Who Was the Patron Saint of the Knights Templar?
The patron saint of the Knights Templar is a complex question, since the Order had several patron saints over the centuries. The most important were Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, the Cistercian abbot who championed the Order; Saint George, the legendary dragon-slayer and a popular patron of military orders; and the Virgin Mary, to whom the Order had a special devotion. The Order also had a special devotion to the Holy Sepulchre and to the Temple of Solomon.
This article examines the patron saints of the Templars. It is a companion to Bernard de Clairvaux and the Templar Rule and to The Founding of the Order.
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux
The most important patron saint of the Templars was Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (1090–1153), the Cistercian abbot who had been the Order’s most important early champion. Bernard had helped to found the Order, had drawn up its Rule, and had written the famous De laude novae militiae in praise of the Order.
The Order venerated Bernard as its patron and protector, and his feast day (August 20) was celebrated by the Order. In 1174, Bernard was canonized by Pope Alexander III, and his cult was promoted by the Order.
In the 19th century, a legend arose that Bernard had himself been a Templar, but this is not historically accurate. Bernard remained a Cistercian monk throughout his life, and he never joined the Templars. The legend, however, has been a recurring element of the modern Templar mythology.
For the story of Bernard’s relationship with the Order, see Bernard de Clairvaux and the Templar Rule.
The Virgin Mary
The Templars had a special devotion to the Virgin Mary, who was venerated as the patroness of the Order in many contexts. The Order’s major churches were typically dedicated to the Virgin, and the brothers were required to celebrate her feasts with special solemnity.
The most important Marian feasts for the Order were:
- The Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary (February 2)
- The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (March 25)
- The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (August 15)
- The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (September 8)
The Virgin Mary was also closely associated with the Order’s most important church, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, where the Virgin’s tomb was venerated by Christian pilgrims.
For the broader context, see The Founding of the Order.
Saint George
Saint George (c. 275–303), the legendary Christian martyr and dragon-slayer, was a popular patron of military religious orders, including the Templars. Saint George was venerated as a model of the Christian knight, and his feast day (April 23) was celebrated by the Order.
The cult of Saint George was especially strong in the Latin East, where the Crusaders had built a major church dedicated to him in Lydda (the Crusader cathedral of Saint George). The cathedral was a major destination for Christian pilgrims, and the cult of Saint George was closely tied to the Crusading movement.
Saint Catherine of Alexandria
Saint Catherine of Alexandria (c. 287–305), the legendary Christian martyr, was another popular patron of the Order. Saint Catherine was venerated as a model of Christian learning and as a defender of the faith, and her feast day (November 25) was celebrated by the Order.
The cult of Saint Catherine was especially strong in the Crusader states, where the monastery of Saint Catherine in Sinai was a major Christian foundation. The monastery was founded in the 6th century by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian, and it was a major destination for Christian pilgrims.
The Holy Sepulchre
The Holy Sepulchre itself was venerated by the Order as a kind of spiritual patron. The Order’s mission was closely tied to the protection of pilgrims to the Holy Sepulchre, and the Order’s most important church in London — the Temple Church — was built in imitation of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
The story of the Temple Church. See Temple Church in London.
The Temple of Solomon
The Temple of Solomon was the spiritual center of the Order’s identity. The Order was named after the Temple, and the brothers venerated the Temple as a kind of spiritual patron. The Order’s original quarters on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem were believed to be built on the site of the Temple, and this association was a major element of the Order’s identity.
The connection between the Order and the Temple of Solomon has been a major theme of the modern Templar mythology, examined in Templar Mythology, Symbolism and Hidden Knowledge.
The Templar Liturgical Calendar
The Templar liturgical calendar included celebrations of the major feasts of the patron saints, as well as feasts specific to the Order. The most important feasts included:
- Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (August 20)
- The Assumption of the Virgin Mary (August 15)
- Saint George (April 23)
- Saint Catherine of Alexandria (November 25)
- The Dedication of the Temple (a feast specific to the Order)
- The Feast of the Beauseant (a feast specific to the Order)
The Templar liturgical calendar is examined in detail in the Latin Rule article.
Conclusion
The Knights Templar had several patron saints over the centuries, including Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, the Virgin Mary, Saint George, and Saint Catherine of Alexandria. The Order’s devotion to these saints reflected the Order’s mission of defending the faith and protecting pilgrims. The Order’s special devotion to the Temple of Solomon and to the Holy Sepulchre was a major element of the Order’s identity, and it has been a recurring theme in the modern Templar mythology.