Sacred geometry : hypothesis about the

modality of project of La Vera Cruz Church in

Segovia Spain
Sergio Dr. Ing. Berti –Vice President Associazione Architettura e Geobiologia
Studi Integrati- Italy

Abstract

The construction origins of the La Vera Cruz Church in Segovia Spain are controversial
and the researchers are not all in agreement with the fact the people attribute it to
Knights Templars even if it has a circular form very similar to Tomar Castle in Portugal
and Temple Church in Paris ,well-known like Templars .In our research we have
recognized the base project pattern, used to define its sizes ,and after we applied it to
the French Templar Chapel in Loan ( First building period on 1140 ),with verification
the dimensionals modalities were the same for both the buildings. This could confirm
the popular hypothesis the Knights Templar were the builders but after they gave it
,for not known reasons ,to Knights of Holy Sepulchre.

Introduction

The Vera Cruz Church in Segovia Spain is located not far from the town ,in North
direction, where it is the beginning of the road to the suburb of Zammarramala of
which, in times past ,was parish church through many centuries .It is the completer
sacred european building , that remains ,with a central aedicule around that turns a
circular nave. This architectural style, that has some precedings in the romans
baptisteries on the first centuries of Christianity ,was used in the set up buildings of
differents orders of Chivalery that were actual during the Crusade age in Palestine
( see fig. 1 )

Fig.1–Sights of La Vera Cruz Church from North (left photo) and from South-
West(right photo)

This construction style was used for some Churchs and Buildings of Knights Templars
too, like that in Paris and of Tomar in Portgal. The Order of Knights of Holy Sepulchre
used it too in some churchs like ,for example,that of Torres del Rio in Navarra. The La
Vera Cruz Church building ,that previously was to the Holy Sepulchre entitled ,is
ascribed for legend to Knights Templars even if some recents researches put it in
doubt ; because would seem surer that it were built from Knights of Holy Sepulchre
Order like “Encomienda” depending from the “Collegiata de Toro” ( Zamora ).During
1531,when the Order integrated oneself with Saint John of Jerusalem Order, the church
entered under the new dominion and remained there definitively. The dedication date
of the church is visible in a built tablet in central aedicule and it corresponds to 13 th
April 1208.

Base plan and cross section in the middle of South doorway

The architectural style of the Church corresponds to that used during the transition
period from Romanesque to Gothic and the base plan is in fig. 2.

Fig. 2 – Base plan of la Vera Cruz Church in Segovia

To the original building, formed by the main circular structure and three jointed
apses ,were added later a fourth apse, used like sacristy, and an Italian style bell-
tower. The cross section in the middle of South doorway is in fig. 3 where is possible to
note a raised aedicule with a little altar and covered by an hemispherical dome.
Fig. 3 – The cross section ,in the middle of South doorway ,of La Vera Cruz
Church

Basal project pattern used to define the base plan of La Vera Cruz
Church

From detailed study of the original base plan of the La Vera Cruz Church, with
exclusion of fourth apse and the Italian style bell-tower ( all later built ),
derived that the church dimensions was made using a rectangular project
matrix ( Matrice Di Progetto Rettangolare MDPR ) (see fig. 4 ).

Fig.4 – Rectangular Project Matrix (Matrice Di Progetto Rettangolare

MDPR )

The matrix is based about a rectangle with the following geometrical properties
:

1) AC = SB * 1,618 the smaller side of the rectangle is equal to the

greater side ,divided for 2,and multiplied for the gold ratio ( 1,618…)

2) AI = MC = BC* 3,14 the diagonals of the rectangle are equal to

smaller semi-side multiplied for greek P ( 3,14….)

3) The right-angled triangles ACG; CAO ; IMQ ; MIE have the catheti
proportional ,respectively ,to the numbers 3 and 4 while the hypotenuse
is proportional to the number 5

The greater sides of the rectangle AM and CI correspond to greatest

longitudinal length of the Church while the smaller sides of the rectangle
AC and MI correspond to greatest transversal width.
The church sizes are get from the matrix MDPR, after the tracing of all
possible vertical and horizontal straight lines that correspond at all the
crossing points inside to the matrix. After this operation ,that produces a
first reticular, it is necessary to join the M point, by means of straight
lines, with all the crossing points of the horizontal straight lines,
previously traced ,with the vertical side CI and , subsequently, the same
M point it is necessary to joint it ,by means of straight lines, with all the
crossing points of all vertical straigth lines ,previously traced, with the AC
side. Likewise, it is necessary to repeat the same operation for the
L,I,F,C,B,A,P with the correspondent crossing points wether on smaller
sides or on the greater sides of the base rectangle. After these tracings ,it
is necessary to create new crossing points where a new reticular formed
by vertical and horizontal straight lines will be traced and, after this, the
junction by means of straight lines will be repeated between the new
points on the rectangle sides and the rectangle points upper listed.

