Inkari

by Rom Siquijor

After 8 years of dedicated service in Jerusalem, in 1128 Hughes went back to France with the intention to ask for help from their noble relatives, particularly to Bernard who have gained the confidence of the Pope.

  The task did not turn out to be difficult; Bernard was convinced and so he persuaded the Pope that the new military order of clerics should be given papal patronage for their divine service to the Holy land. In the same year, that petition was granted. The Templars were given legal immunity from bishops, kings or emperors, and was made answerable only to the Pope.

  While Bernard was busy campaigning for the Order of the Templars, Melchizedek was busy assisting Bishop Malachy4 of Armagh.

  Together Malachy and Melchizedek seem to draw an utterly strange divine energy. Their tandem drew a lot of public attention with the healing miracles they had been performing. It was said that Malachy would use Melchizedek as a medium to tap higher energies to heal and gain his prophetic visions. At first, the Vatican opposed it, but soon they were granted the papal authority to perform such healing activities because of the recommendation of King David I5 of Scotland after they healed his son from severe illness.

  In 1139, Malachy traveled with Melchizedek to Rome. The bishop had to give a report of the affairs of his diocese to Pope Innocent II6. At Rome, a simple dinner of bread and wine was served to Malachy and Melchizedek together with eighteen other clergies. They were sitted at a long table which was deafeningly quiet. All of them were wearing a fine pristine white tunic, absent of any blotch. After blessing the meal, they started to partake the humble meal. Their body wanted to ask for more food to quench and compensate for the long arduous hours of travel, but the big screaming signs along the hallway always reminded them that—man does not live on bread alone.

  Amiddle-aged cleric was sitting beside Melchizedek. His thinning hair was combed from the side to his crown, obviously to cover the shiny bald part of his head. He has a prominent scar on his face, suggesting that it was slashed by a sword or something sharp many years ago. He has a wary eye and was perturbed as he whispered, “Brother,” with a very soft voice as he glanced around the rest of clergies partaking their meal, “Will you join your kin at the Holy land?” then continued to bite into the piece of bread he is using to cover his mouth, in order not to be noticed by the rest.

  Melchizedek is a conventional monk, ever adherent to every rule of the order to its strictest form, just shook his head side to side—meaning “No!” Obviously, he wanted to ward-off the topic and had no intentions of talking during the meal as it is prohibited.

  The monk seemed to understand that he is not interested in the topic and did not pursued to ask him again. Melchizedek knew that he had seen this monk before, he just could not remember when and where.

  After the meal, Malachy and Melchizedek went to the adoration chamber to say their final prayer for the day. The place was small. There were no chairs. Only a piece of leather whip with a handle plated with gold for flagellants was laid at the base of a tabernacle. They started with their prayer:

  [SUMME, gloriose Deus, illumina tenebras cordis mei, et da mihi fidem rectam, spem certam et caritatem perfectam, sensum et cognitionem, Domine, ut faciam tuum sanctum et verax mandatum. Amen7.]

  [0 MOST high, glorious God, illuminate the darknessofmyheart. Grantme, OLord, acorrect faith, certain hope, and a perfect charity, sense and knowledge that I may carry out Thy Holy and true command. Amen.]

  As Malachy puts his hands over Melchizedek’s head to bless him, flashes of strange visions started appearing in the window of his mind. As he looked in front, he can still see the golden tabernacle. But when gazed his eyes around, he saw the horizon. The walls were gone. The roof was gone. As he looks down, he sees an unfathomable black hole. There was no dimension of space. There was no dimension of time. Suddenly, their thoughts were morphed together as one. What Malachy sees, Melchizedek sees. In an instant, the future was unfolded before their very eyes. They saw the Popes that will lead the Church until its end. Then, everything went back as it was. They prostrated into the floor with tears flowing from their eyes.

  That whole night, Malachy and Melchizedek started writing what they saw. They wrote and wrote everything they could remember until the cocks started crowing and the Church bells were rang.

