Daniël and Mani’s friendship had apparently been the exception to this rule. Mani was given a disciplinary suspension pending an investigation into his role in Peter’s escape from the police station. But no charges were pressed against either Daniël or Mani; the organisation they belonged to was not, after all, a criminal one.
The police were unsuccessful in tracing the other members of the brotherhood, which led to speculation in the local press about which prominent citizens of Leiden had been members, or still were.
Tiny Strauss had been killed instantly when an arrow gored his neck. His parishioners were shocked, both by his death and by the news that he had been the head of a secret society. Strangely, many of them seemed to be relatively unperturbed by this last detail. Naturally they thought it odd, but he had been such a good Father to his congregation that most of his flock posthumously forgave him.
They had not, however, been told all the details of the case. Their benevolent view would surely have been changed by the image of their beloved priest standing over a pit to slit a lamb’s throat. The archdiocese would not hear of a church funeral for him. In the eyes of the bishop, Strauss had been involved occult practices in the very bowels of the city that were so terrible they could not have withstood the light of day.
Raven’s real name turned out to have been Frank Broele. He was a teacher of classical languages at a high school in Leiden who dressed as a Roman legionary and took part in historical re-enactments in his spare time.
The city council had immediately recognised the potential for a successful tourist attraction in the labyrinth of underground tunnels and started the process of mapping them out. The temple would become the breathtaking final stop on an exciting, archaeological guided tour below the city. After London, Paris and Rome, Leiden would have its own hidden world beneath its streets. The city’s inhabitants had already dubbed it ‘The Leiden Labyrinth’.
Peter opened the outer door of the Sionshofje and locked his bike in the broad passage. He walked across the lawn to Mark’s little house and found the door ajar. He drummed on the window of the living room where Mark and Judith were sitting on the sofa together.
Judith greeted him with a warm smile as he walked in.
‘Hi Peter,’ she said and stood up to give him a hug.
Mark got up too. ‘Can I get you a cup of tea? Or coffee?’ he asked. Without waiting for a reply, he disappeared into the kitchen to put the kettle on.
Judith and Peter sat down on the sofa.
‘How are you?’ he asked. They had only seen each other twice since her rescue from the water-filled cell. Of course, he had visited her during her brief stay in hospital. She had been assessed to make sure she hadn’t suffered any physical damage from her time in underground captivity.
‘Oh, fine,’ she replied. ‘I’m just still a bit nervous about being at home on my own. The slightest noise makes me jump … or I convince myself that someone is looking through the window, watching me. That’s why I spend a lot of time here at Mark’s. Which isn’t so bad, of course, but I do feel like I’ve lost some of my freedom.’
‘That will probably get better with time, won’t it?’
‘Yes, probably. It’s …’ She paused to think of the right words.
They heard Mark in the kitchen, rattling teaspoons and putting tea glasses on the table. Even after all these years, Peter felt a pang of jealousy at moments like this when he saw the cosy domesticity that was absent from his own home.
‘I don’t know how to describe it.’ Judith was trying to finish what she had started to tell him. ‘That moment when I first saw you, I was still panicking, but then … When the water reached the metal bars, I actually became very calm. As though this was it, and the breath I had just taken was the last one I would ever take. I sank under the water again, everything went black, and then there was nothing, really. The next thing I was aware of was waking up in your arms …’
Mark came in carrying a tray filled with glasses and a steaming pot of tea.
‘You’re not trying to tell me you had a near-death experience, are you?’ Peter asked.
‘No, no, nothing like that. I didn’t see a tunnel of light, or any dead relatives. But afterwards, I did have the feeling – and the feeling has only grown stronger since then – that I was living on borrowed time. Like I had been given a gift. I really do feel reborn. I want to focus on what’s important from now on instead of getting caught up in details that don’t really matter. I don’t want to get angry any more, about the people or things that only give me negative energy … Does that make sense?’
Peter and Mark both nodded.
‘And you? How are you doing?’ Judith asked Peter.
