'Holy Grail' Lost as Cup With Healing Powers is Stolen

It's certainly a twist on the 'Holy Grail' myth - a cup suspected of being from the prized holy relic has been lost.

The missing vessel is the 'Nanteos Cup' which vanished after being lent to a seriously ill woman because of its alleged healing powers.

Thieves struck a home in Weston-under-Penyard on the Welsh-English border.

The Nanteos Cup had been temporarily relocated from its usual place of safe-keeping in a bank vault. The theft is being investigated by West Merica Police.

This badly damaged wooden vessel is said to have arrived in Britain with Joseph of Arimathea, who donated his own prepared tomb for the burial of Jesus after Jesus' crucifixion. Joseph was given responsibilty of keeping the Holy Grail.

The Grail legend has it that it was used to catch Christ's blood while interring him, giving it magical healing powers.

A Channel 5 show called Search for the Grail ran tests which dated the Nanteos Cup to the 15th century.

to catch Christ's bloodwhile interring him

to catch Christ's bloodwhile interring him