  They came up with a long list of illustrious pontiffs, who were to rule the Church until its end. The list indicated some traits and attributes of all future Popes from Celestine II8, who was elected in the year 1143 up to Petrus Romanus9, marking the end of the church. The Popes are enunciated under mystical titles. They wrote mostly symbolical allusion describing some traits, reference points, or resemblance, in one way or another, to describe each of them the best they could. They wrote allusions to their country of origin, their name, their coat of arms or insignia, their birth-place, their talent, their cardinality, and other attributes which they posses.

  In the morning, their knees were still trembling as they rolled the scroll with some ink still not fully dried. They hurriedly went to catch the rest of the clergies in their morning mass.

  Before noon, it was Malachy’s turn to present the affairs of his diocese to the Pope. As he entered the pontifical chamber, the Pope was patiently waiting at his comfortable chair and graciously stood-up when he saw Malachy entered the room. The room was elegant and books were neatly stacked on the shelves. His table however was piled with scrolls of all sorts.

  Malachy gently kissed the ring of the Pope and stepped back with his head still bowed.

  “God be with you Bishop!” the Pope greeted and then went back to sit on his chair, parting some scrolls piled-up on his desk. Then, he gently pointed a chair to Malachy.

  “ … And also with you—my Holiness!” Malachy replied before sitting across the Pope.

  Malachy gulped as he controls his voice which is still half-trembling, “Your Holiness, I know that the affairs of my diocese is of great importance; but I would like to use the precious time that you are dedicating for me—with a thing of greater relevance …” Before he could continue, the Pope interrupted, “Tell me Bishop, what is it that is more important than the affairs of the Church?” with eyes glaring in insult.

  Malachy fumbled as he spread the scroll on top of the table of the Pope. “It is definitely an affair of the Church … your Holiness.” As he spread the scroll across the table, he continued, “Behold be the list of all the Popes, from your successor … until the end of the 7 hilled city10—and so as the Church …”

  The Pope stood and banged his table with impunity, scattering some of the scrolls to the floor. “What foolishness is this again Malachy? Enough was said about your foolish claims of healing, or shall I say sorcery—now this insane illusion!”

  The Pope grabbed the scrolls without even reading them. He told the Bishop not to impart these absurd claims with anybody, as it would create pandemonium and chaos that the Vatican is not willing to tolerate. “Should you opt to do the contrary, you will be summoned by this office on the charge of heresy and sorcery! Do you understand?”

  Malachy faintly nodded, turned around and left the office of the Pope. At the back of his mind, he knew, that one day, this prophesy will be revealed when the time is ripe.

  Upon meeting Melchizedek that afternoon, he instructed him to do the same.

  The Second Crusade

  Figure 5. St. Bernard and the rousing of the Second Crusade

  As Bernard rouses the entire Europe for the 2nd Crusade; Meichizedek’s divine destiny looms ahead…

  The night was dreadful as the news of the fall of Edessa1 had reached Europe. The Holy seat is once again under grave threat by the Moors. The glory of the majestic Chartres Cathedral2, built at the same year, or the success of the great monasteries in their ardent reforms, will all be futile if the Holy City3 itself is in peril.

  The Vatican was appalled and the leaders of the faith do not have any r
ecourse but to resolve this matter without delay—a second crusade to be launched. The fetid smell of war and blood is once again at hand.

  Bernard, one of the most powerful and eloquent speakers of the Catholic faith during that time, was summoned to rouse Europe with his brothers. Though the brothers descended from a lineage of warriors, they were however overwhelmed with fear when they received this order from the Holy See, but not Bernard. His inflamed heart was once again rekindled by the burning passion of the Holy War. “Brothers, it is good for us to be here, but lo, this evil day compels us to sail the bloodied sea to protect the Holy land against the infidels.” Bernard said to them.

