Historians, archaeologists and theologians think they may finally have found the legendary Holy Grail - the cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper. The chalice (cup) is kept at St. Mary's Cathedral, Valencia, Spain. Although it is agreed that final proof will never be found, there is a growing consensus of opinion amongst many that this is the most likely chalice to be authentic.

International experts gave presentations about the chalice at a Conference in Valencia at the beginning of November. They told of how the chalice came from Rome to Spain with Lawrence the Martyr in 258AD and how the material it is made from (red agate) shows it coming from a workshop in Palestine, Syria or Egypt sometime between the 4th-century BC and the 1st-century AD. The Conference heard that a wooden cup would not have been used by Jesus because of ceremonial purity laws - but the Valencian chalice fulfills the ceremonial requirements.

It has been suggested that St Peter took the chalice to Rome and that ti was used by the earliest Popes as they celebrated the Eucharist.

The Conference decided that more tests should be carried out on the chalice. However, all agreed that its historical importance is not finally dependent on the outcome of these tests.