‘It’s strange …’ Peter said. ‘I’ve heard about so many new things, gained so much new insight. It’s going to take me a long time to put all the puzzle pieces together. And all that knowledge … I truly believe that knowledge can set you free … Maybe if you have a better grasp of the world around you, you dare to go through it more confidently, and you dare to let go, because you know that you’ll always find your way back. A bit like walking around a town that you know well. You feel more confident about going down an unfamiliar side street there than in a town you don’t know, where you wouldn’t stray off the beaten path.’
‘That’s a nice analogy,’ Mark said with an approving nod.
‘So you feel free,’ Judith concluded, smiling at him.
Peter nodded. ‘As a bird.’
Acknowledgements
I thank André van Dokkum, who with his great knowledge of early Christianity helped me tremendously in developing the basic idea for this book. His chronological reconstruction of Paul’s life and travels also came in handy.
I would like to thank Maarten Dessing for reading the original version of the manuscript, which at that time was at least sixty or seventy pages thicker. Because of his good analysis and the conversations about this I decided to change the initial chronology and get a lot of material out of it.
I would like to thank editor Lisanne Mathijssen for bringing me on board HarperCollins. Her meticulous reading of each version and detailed commentary has ensured that the book has gained a lot of speed.
The editors of the latest version by Lidia Dumas were extremely precise - it is almost unbelievable how many mistakes and mistakes I had overlooked.
I would also like to thank Heleen Buth and Jan-Joris Keijzer from HarperCollins for their trust in me. The moment I signed the contract with HarperCollins, in the autumn of 2015, the idea for this book existed only in my mind.
The mysterious E.B. from the Jewish community of Leiden gave me information about Jewish marriages and the choepa in Leiden.
Saskia Balmaekers from ciaotutti.nl was kind enough to allow me to quote extensively from her website where she writes about Monte Sant’Angelo.
I am grateful to Marlene Bolkestein for her extensive tour of the Mierennesthofje and for me borrowing her books about Leidse hofjes.
Classicus and colleague Frank Broeke took care of the Latin quotes. As a thank-he, as Raven in this book, he unfortunately quickly took the lead.
I would like to thank construction historian Michel van Dam of the BAAC for the tour of the building site of the Aalmarkt project, where no tunnels had been discovered until that moment.
I would like to thank Gerard Huissen for making his photographs of the mosaics in Ostia of the seven degrees of Mithras - and Jan Theo Bakker for his great help in my search for those photographs.
Ronald Kaptein gave me the permission to quote his article about the religious brain on skepsis.nl extensively.
Johan Lammers, the Chairman Association of A.L.S.V. Quintus, kindly gave me a tour of the building of the student association at the Boommarkt and told me a lot about Quintus.
Willy Leenders provided me with precise information about the functioning of a sundial, so that the information in that area was completely correct.
Sijbrand de Rooij, curator of
the RMV, Leiden expert and city guide, has also designed a great city walk for this book.
Henk Schaap helped me by shedding light on the poem Na samém konci by J.H. Krchovský (`At the very end … ‘).
Tanneke Schoonheim from the Historic Association of Leiden University helped me to find answers to questions about the most diverse subjects, such as facing bricks, sundials and muted canals.
I would like to thank Cees and Jenneke van Veelen for their hospitality because in the summer of 2016 I could stay for a week in their beautiful farm to write. The view from the showroom on the meadow was soothing and inspiring.
Cees Vergroen, the designer of the sundial at mill De Valk, has provided me with information about the realization of it.
From Jan Wieles and Piet de Baar I was allowed to copy texts from their booklet Gedemptegrachtenwandeling of the Gilde Leiden.
I thank Hamide Dogan for reading the different versions of the book with great care and attention. Her remarks were like Ariadne’s thread with which I always found my way out of the labyrinth when I threatened to get lost - and that does not only apply to my book. Reading the manuscript together has given the term close reading a completely new content.
Dünya remains our radiant sun, to whom this book is dedicated.
Leiden, October 3, 2016
Consulted literature
ARMSTRONG, K. PAULUS _ Onze liefste vijand. Amsterdam, Hollands Diep, 2015.
ASLAN, R. DE ZELOOT _ Het leven van Jezus van Nazareth en de geboorte van een religie. Amsterdam, Uitgeverij Balans, 2014.