  To play a leading role in the camp and court is indeed a high adventure, but the performance of such a role seemed all but impossible. Although old and weak, Bernard is like a frail body, but housed within it is a strong and determined spirit. “Do you shrink?” he said to his brother monk Melchizedek, “Do you shrink, delicate soldier, from the roughness and weight of war? Ah, believe me, the enemy’s onset and the thick flying arrows and spears will make your shield very light in your grasp, and will render you insensible to the pressure of the helmet and breastplate … What causes you to be afraid … with the holy angels as allies, and Christ Himself as captain?” Such was the spirit that blazed in the heart of Bernard.

  Melchizedek wasn’t really weak at heart but is simply not convinced about the idea of going into this crusade. “This war, like any other wars do not produce victors, only losers—death, widows, and orphans!” Melchizedek replied with voice half-trembling.

  As Bernard continues his arguments, he momentarily gazed around, then looked-up into the sky and uttered, “The knights, be declared in trumpet tones, can safely fight the infidels, for they are fighting for God. They are the ministers of God to inflict His vengeance. For them to give or receive death is not a sin, but a most glorious deed!” With fire in his eyes and reverberating glow of faith wrap his entire body; no knight certainly proved himself more capable, more energetic, more courageous than this white monk who could denounce, move or inspire as the occasion demanded.

  Melchizedek paused as he looked Bernard directly into the eye and said, “My brother, I will go and join the crusade not because of the burning desire to regain Jerusalem, but simply to be the caretaker of my brothers. I bear no hatred to the Moors or to those who have not acceded to Christianity, as they too—are all our brothers in the eyes of God!”

  Almost a year after the proclamation of the crusade, Melchizedek was assigned as captain of several leagues of soldiers bound to fight the infidels in Syria, who were threatening the Holy Sepulcher without delay. Melchizedek sailed eastward with his faith-incited Knights of the Cross. His soldiers are full of zeal and hope; without any clue that their Captain, although being a fully ordained Cistercian monk, a well respected member of the Knight of the Templars, and brother of Bernard—never really understood war, particularly this war because of religious roots. He sailed bringing only half his heart, so an obvious defeat by the Moors is at hand.

  The onslaughts of the Turks4 and the Mongols5 started. These clans were considered the warriors of warriors. They were blood-hungry, brutal, and barbaric. Death is almost sure to come to the enemies they will encounter in the battlefield.

  Slowly as Melchizedek’s troops disembarked their boat, the inevitable smell of carnage fills the air. Several leagues of soldier of heavily armed Moors can be seen fast approaching from the horizon. The throbbing sound of loud drums is heard from afar, as they marched with uncanny coordination. Leading the army was a troop riding big muscular stallions with their bows already loaded with sharp arrows. Their captain has his saber drawn, waving it as it glistened against the rays of that mid-summer sun. Trailing behind without delay, are several leagues of men on foot with longer bows ready to launch a storm of lethal arrows directed against the Christians. Half league after the ground archers, were the gallant soldiers with spears, lances, and sabers. They are thumping their steely weapons against their enormous shields. Their main tactic was for the horsemen to charge galloping at a high speed, shooting their short bows from the saddle, then wheel back again and again. The ground archers with their long bows will secure a good perimeter distance for the horsemen to recoil. Then, once their enemies have weakened, they would charge with their thin-bladed, razor sharp sabers, spears, and lances.

  On the opposing side, Melchizedek prepares to engage, although the idea of retreating was not far from his head. As he continued examining his thoughts, he kept hearing the voice of his brother Bernard, we will be invincible against our enemies as the angels are going to ride with us and Christ himself will animate our men to succumb the infidels. Seeing the enthusiasm and rage in the eyes of his army, which his brother mainly instilled on them, he ordered his men to commence in battle formation. The trumpets heralding the bloody confrontation were sounded. There were a hundred and forty men on each wing and about three hundred men in the middle, all the Archers are in front. Their strategy was simple, to control the center of the battlefield and leave the rest to faith.

  In an instant, arrows began to fly into the air and several of his men immediately fell into the ground. They charged against the enemies like a pact of hungry wolves, but started falling one by one; pierced with arrows or stabbed by spears and lance. The land started to be flooded by blood. Emotions heightened. Adrenalin pumped-up.

  When the two opposing forces finally caught up with each other, the air was filled with gruesome squeals as the buckling sound of swords and shields continue.

