Since its discovery [in 1910], it has traveled to many parts of the world and now, perhaps almost 2000 years after its creation, lies peacefully in The Cloisters, a branch of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, located in Fort Tryon Park.

In 1910, Arabs, digging in the ancient ruins of Antioch, discovered a mass of buried silver treasure including a cross, three embossed book covers, and two chalices, all thought to have been part of a church treasure, hidden in time of danger. The Syrian law at that time stipulated that anything found underground belonged to the government, but the Arabs found ways of avoiding the ruling and sold the contents to Kouchakji Freres, wealthy antique dealers in Aleppo. The chalice was then taken to the Paris gallery of the owner to be cleaned. The Kouchakji family put it on exhibition in the Louvre, and in 1918 moved it to New York for safe-keeping.

Placed in Guaranty Vaults

This is where the Guaranty entered the picture, for the ornate piece was placed first in Fifth Avenue, then Rockerfeller Center, and later Madison Avenue vaults of the Guaranty Safe Deposit Company for protection. Since that time it has been displayed at many places, including the Century of Progress World’s Fair, Brooklyn Museum, Baltimore Art Museum, and Boston, and has been shown by Fahim Kouchakji to many scholars and antique experts.

A story of the chalice appeared in the 1938 issue of News when the Swedish Crown Prince visited the bank to inspect it. The chalice is in two parts: a simple inner cup, and an elaborately carved goblet-shaped outer shell obviously designed to hold and protect it. This inner cup, or Holy Grail, as it has been called, could have been in existence on the occasion of the Last Supper described by St. Matthew.

The chalice or outer shell is very ornate and is worked in relief. Carved on it are twelve seated figures, and though the reliquary stands only 7 1/2 inches high, the faces have a portrait-like quality. Two of the figures represent Jesus– one as a youth, the other in maturity. There are two schools of thought as to the then other figures– one claims that they represent the Apostles, while the other connects them to church history dating back to 50 A.D.

Many men have spent countless years trying to establish the authenticity of the cup. Professor Gustavus A. Eisen is one of these, and he has endeavored in his research to substantiate his opinion that this is the famous Holy Grail, subject of the Arthurian romance. His two books on the subject have given reasons to many for the truth in the story that it is the cup from which the Savior drank.

Legends Tell of Grail

According to legends which have appeared in the writings of the 12th century, the cup came into the hands of Joseph of Arimathea after the Last Supper. The story continues that Joseph moved to England to escape persecution and took the precious cup with him. Those who believe that the chalice is truly the Grail are troubled by how the vessel found its way to Antioch. Professor Newbold of the University of Pennsylvania offers a plausible explanation. It is thought by New Testament scholars that the Last Supper was held at Mary’s home. He goes on to say that, “Mark accompanied Paul and Barnabas to Antioch (Acts 12:25). Probably Mary accompanied him or soon followed him, and this would explain how the cup, which was Mary’s property, reached Antioch as early as 45 A.D.”

The Kouchakji family, thinking that the chalice was more likely than not the actual cup of Christ, have in the past refused to part with it, but with sale negotiations completed, Mr. Kouchakji sighed with relief, “Owning it has been a responsibility. I was afraid that I might die before it found its proper home. Now I think it will be in exactly the right place.”

The “right place” is in The Cloisters, which specializes in early Christian art. This collections is considered by some to be the finest in the country, and now one more treasure, leaving its spot in the Guaranty’s vaults, joins that group of rare items.

[The Great Chalice of Antioch remains in The Cloisters to this day.]