Saint Michael's line
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The Saint Michael's Line, also known as the Sword of Saint Michael,[1][2] is a postulated ley line connecting monasteries and other sacred sites dedicated to the Archangel Michael in Europe and the Holy Land. The aligned sites are almost all located on prominent hilltops, and include Skellig Michael, St Michael's Mount, Mont Saint-Michel, the Sacra di San Michele, San Michele Arcangelo, the Sanctuary of Monte Sant'Angelo, the Panormitis Monastery of the Archangel Michael, Symi, 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).[3][4]
There are claims that the line perfectly aligns with the sunset on the day of the Northern Hemisphere’s Summer Solstice[5] (however, sunrise/sunset maps show this to be incorrect [6]).
Interpretation[edit]
As with other ley lines, no scientific evidence indicates that the alignment was planned and meaningful, making the claim pseudoscientific, but commonly reported at these sites. Physicist Luca Amendola noted that the deviation of these sites from the loxodrome that allegedly connects them ranges between 14 km and 42 km.[4]
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.[7]
Some also say that it is a reminder from Saint Michael that the faithful are expected to be righteous, walking the straight path.[8]
Gallery[edit]
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Mary & Michael Pilgrims' Way[edit]
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.[9] This shorter alignment was first postulated in 1969 by John Mitchell and subsequently claimed to be supported by dowsing.[10] Cites 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.[11]
References[edit]
- ^ pamphletstoinspire (5 May 2019). "Understanding the Mysterious Sword of St. Michael". Twishort. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
- ^ timeanddate (2023-06-21). "Day and Night World Map".
- ^ pamphletstoinspire (5 May 2019). "Understanding the Mysterious Sword of St. Michael". Twishort. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
- ^ a b lucaamendola (2016-01-04). "Luke Skywalker and the St. Michael Axis". Luca Amendola. Retrieved 2019-01-01.
- ^ pamphletstoinspire (5 May 2019). "Understanding the Mysterious Sword of St. Michael". Twishort. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
- ^ timeanddate (2023-06-21). "Day and Night World Map".
- ^ "7 Sanctuaries linked by a straight line: The legendary Sword of St. Michael". Aleteia — Catholic Spirituality, Lifestyle, World News, and Culture. 2017-05-31. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
- ^ "7 Sanctuaries linked by a straight line: The legendary Sword of St. Michael". Aleteia — Catholic Spirituality, Lifestyle, World News, and Culture. 2017-05-31. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
- ^ "Mary & Michael Pilgrims' Way", British Pilgrimage Trust
- ^ Broadhurst, Paul; Miller, Hamish (May 1990). The Sun and the Serpent. MYTHOS. ISBN 978-0951518311.
- ^ "St. Michael Alignment is England's Most Famous Ley Line. But is it Real?". Big Think. 2011-08-16. Retrieved 2019-01-01.