The upcoming visit to Turkey is causing a buzz in the press resulting from the negative response to Pope Benedict's Regensburg address by some in the Islamic community. According to Reuters Ali Bardakoglu, head of Ankara's Directorate General for Religious Affairs which controls Turkish imams and writes their sermons, expects Pope Benedict to state that Islam is a religion of peace. The world's journalists seem to be holding their breath in anticipation. Benedict XVI, however, is proving to be unpredictable.
There is another aspect of the visit that is getting little attention. According to the travel editor of the Toronto Star, Pope Benedict is scheduled to visit Ephesus on Wednesday, where the post-resurrection home of the mother of Jesus Christ is located. This potential visit could be a lightning rod for modern day Templars, the promoters of the ideas expressed in "The DaVinci Code".
According to Templar theories, after the crucifixion a pregnant Mary Magdalene came to France to live out her life. Even if the Templar myth that Mary Magdalene was the wife of Christ were true, would the Mother of Christ have separated herself from her future grandchild? Isn't it more likely that the Blessed Virgin would have lived out her life near Mary Magdalene? If the Pope visits the home of the Blessed Virgin in Ephesus, Turkey, his presence there will cast doubt on Templar claims, and bring that doubt to the attention of the world.
According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, in the Greek Tradition Mary Magdalene and the Blessed Virgin Mary both lived out their lives in Ephesus.
As with "The DaVinci Code", once again the promoters of Templarism are claiming the Roman Catholic Church is engaged in a cover-up.
Graham Phillips' book titled "The Marian Conspiracy" makes this claim, insisting on a scenerio that places Christ's mother in France after the crucifixion. His book is being sold at the Rosslyn Chapel website. It was published by Bear and Company, the publishing house of former heretical Catholic priest Matthew Fox according to Fox's website. Bear & Co. was founded by channeler Barbara Hand Clow and her husband, Gerry.
Phillips, author of several books on Templar-related subjects, has also contributed to New Dawn magazine, September/October 2004--a magazine published for those with esoteric and occult interests. His article concerned the tarot, a divination technique
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