Saint Michael's line: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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{{Short description|Postulated Eurasian ley line}}

{{Unreliable sources|date=May 2024}}

[[File:Mappa Linea Sacra di San Michele.jpg|thumb|Saint Michael's line]]

The '''Saint Michael's Line''', also known as the '''Sword of Saint Michael''', is a postulated [[ley line]] connecting seven monasteries and in [[Europe]] and the [[Holy Land]], six of which are dedicated to the [[Archangel Michael]].

==History==

Like many places dedicated to St. Michael, the aligned sites are almost all located on prominent hilltops or other hard to reach places, and include [[Skellig Michael]], [[St Michael's Mount]], [[Mont Saint-Michel]], the [[Sacra di San Michele]], [[San Michele Arcangelo, Perugia|San Michele Arcangelo]], the [[Sanctuary of Monte Sant'Angelo]], the [[Panormitis Monastery of the Archangel Michael]], and [[Stella Maris Monastery]]. Although the latter is not explicitly dedicated to St Michael, the mountain on which it sits, [[Mount Carmel]], is associated with the archangel by the biblical story of [[Elijah]] and the prophets of [[Baal]] ([[1 Kings 18]]). A Ukrainian folk legend says that St. Michael gave thunder to the Prophet Elijah on the top of Mount Carmel, so that he could fight the prophets of Baal.<ref>[https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CS%5CA%5CSaintMichaeltheArchangel.htm "Saint Michael the Archangel", Internet Encyclopedia of Ukraine]</ref>

Some of these locations may have had a prior connection to pagan sites of worship.<ref>[https://catholicexchange.com/understanding-mysterious-sword-st-michael/ Staudt, R. Jared. "Understanding the Mysterious Sword of St. Michael", Catholic Exchange, May 16, 2018]</ref> There are claims that the line perfectly aligns with the sunset on the day of the Northern Hemisphere’s Summer Solstice. Like Mont Saint-Michel, Sacra di San Michele and the Sanctuary of Monte Sant'Angelo are reported to have been constructed at the behest of St. Michael himself.<ref name=Schiffer>[https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2022/06/17/angel-quest-monasteries-linked-to-the-archangel-michael-share-mission-and-message/ Schiffer, Kathy. "Monasteries linked to the Archangel Michael share a mission and a message", ''Catholic World Report'', June 17, 2022]</ref>

According to legend, the Sacred Line of Saint Michael represents the blow the Saint inflicted upon [[the Devil]] when he cast him into [[Hell]], as per the story of the [[Fall of Satan]]. "Some say this is a reminder from the Holy Archangel: the faithful are expected to be righteous, walking the straight path."<ref name="Aleteia17">{{Cite web |date=2017-05-31 |first=Gelsomino|last=Del Guercio|title=7 Sanctuaries linked by a straight line: The legendary Sword of St. Michael |url=https://aleteia.org/2017/05/31/7-sanctuaries-linked-by-a-straight-line-the-legendary-sword-of-st-michael/ |access-date=2022-03-18 |website=Aleteia |language=en}}</ref>

== Interpretation ==

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==Mary & Michael Pilgrims' Way==

The term St Michael's Line is also used to refer to a similar alignment of hilltop sites connecting significant Pre-Christian and Christian sites following a line across England that is drawn from two parallel lines – the Mary and Michael lines.<ref>[https://www.britishpilgrimage.org/portfolio/mary-and-michael-pilgrims-way "Mary & Michael Pilgrims' Way", British Pilgrimage Trust]</ref> The route starts at St Michael's Mount on the southwest coast and travels east-by-northeast to St Mary's on the opposite coast; Cornwall to Norfolk. Sites along the way include the [[Boscawen-Un]] stone circle and the [[holy well]] at [[St Neot, Cornwall|St Neot]].<ref>[https://ldwa.org.uk/ldp/members/show_path.php?path_name=Mary+Michael+Pilgrims+Way "Mary Michael Pilgrims Way", Long Distance Walkers Association]</ref>

This shorter alignment was first postulated in 1969 by [[John Michell (writer)|John Mitchell]] and subsequently claimed to be supported by [[dowsing]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Broadhurst |first1=Paul |last2=Miller |first2=Hamish |title=The Sun and the Serpent |date=May 1990 |publisher=MYTHOS |isbn=978-0951518311}}</ref> Sites linked to the archangel within southwest [[England]], include [[St Michael's Mount]], St Michael's Church ([[Brentor]]), [[Creech St Michael]], [[Burrow Mump]] (also known as St Michael's Borough) and [[Glastonbury Tor]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://bigthink.com/strange-maps/527-the-st-michael-line-a-straight-story|title=St. Michael Alignment is England's Most Famous Ley Line. But is it Real?|date=2011-08-16|website=Big Think|language=en|access-date=2019-01-01}}</ref>

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==External links==

* [https://marymichaelpilgrimsway.org/ Mary Michael Pilgrims Way]

[[Category:Pseudoscience]]