DOANE, T.W. _ Bible myths and their parallels in other religions. Kessinger Publishing’s, Whitefish Montana, Reprint 1882.
DOHERTY, E. _ The Jesus Puzzle: Did Christianity start with a mythical Christ? Ottawa, Age of Reason Publications, 2005.
EHRMAN, B.D. _ How Jesus became God: The exaltation of a Jewish preacher from Galilee. New York, HarperOne, 2014.
FINKELSTEIN, I., N.A. SILBERMAN _ De Bijbel als mythe: Opgravingen vertellen een ander verhaal. Den Haag, Uitgeverij Synthese, 2006.
Freke, T., P. Gandy _The Jesus Mysteries: Was the “Original Jesus” a Pagan God? Three Rivers Press, New York, 2001.
HART, M. ‘t Wie God Verlaat Heeft Niets te Vrezen. De Schrift Betwist. Amsterdam, Arbeiderspers,1997.
HART, M. ‘t De Bril van God. De Schrift Betwist II. Amsterdam, Arbeiderspers, 2002.
KAAIJ, E. VAN DER _ De ongemakkelijke waarheid van het Christendom: De echte Jezus onthuld. Uitgeverij Boekscout.nl, 2015.
KRIWACZEK, P. _ Op zoek naar Zarathoestra. Amsterdam/ Antwerpen, Uitgeverij Atlas, 2003.
LAPIDE, P, P. STUHLMACHER _ Paulus, rabbi en apostel: Een joods-christelijke dialoog. Kampen, Kok, 1981.
LIETAERT PEERBOLTE, B.J. _ Paulus en de rest: Van Farizeeër tot profeet van Jezus. Zoetermeer, Meinema, 2010.
MEIJER, F. _ Paulus: Een leven tussen Jeruzalem en Rome. Amsterdam, Singel Uitgeverijen, 2013.
RAYMONDT, S. _ Mythen en sagen van de Griekse wereld. Haarlem, Fibula-Van Dishoeck, 1982.
RIET, P. VAN ‘T De levensloop van Paulus: Wat zijn brieven ons vertellen en wat Lukas ons verhaald heeft. Zwolle, Folianti, 2012.
SANDERS, E.P. _ Paulus. Kampen, Uitgeverij Kok, 2000.
SLAVENBURG, J. (red.) Het grote boek der Apokriefen: Geheime vroeg-christelijke teksten. Deventer, Uitgeverij Ankh-Hermes bv, 2009.
SUTHERLAND, J.G. _ De Bijbel en de antieke mysteriën. Wassenaar, Servire, 1975.
TIERNEY, P. Goden, graven, mensenoffers: Onthutsende feiten over de dood als rituele handeling. Baarn, Trion, 1990.
TRESMONT, C. _ Paulus. Utrecht/ Antwerpen, Pictura-Boeken, 1960.
VERHOEVEN, P. _ Jezus van Nazaret. Amsterdam, J.M. Meulenhoff bbv, 2008.
VERMASEREN, M.J. _ Mithras: De geheimzinnige God. Amsterdam/ Brussel, Elsevier, 1959.
VOSKUILEN, TH. _ Alias Paulus: De Grondlegger van het Christendom als Geheim Agent van Rome. Veen, Bosch en Keuning Uitgevers N.V., Wommelgem, 2002.
WIELES, J, P. DE BAAR _ Gedemptegrachtenwandeling. Leiden: Het Waterambacht Leiden/ Historische Vereniging Oud Leiden, 2015.
WILSON, A.N. Paulus: De geest van de apostel. Amsterdam, Prometheus, 1997.
