Bruges : The Procession of the Holy Blood – May 5

According to an old legend, Thierry d’Alsace, Count of Flanders, brought a relic containing the blood of Christ to Bruges in 1150 after the second crusade, having received it from the King of Jerusalem, Baldwin III of Anjou.

However, the oldest documents concerning the relic in Bruges dates back to 1256, and historians can only speculate on how Bruges came into possession of the relic. But recent investigations made clear that the rock crystal bottle containing the blood originates from Constantinople and dates back to the 11th or 12th century.

For about 750 years, the population of Bruges and its neighbourhood have faithfully venerated the relic, and this adoration culminates on Ascension Day, with the now internationally famous Procession of the Holy Blood : Bishops and prelates carry the relic in the streets of the city in a solemn and colourful procession involving no less than 1800 actors in front of a crowd of 50,000.

The procession is divided into 4 parts : the first two enact scenes from the Old and New Testaments, the third part depicts the return of the Count of Flanders to Bruges and the last part is about the Veneration of the Holy Blood.

If you have not yet paid a visit to this beautiful medieval city, also called the Venice of the North, this is a great opportunity to do so !

Bruges – May 5
Glorious procession of the Holy Blood at 3 pm
Closing ceremony at the Burg square at 5.30 pm
Info : Tourist Office in Bruges
Tel : 050 44 86 86
By car : E40, exit n° 8
By train : 1 hour journey, 2 trains/h

Comments

[Luba]

E-mail to “holyblood” and ruesouverain.

To whom it may concern:
A few weeks ago I visited Belgium and your adorable city Bruges. Of all Museums, the Church of HOLY BLOOD impressed me most. I stayed there to specifically observe the RELIC of HOLY BLOOD. It was presented to the visitors and I saw it and touched it.

I am studying Religions and History and I have a question: is this presumably the blood of Jesus? Is this what is considered "the HOLY GRAIL"?
What is the relationship of this RELIC to the HOLY GRAIL described in Dan Brown's "Da Vinci Code"?
Da Vinci code mentioned the location of Holy Grail in Rosslyn Chapel in England, but NOT in Bruges. Please, explain to me what this relic is.

Your assistance and explanation and clarification will be deeply appreciated, thank you very very much, respectfully LUBA