When I wrote “Leith and the Holy Grail” I didn’t realise I would cause so much controversy. However please see some of the sources that I used below.
Templar Ship Crest
St. Mary’s Church, Fortingall (does it look Familiar?)
acknowledged-Ani Williams (c)
The point is there is no doubt according to historic records that the Knights of St John came to Leith in 1327. That part of the Order were The Hospitaller Sisters of St. John of Jerusalem, and they were based orginally at the hospital of St. Mary Magdalen, Jerusalem, and they probaly came into Leith at the same time bringing the image of Mary Magalene which would have been what is called the “Black Madonna”. This is compounded by the fact that Leith traded with Northern Europe and France during the same period and that the images of Mary Magdalene in France and Europe are shown as Black Madonnas and in every one she is holding a child. These can be seen by clicking onto the relevant links below.
It is also a fact that Leith was Church Property during the Middle Ages and the representation of Mary Magdalene was used to show what property was owned by the church and this in time came to represent Leith.
In fact what we have on the Coat of Arms of Leith is a form of Black Madonna. That is the possible reason why the Coat of Arms of Leith weren’t changed at the Reformation for the simple fact it didn’t represent the Virgin Mary at all but St Mary Magdalene
John Arthur
For Images of the “Black Madonna” click here
“Like pearls from an ancient lover’s gift, Magdalene sites and legends lie cast across a vast expanse, reaching from Ethiopia, Palestine, Egypt, France and north to the highlands and isles of Scotland. Crumbling chapel ruins, great Gothic cathedrals, caves, symbols carved in stone, and stories of her coming and going remain like fragments of an old story necklace, waiting and waiting and still waiting to be found.”for more click here (more…)