Websites (August 2016)
Wikipedia, search terms: archangels, Adonis, circumcision, Eucharist, Greek mythology, initiation, Isis, child sacrifices, Mithras, Monte Sant’Angelo, mystery cult, Mysteries, Niobe, sacrifice, Osiris, Paul, ritual meal, bullfighting.
ceisiwrserith.com/mith/whatismith.htm
http://ciaotutti.nl/reizen-door-italie/puglia/de-route-van-de-engel/
www.debijbel.nl
www.dereensteen.be/De-Mysterien-van-Mithras-een-tweeduizend-jaar-oud-geheim
ebionite.org/otherlang/nedertr.htm
www.grenswetenschap.nl/permalink.asp?i=880
www.heiligen-3s.nl/heiligen/08/14/08-14-1087-arnoldus.php
jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/13232-saul-of-tarsus
www.leidschdagblad.nl/regionaal/leidenenregio/article27359706.ece/Aanleg-vuilcontainers-legt-Leidse-historie-bloot-video?lref=R1
www.leylijnen.com/kerken.htm
www.masseiana.org/panarion_bk1.htm#30
www.nieuwwij.nl/opinie/de-terugkeer-van-het-alziend-oog/
paulproblem.faithweb.com/non_jewish_ideas_pharisee_how.htm
www.positiveatheism.org/hist/rmsbrg08.htm#EBIONITES
skepsis.nl/religieusbrein/
www.tertullian.org/rpearse/mithras/literary_sources.htm
nl.unawe.org/middelen/lesmateriaal/NL_Zonneloper/
YouTube (August 2016)
Christian dilemmas 1 - www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-lpjvexeuk
Christian dilemmas 2 - www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuJBmRr7sLs
Christian dilemmas 3 www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jo_6whlQlII
Christianity: Conversion from Egyption religion Isis, Amen-Ra, Mithraism & Osiris - www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNca8e1Syd8
Constantine and Christianity - www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3RjtaU7zxs
The cult of Mithras - www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQWX689T-YY
The Forbidden Hebrew Bible’s Buried Secrets Revealed.Biblical Archaeology - www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQBQ1wIsIdM
The hidden story of Jesus - www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcrygSAqfj4
Jesus vs Paul: True Christianity vs False Paulianity - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRbuKDJhzU4
Mithras, Jesus and Paul - www.youtube.com/watch?v=efQZW3efP_E
Mithras: Lord of the cosmos - www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKUwA58t0BQ
Mysteries of the Bible: Paul the apostle - www.youtube.com/watch?v=-p2FVuefmcg
The mysteries of Mithras - www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySQmbn5eqEQ
The Origins of Christianity Mithras. The Persian Religion - www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6J8hPr58Qc
Paul and Jesus: James D.Tabor - www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqAiDOFQSJc
The Search for the Historical Paul: John Dominic Crossan - www.youtube.com/watch?v=txdUXCY0clU
Was Jesus Christ a Copy of Horus, Mithras, Dionysus, Krishna and other pagan gods? - www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xxiogSYQ2Q
What’s wrong with the Apostle Paul? False Apostle? Destroyer of Christianity? - www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RfOHNIRh6A
Why Jesus didn’t have to die to atone for sin (Jewish Voice Messianic Jews for Jesus Jonathan Bernis - www.youtube.com/watch?v=jB7EZ5fgr4I
Notes
1 In the translation of The Bible in plain language: 1 A song from David. For the song leader./ Heaven shows the power of God / 2 Heaven tells all people / how mighty God is./ High heaven shows everyone / what God has made: / sun, moon and stars ./ 3 Heaven tells it every day, / heaven says it every night, / in a language of its own./ 4 It is not an ordinary language, / no language with words./ It is a language without sound./ 5a Yet the message passes the whole earth, / it goes around the world.
2 5b God gave the sun a place in the heavens./ 6 Every morning the sun comes out bright./ Then he begins the road he goes every day./ 7 At one end of the sky the sun rises, / at the he ends up at the other
end./ He gives heat to the whole earth.
3 Let Nothing Disturb You is based on a poem by Saint Teresa of Avila, the well-known Spanish mystica from the sixteenth century. The original text goes like this: “Nada te turbe, nada te espante,/ quien a dios tiene nada le falta/ Nada te turbe, nada te espante/ solo Dios basta.”
About the Author
Anthropologist Jeroen Windmeijer (1969) writes thrillers in which Roman and biblical history and the history of his hometown, Leiden, are brought together. His first book was very well received by both the press and booksellers, in Leiden and beyond. With Saint Paul’s Labyrinth he claims his place among the great storytellers. Jeroen’s thrillers are plot driven, smart and authentic.
About the Publisher
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