Knights Templar

The Knights Templar was formed when a knight of Champagne, and his eight friends took the crusaders vow, while Baldwin II, Hugues de Payens reigned. The Patriarch of Jerusalem was present as the men swore to keep the vow and to protect the pilgrims as they traveled from Jerusalem to the Jordan banks. Having accepted the Knights Templars services, Baldwin allowed them to stay in a designated section of the palace. Which is where they got their name "pauvres chevaliers du temple", when translated means Poor Knights of the Temple. It was in 1128 that the Knights Templars agreed to the Rule of St. Benedict and started wearing the white habit of Cistercians with the addition of the red cross. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14493a.htm

On April 5, 2009, The Vatican reported that Knights Templar hid the Shroud of Turin for over 100 years after The Crusades. The new revelation explains the mystery of where the Shroud was during its 'missing years.'http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article6040521.ece

• 1118: Knights Templar founded in Jerusalem
• April 20, 1292: Jacques de Molay elected as Grand Master
• 1307: Knights Templar in France arrested by Phillip IV
• March 18, 1314: Jacques de Molay executed

Knights Templar, who fought for and protected the Christian faith for more then 200 years, was disband when Philip IV of France set out to be rid of them. On October 13, 1307 Philip IV ordered that the Templars be arrested. The Templars confessed to things like trampling and spitting on the cross, homosexuality, idolatry after being tortured. Pope Clement V officially disbanded the Templars in 1312.http://blog.templarhistory.com/?p=152