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The
Engrailed Cross
From "The Bloodline of the
Holy Grail" by Laurence Gardner.
"The name Saint Clair is derived from the Latin Sancto Claro which means Holy
Light. In the engrailed cross of the Sinclairs,
the esoteroic female symbol "V" represents the Chalice of Life whereas its male
counterpart ^ (a V in reverse) symbolises the Spear of Virility. When
conjoined one above the other (X) they indicate Unity and the engrailed sequence
denotes Generation. An engrailed cross is, therefore, indicative of Holy
Generation".
It may also indicate the union of two Royal Houses
in so far as Jesus belonged to the Royal House of David (as is shown in
stem of Jesse in Rosslyn Chapel) whilst Mary Magdalene (who he put above his
'brothers') was from the Royal House of Benjamin. She is also 'seen' in Rosslyn
Chapel where she is represented by the five-petalled rose - the sacred feminine.
More commonly the engrailed cross has been described as being indicative of the
protection of the True Cross i.e., the True Cross is encased within the grail or
grille i.e., engrailed. The St, Clairs were said to be the protectors of the
Grail which gave rise to the (erroneous) belief that the Holy Grail was encased
within the Apprentice Pillar in Rosslyn Chapel.
Elsewhere, the four arms of the engrailed cross are referred to as the four
rivers of Eden or, less romantically, to the scales of the dragon of wisdom.
The dragon or sea serpent - bistea neptunis - (as seen on Prince Henry
Sinclair's coat-of-arms) has always represented the ultimate symbol of
sovereignty with Celtic people.
Sufficient be it to say that the engrailed cross has appeared on the
coats-of-arms of most Sinclairs branches for many centuries. It has appeared on
the shields of our forebears, on the sails of our ships, on the ceilings of our
castles and, above all, in the intricate architectural splendour of Rosslyn
Chapel.
It is a striking symbol which should be displayed with pride wherever and
whenever Sinclairs are gathered together.
Niven Sinclair
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