“Yes,” he confidently replied. “Let me explain.”
Donovan recounted the history of Jacques DeMolay’s imprisonment, his secret discussion with Clement, his trial in Paris in front of Notre Dame cathedral and final execution on the Ile des Javiaux. “Apparently his dying curse worked,” Donovan explained. “Pope Clement V died one month later from what many accounts say was severe dysentery—a hideous death. Seven months later, King Philip IV died mysteriously during a hunt. Witnesses attributed the accident to a lingering disease that caused him to bleed rapidly to death. Many speculated that the Knights Templar had exacted their revenge.”
Santelli looked spooked. “Poisoned?”
“Perhaps.” Donovan shrugged. “Meanwhile the Holy Land had been fully reclaimed by the Muslims. The European countries and the Church lacked proper funding to stage further crusades to retake it. Pope Clement’s documents and the Chinon Parchment gathered dust in the Secret Archive as the papal conclave focused on its two-year struggle to restore the insolvent papacy. The Ephemeris Conlusio—this book—faded into history,” Donovan explained. “Until I received a phone call this week.” Donovan summarized his phone conversation with the mystery caller, then went on to describe the transaction with the caller’s messenger in Caffe Greco. Santelli listened intently, hand covering his mouth. When Donovan finished, he waited for the cardinal’s response.
“Have you read it?”
Donovan nodded. As the Archive’s senior curator he was a polyglot— proficient in ancient Aramaic, and completely fluent in Greek and Latin.
“What does it say?”
“Many disturbing things. Apparently this book isn’t a Templar document per se. It’s a journal written by Joseph of Arimathea.”
“I don’t understand, Patrick.”
“The entries in these pages chronicle many events specific to Christ’s ministry. Eyewitness accounts of miracles, like his healing the lame and lepers. His teachings, his travels with the disciples—it’s all referenced here. In fact, after reviewing the language, I’m convinced this book is ‘Q.’ ”
Biblical historians had long theorized that a common source influenced the synoptic—or “one eye”—Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke since all three spoke of the historical Jesus in a common sequence and writing style. The synoptic Gospels, believed to be written between 60 CE and 100 CE, each bore the name of an actual disciple who inspired the work, though all three authors were actually unknown.
Santelli was temporarily encouraged by this, but acutely aware that Father Donovan remained troubled.
“There’s much more here, however,” Donovan warned. “The book describes events leading to Jesus’s apprehension and crucifixion. Again, most of Joseph’s account is in agreement with the synoptic Gospels...with some minor discrepancies. According to Joseph of Arimathea, he himself secretly negotiated with Pontius Pilate to remove Christ from the cross, in exchange for a hefty sum.”
“A bribe?”
“Yes. Probably a supplement to Rome’s meager pension.” Donovan took a deep breath and gathered himself. “In the New Testament, Jesus’s body was supposedly laid out for burial in Joseph’s family crypt.”
“Before you continue, I must ask. This Templar relic ...the book. Is it authentic?”
“I had the parchment, leather, and ink dated. The origin is unquestionably first century. But this book isn’t the relic Jacques DeMolay implied. It’s merely a means of finding the real treasure he alluded to.”
Santelli stared at him.
“Joseph of Arimathea describes Jesus’s burial rituals in vivid detail. How the body was cleaned, wrapped in spices and linen, and then bound. Coins were placed over the eyes.” Donovan’s voice sank an octave. “It claims that the body was laid out in Joseph’s tomb...for twelve months.”
“A year?” Santelli was aghast. “Patrick, this isn’t yet more Gnostic scripture?” In the past Donovan had routinely briefed him on the many prebiblical writings that presented Jesus quite differently—an attempt by early leaders to entice pagans to adopt the Christian faith. Many of those stories were wildly exaggerated, rife with philosophical interpretations of Jesus’s teachings.
“According to Joseph—the man entrusted with burying Jesus—there never was a physical resurrection. You see...” There was no subtle way for him to say what needed to be said. He locked eyes with the cardinal. “Christ died a mortal death.”
It wasn’t the first time Santelli had heard this argument. “But we’ve been through all this before—assertions about early Christians seeing resurrection as being spiritual not physical.” He gestured at the book dismissively. “This Ephemeris Conlusio is a clear contradiction to scripture. I’m glad you found it. We’ll need to ensure it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. We don’t need some enemy of the Church rushing off to the media.”
“I’m afraid there’s more.”
Santelli watched silently as Donovan reached into his satchel and removed a furled, yellow scroll. He laid it out on the desk.
The Cardinal leaned in. “What is this?”
“A technical illustration—a kind of map, actually.”
He made a face. “Certainly doesn’t look technical to me. A child could have drawn this.”
The one-dimensional style used to draft the image was simplistic, Donovan would agree. But three- dimensional illustrations weren’t employed until the Renaissance period, and he wasn’t about to belabor the point with Santelli.
“Despite its lack of detail, there are a few critical things you can see here,” Donovan explained. He indicated the elongated rectangular base. “This is Temple Mount in Jerusalem.” Then he pointed to the image drawn atop it. “This is the Jewish Temple that was built by Herod the Great, later destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. As you know, the Dome of the Rock Mosque is there now.”
Santelli looked up sharply. “Temple Mount?”