By means of this iterative procedure it is possible to define all the

detailed dimensional parts of the Church. In fig. 5 is explained, partially,
the upper indicated procedure and it is possible to note that, when step
by step the junctions between the straight lines and the generated
crossing points on the rectangle sides grow, the church dimensions begin
to be evident, point after point ,until the complete definition.

Fig. 5- Partial example of La Vera Cruz Church detailed dimensions

Basal project pattern used to define the Church cross section

From the detailed study of the cross section of La Vera Cruz Church, with exclusion
of fourth apse and the Italian style bell-tower ( both later built ), derived that
the church dimensions was made using only the half lower part of a
rectangular project matrix ( Matrice Di Progetto Rettangolare MDPR ) (see fig.
6 ).

In fig 6,really,it is possible to see the cross section of the La Vera Cruz Church,
with the overlap of the half lower part of a rectangular project matrix (MDPR),
and some part of straight lines that to the crossings permit the identification of
principal church subdivisions in height.

Fig. 6 – Subdivision in height of La Vera Cruz Church

Basal project pattern used to define the base plan of Loan Templar
Chapel in France ( First building period on 1140 )

By the application of rectangular project matrix ( MDPR ),derived from the La Vera
Cruz Church sizes ,to the Loan Templar Chapel in France ( first building period on 1140
) it is possible to verify that the Chapel sizes are derivable with help of the same
method that is applicable to the Segovia Church ( see fig. 7 ).The building of La Vera
Cruz Church was ended on the year 1208, like it results in a built tablet in central
aedicule, and,so,68 years later than the Loan Templar Chapel. This fact reinforces the
hypothesis about a possible connection between the respective builders and the
Knights Templars .
 Fig. 7- Partial example in France of Loan Templar Chapel detailed
dimensions ( first building period on 1140 )

Conclusion

It is possible to assert that the sizes of La Vera Cruz Church in Segovia and of Loan
Templar Chapel in France ( first building period on 1140 ) were obtained by means the
rectangular project matrix ( MDPR ) and ,so, this fact reinforces the hypothesis about a
possible connection between the respective builders and the Knights Templars or
,quite, the attribution of first building activities in La Vera Cruz Church to they
themselves.

We cannot affirm with for certain that the rectangular project matrix (MDPR) were an
exclusive prerogative of some Templar buildings ( for example : Tomar Castle, the
Temple in Paris ,Loan Chapel or San Marcos Church in Salamanca) because the Nature
too used it and keeps to use it on Its wonderful buildings, like it is possible to see in
fig. 8 relative to a snowflake.
 Fig. 8 – Rectangular project matrix (MDPR) and a snowflake

The man too is part of the marvels of the Nature and his own dimensions are
harmonic with the rectangular project matrix ( MDPR) ( see fig. 9 ).

Fig. 9 – Rectangular project matrix (MDPR) and the man

Bibliography

- Julien Frizot-Sur les pas des templiers en terre de France-Editions

Ouest-France

- D.Josè M. Quadrado-Salamanca,Avila,Segovia (Espana,sus

monumentos y sus artes,su naturaleza è Historia –Barcelona 1884

- Vincente Lamperez-La iglesia de los Templarios en Segovia-Boletin de

la Sociedad Espanola de Excursiones-Madrid,abril 1898

- Eugenio Colorado y Laca-Segovia:Ensayo de una critica artistica de sus

monumentos,etc, Segovia 1908
 - Orden de Malta- Cartelera de la Iglesia de La Vera Cruz de Segovia-
Jointed to the ticket to enter

- R.Mosca,A.Rubino-La Triplice cinta-Terra Nuova Edizioni

Photos and Figures

- Fig. 1 – Photo of Sergio Berti

- Fig. 2 –Fig.3- From book of Merino de Caceres-Iglesia de La Vera Cruz o

del Sancto Sepulcro de Segovia

- Fig. 4 –Elaboration and photo of Sergio Berti

- Fig.5-Fig.6- Elaboration and photo of Sergio Berti using fig.2 e 3

- Fig.7- Elaboration and photo of Sergio Berti using the Loan Church plan
from the book of Julien Frizot-Sur les pas des templiers en terre de
France-Editions Ouest-France

- Fig.8- Elaboration and photo of Sergio Berti

- Fig.9- Elaboration and photo of Sergio Berti