in Portugal, endowed with a relevant set of features including an exhibition space, auditorium and thematic library.
By Ana Rita Cristóvão, antenalivre.pt
VN Barquinha celebra protocolo com ordens templárias que vai tornar CITA no “mais importante repositório mundial sobre a Ordem do Templo”
O Município de Vila Nova da Barquinha celebrou um protocolo com duas ordens templárias – a Ordo Supremus Militaris Templi Hierosolimitani Universalis (OSMTHU) e a Ordre Sovereign et Militaiire du Temple de Jerusalem (OSMTJ) – a fim de declarar o município e o Centro de Interpretação Templário de Almourol (CITA) como Lugar Internacional de Interesse Cultural Templário.
A proposta de celebração de protocolo veio a reunião de Câmara no dia 9 de outubro e mereceu parecer positivo do executivo.
A vereadora Marina Honório explica que a iniciativa resulta da associação da OSMTHU e da OSMTJ e pretende também que Vila Nova da Barquinha seja sede de “um evento anual do tipo Congresso Internacional e recomendação de destino de acervos bibliográficos e objetos que possam enriquecer o CITA como referência internacional incontornável sobre a Ordem do Templo e suas influências culturais em todas as épocas”.
Como sinal de arranque desta colaboração, Fernando Freire explicou que ambos os ramos da Ordem aprovaram já diversas iniciativas que têm como objetivo encorajar colecionadores, arquivos e donos de bibliotecas a fazer doações e a tornar o CITA até 2021 no “mais importante, completo e extensivo repositório e acervo bibliográfico mundial sobre a Ordem do Templo”.
Da parte da OSMTHU, uma das iniciativas passa pela negociação da passagem do Arquivo do Templo, constituída por múltipla documentação original relativa à Chancelaria Internacional e ao Secretariado da Aliança Federativa Internacional desde 1988, bem como objetos e arquivo diverso, sob empréstimo à localidade de Sória, Espanha desde 2007, para o CITA em Vila Nova da Barquinha.
Outra das iniciativas a ser tomada pela OSMTHU é designar o CITA como a “instituição à guarda do qual será entregue a atualização do Arquivo da Ordem, composto pela documentação oficial produzida pela Chancelaria Internacional anualmente” bem como da “adição de peças documentais históricas, acervos bibliográficos e objetos de interesse arqueológico, académico ou museológicos que a esta possam ser doados”.
A OSMTHU vai também [convidar a Grão Priorado de Toledo da OSMTH a] oferecer uma réplica forjada, segundo as regras tradicionais, da espada do cruzado Godofredo Bulhões, símbolo do contexto histórico que proporcionou o surgimento da Ordem do Templo.
Já a OSMTJ contribuirá com o depósito de uma coleção bibliográfica temática de relevo bem como um extenso arquivo documental sobre a atividade da Ordem na última metade do século XX.
Para além das iniciativas em termos de Arquivo e Biblioteca, o protocolo prevê também trocas culturais, através do empréstimo e exposição de peças específicas.
Por fim, esta colaboração pretende também a realização de uma Conferência Internacional. Um “evento anual de âmbito internacional a decorrer em 2020, 2021 e 2022”, conforme explicou o presidente da Câmara de VN Barquinha, Fernando Freire.
O local escolhido para o evento anual será o CITA, cuja organização, programação e promoção será responsabilidade das duas ordens envolvidas no protocolo.
Recorde-se que o Centro de Interpretação Templário de Almourol foi aberto ao público em novembro de 2018 e é um centro pioneiro no que respeita à Ordem do Templo em Portugal, dotado de um conjunto relevante de recursos que incluem um espaço para exposições, auditório e biblioteca temática.
Por Ana Rita Cristóvão, antenalivre.pt
World experts in “Templarism” in Vila Nova da Barquinha
“Order of the Temple – Spiritual Chivalry and Templarism” is the theme of the event that will bring together, between October 11 and 13, 2019, in the Almourol Templar Interpretation Center, Vila Nova da Barquinha, Portugal, the world’s leading experts on this subject, with speakers from France, Italy, [Germany, Austria] the United States and Portugal.
Antonio Paris (OSMTHU Master, Italy), Barbara Frale (of the Vatican Archives), Nicolas Haimovici (OSMTJ Regent, France), John von Blauch (United States), Luís de Matos, Manuel J. Gandra, Ernesto Jana and Nuno Villamariz Oliveira (Portugal) are some of the confirmed speakers.
During the event a new temporary exhibition will be inaugurated in the Templar Interpretation Center of Almourol – “Santoral and Templar liturgy”. The catalog of the exhibition will be made available on opening day. The event will also be remarked by the signing of Protocols of Cooperation and Partnership with CITA and the reception of the replica of the sword of Godofredo de Bouillon.
The program includes visits to Almourol Castle (Vila Nova da Barquinha) and the Convent of Christ (Tomar), as well as musical moments.
Registrations cost 15 € (with catalog offer), are mandatory and limited. The contact for more information and registration is +351 249720358.
Especialistas mundiais em “Templarismo” em Vila Nova da Barquinha
“Ordem do Templo – Cavalaria Espiritual – Templarismo” é o tema da iniciativa que irá reunir, entre 11 e 13 de outubro de 2019, no Centro de Interpretação Templário de Almourol, Vila Nova da Barquinha, os maiores especialistas mundiais nesta temática, com oradores oriundos de França, Itália, Estados Unidos e Portugal.
António Paris (Mestre da OSMTHU, Itália), Barbara Frale (Arquivo do Vaticano), Nicolas Haimovici (Regente da OSMTJ, França), John von Blauch (Estados Unidos), Luís de Matos, Manuel J. Gandra, Ernesto Jana e Nuno Villamariz Oliveira (Portugal) são alguns dos oradores já confirmados.
Durante o evento terá lugar a inauguração da nova exposição temporária do Centro de Interpretação Templário de Almourol – “Santoral e liturgia templárias à roda do ano” – assim como a apresentação do respetivo catálogo. O acontecimento ficará também marcado pela assinatura de Protocolos de Cooperação e Parceria com o CITA e receção da réplica da espada de Godofredo de Bouillon.
Do programa fazem parte visitas ao Castelo de Almourol (Vila Nova da Barquinha) e ao Convento de Cristo (Tomar), bem como momentos musicais.
As inscrições tem um custo de 15€ (com oferta de catálogo), são obrigatórias e limitadas. O contacto para obter mais informações e inscrições é o telefone +351 249720358.
Por
templars.wordpress.com 