Treasure hunters drill holes in mystic church
A children's movie and stories of the Knights Templar may have inspired unknown intruders to drill holes in the floor of Bornholm's largest round church Stories of hidden treasures and connections to the Knights Templar inspired unknown vandals early Tuesday...
The structure is a well-visited 12th century 'round church', of which there are four on Bornholm. But the church is especially popular among fans of conspiracy stories surrounding the Holy Grail and a possible union between Jesus and Mary Magdalen - a tale most recently made famous by Dan Brown's 'The DaVinci Code'.
Danish author Erling Haagensen's books readily connect the island's round churches to the crusading knights. He claims that the churches' symmetrical placement is part of the ongoing mystery surrounding the knights, who he claims settled on the island.
Haagensen also wrote that there was a secret chamber under the floor of the church. Geo-radar studies have confirmed that the room does actually exist, and Haagensen has suggested drilling holes in the floor to send a micro camera down to view the room.
The would-be thieves attempted to take that message to heart Tuesday morning, but it is not known whether they managed to sneak a peak at the secret room's contents.
In a recent Danish children's film, 'The Lost Treasure of the Knights Templar', it is suggested that a valuable treasure is hidden in the room - possibly the Holy Grail.
Haagensen said he doubted any treasure of gold and silver was buried under the church floor, but added it was possible that documents from the Knights Templar might well have been hidden there.
Nothing was reported stolen by the church as a result of the incident. But Jytte Pedersen, spokesperson for the parochial church council, found it strange that the intruders were able to bore holes into the floor without being seen or heard.
According to Pedersen, Østerlars Church has been vandalised on several occasions over the past few years.