Over 70 years ago, groups of readers of In the Light of Truth: The Grail Message by Abd-ru-shin, wished, as like-minded persons, to establish contact with one another. It was out of this wish that the first Grail Settlement developed in Vomperberg, Tirol (Austria), which is located 30-minutes by car east of Innsbruck. The Settlement developed gradually, adding residences, work and administration buildings, and then a small hall with room for about 300 people. This hall was used by Abd-ru-shin for Sunday Hours of Worship of God, and for the three annual Grail Festivals, to which adherents of the Grail Message journeyed: the Festival of the Holy Dove (May 30th), the Festival of the Pure Lily (September 7th), and the Festival of the Radiant Star (December 29th). Already at this time, participants came from all over the world.

This development was interrupted in 1938, when the Nazi regime took over Austria, expropriated the Grail Settlement, and expelled all residents. Abd-ru-shin died in 1941, far from Vomperberg. It was not until Fall, 1945, when the Allies returned the Settlement to his widow, Maria Bernhardt, that a new upbuilding began under her direction. During this time, the term "Grail Movement" was in common use, to designate adherents of the Grail Message as a whole.

In the course of time, Grail Movements have formed in many countries, and some countries (e.g., Canada, Switzerland, Germany, Holland, Congo (Zaire) and Nigeria) have built their own Halls of Worship. However, in accordance with the wishes of Abd-ru-shin, no new religion or sect has resulted. A declaration of the wish to adhere to principles from the Grail Message can be made explicit by a request for the "Sealing," which is a Grail Act (ceremony) that takes place during one of the three annual Festivals. This, however, is a personal decision on the part of the individual, and leads neither to commitment to an organization, nor to other adherents, so-called "Crossbearers," since those who receive the Sealing have, during the Grail Act, the sign of the Cross placed with water upon their foreheads.

The total number of Crossbearers who are associated with the Grail Movement is currently over 20,000; they live throughout the world. The total number who acknowledge In the Light of Truth: The Grail Message is no doubt considerably higher. This can be assumed by the sale of over 1,000,000 copies of the work, which has now been translated into 15 languages.

What is the Grail Movement?

The History & Evolution of the Grail Movement

The Structure of the Grail Movement

Contact Information

Grail Acts