Monday, October 15, 2007

Just in Time for Christmas

Wondering what to get that hard-to-buy-for person on your Christmas list? Don't think the hard copy of the new Radiohead album is quite extravagant enough? Well, then the Vatican has got you covered. It has just released a series of documents relating to the Church's prosecution of the Knights Templar in the 14th Century. We're not just talking about a coffee table book, however:

The document, known as the Chinon parchment, shows that Pope Clement V found the Templars not guilty of heresy, but guilty of other lesser infractions of Church law. Nonetheless he ordered the disbandment of the order.

The Vatican's Secret Archives, one of the world's great repositories of historical documents, is selling a limited edition of 800 numbered copies of the Chinon parchment.

It is printed on synthetic parchment, comes complete with a reproduction of the original papal wax seal, and is packaged in a soft leather case together with a scholarly commentary.

Each copy will cost just over 5,900 euros ($8,000; £3,925).
No word on how deeply it'll be discounted at Wal-Mart.

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