  As Melchizedek charge, his horse got shot by an arrow and fell into the ground. As he fumbled to get up, he saw how his men were being slaughtered and literally butchered by the overwhelming force of their enemy. It was a brutal carnage. He felt weak. Before he could even reach for his sword, it was too late as a Moor already caught his head and ready to chop it off with a sharp saber that has been heavily bloodied with several bloods of Christian soldiers. With a smirk of rage, the Moor warrior swung his saber into the air, aiming intently to slash it across Melchizedek’s neck. In an instant, the sun glimmered enormously, causing the the Moor to be momentarily blinded because of its scourging blaze. Melchizedek took this chance to run away. Arrows started to rain as he flees, but none of them hit him directly. He ran and ran until he got into the woods. It served as a temporary refuge for him as he tries to evade the enemies. Soon he fell unconscious from fatigue.

  After two days, he regained consciousness and found himself aboard a galleon with another group of Scotish Templars. They were suppose to provide reinforcement to the mission at Damascus, but decided to retreat because of the thwarted attacks that the other crusaders had launched. Retreating could have been the right thing that Melchizedek could have done; but it was too late. Blood of his 600 men—fathers, husbands, brothers, and sons were all shed in this brutal carnage. The nightmare that he feared the most for years has just turned into a reality.

  Melchizedek was haunted by the horrifying scene of battles in his sleep and more so, when he is awake. For him, it could have been better to die together with his men. To ran-off from the battlefield, while his men were being slaughtered was a grave dishonor, a cowardly act. He wanted to condemn himself, his brother, even Christ and God Himself. Random thoughts ran into his head as he could not accept the fact that God could allow such terrible things to happen. He wanted to ask Him, if you are the one true God, why did you Iet your sons kill each other Iike animals in battlefield for the sake of Your name?

  He felt forsaken. He wanted to ask his beloved brother Bernard, Why did God Iet me Iive—to suffer from shame and disgust with myself? I’ve served Him with all my heart! Why had He forsaken me? He contemplated several times of pulling-off the cross pendant his brother gave to him and throw it into the sea, but he simply could not do it.

  He tried not to entertain these evil thoughts. He knew that he was at the brink of losing his fa
ith; so, all throughout the journey, he just kept praying and begging for understanding. He was trying to convince himself that there is a higher purpose why God had kept him alive.

  One stormy night, as he was praying inside his cabin, prostrated at the floor, the gusty wind howls wild. Strong rain poured vehemently, as the lightning strikes vast. Suddenly, he was thrown away. He thought it was God punishing him for his evil thoughts, but no, their galleon was struck by a strong tide that hurled it in an uncontrollable direction. The sea was outraged. The rest of the men panicked in fear; some got thrown away and was gulped by the sea. The rest hanged for their lives on fixtures, posts, or whatever they can cling on. Melchizedek just continued praying; not showing any signs of fear, for he knew that if it was his time, then let it be done according to God’s will.

  As the wind echoed on, the scene was calmed slightly. One lad entered Melchizedek’s room and saw his head bleeding, “Abbey6, are you alright?” as the boy tried to soothe him by holding his hands.

  “Fear not dear lad, no harm can be inflicted on a heart and soul that is already distraught by the evils of the war! This blood I shed is nothing! This body I have is temporary! Look into thy heart and you shall find the answers! Fear not, I tell you!”

  The temporary hull did not last too long. Bodies started slamming again against the walls and ceiling of the cabins. Blood started to drip. Those who were in the deck were all gone. The whirlwind heightened and they felt that the wrath of God is at hand. They felt that it seems that it was the hand of God Himself shaking their boat into the high seas. Despair. Despair took the best of them, but not Melchizedek.

  Many hours had past. The dark clouds that engulfed the sky started to clear-up. It was over, as a brightly colored rainbow carved along the horizon was seen on the backdrop. A truce was reached between the heaven and the sea, in that morning of Dec. 217, 1148 they found themselves at the shores of Chiclayo en Peru.