The Holy Blood Procession in Bruges
Every year in Bruges, on Ascension Day, the Procession of the Holy Blood takes place. The centerpiece is the coagulated relic of the Precious Blood of Christ. Sixty to hundred thousand spectators are watching this parade of historical and biblical scenes.
The historical tradition of Bruges says that after the descent from the Cross, Joseph of Arimathea took some of His blood and preserved it. Thierry of Alsace, Count of Flanders, received the relic in the Holy Land and brought it to Bruges. The Precious Blood arrived in Bruges, together with the Count, his wife Sybilla of Anjou and the abbot of Saint Bertin on April 7th 1150. The oldest document however, concerning this Holy Grail of Bruges, dates back to 1256. So, probably, the Holy Blood was one of a whole series of relics connected with the suffering of Christ, looted when the imperial city of Constantinople was sacked during the 4th crusade in 1204, and sent by Baldwin IX to Flanders. It is known that there was a relic of the Holy Blood in the Bucoleon palace of Constantinople. The manner in which the rock-crystal flask is cut also indicates an origin in Constantinople.
The oldest mention of the Holy Blood Procession dates back to 1291. The guilds of Bruges were obliged to participate in a procession of horse- and guilds-men, artisans and marksmen, city councillors and clergy marching in all their splendour with the relic round the city walls. In the 15th and 16th century, profane scenes with giants, the mythical Bayard Horse and the chambers of rhetoric of Bruges were added to the biblical scenes of the mystery plays. The Noble Brotherhood of the Holy Blood is for centuries the organiser of this procession. The theme still is some sort of a Quest for the Holy Grail: a search for the meaning of life and the pursuit of happiness and fulfilment that got many names – like the Kingdom of God or the New Jerusalem… This idea Bruges being a new Jerusalem also is far from new: Bruges was deliberately built as this New Jerusalem.
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The Procession of the Holy Blood is opened by the police, a brass band, horsemen carrying the flags of Bruges, the Holy Virgin Mary as the patroness of the city and of course the Members of the Noble Brotherhood of the Holy Blood.
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Old myths – and the Old Testament – tell us of existential matters: man looking for a lost paradise.
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Abraham is departing from his familiar surroundings for a strange, but better land. But Joseph is sold by his brothers to a caravansary on their way to Egypt – people always will leave their “brother” behind. Joseph however becomes one of the most important men in Egypt, because he is able to interpret the Pharaoh’s visions. When the sons of Jacob, driven by hunger, make their way to Egypt, Joseph saves them. He is, as Jesus, an outcast who brings new life to humanity.
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In all times, there are prophets who have a keen insight and see beyond the facts. They feel what the future will bring.
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The story of Jesus’ life rings in a new time. God is speaking in Him. The birth of Christ is presented by the merchants of Cologne, because this city is the keeper of the relics of the Three Kings.
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There are scenes of Jesus and the teachers and Saint John the Baptist, who prepares the way for Jesus. John is the patron saint of the city of Florence. Therefore it is the Nation of Florence that presents us the scene of John the Baptist, Herod and Salome. The frivolous man in power, Herod, had imprisoned the Baptist because he criticized his way of living: he had taken for himself his brother’s wife.
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During a feast Herodias’ daughter danced so gracefully that Herod swore he would give her anything she asked. Salome demanded the head of John the Baptist.
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Jesus gives the answer to the meaning of life. Following Jesus means: to love God always, even if you are at risk of losing your life. Here is the entry to Jerusalem and the Last Supper, presented by the Rhetoricians of the Holy Ghost or the Thirteen.
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Jesus did not receive a fair trial. The Roman governor Pilate defended his own position, instead of searching for the truth. Jesus had to serve as a scapegoat.
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Jesus was crucified in order to appease the anger of the people and to suppress the tensions in society. As Lamb of God he takes away evil once and for all. With Him a new time begins. From this moment begins the description of Jesus’ physical and moral suffering. He is the symbol of all who are tortured up to this day.
The scenes of the scourging and the crowning with thorns are presented by the masons and stone-masons, because, from the 15th century, their public worship took place in the chapel of the Holy Blood. Jesus is now “on the cold stone” – this statue, a work in 1900 created by Michiel D’Hondt, is venerated in the chapel of the Holy Blood, but is now in the Procession escorted by a platoon of Roman soldiers.
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Copyright by embee, used with permission
The events of Golgotha are represented by the miraculous cross of Damme. According to the tradition, it has been brought out of the sea by sailors. Since 1339 it is venerated in the church of Our Lady in Damme.
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The inexpressible suffering experienced by those who are left. The mother who lost her son. Girls are singing a Stabat Mater. The Pieta…
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Milan, capital of Lombardy, preserves the relic of the Holy Sepulchre. There also is a Church of the Holy Sepulchre – or a Jerusalem Church – in Bruges. The statue showed here is a copy of the one in this church (1702). In front of the Holy Sepulchre and led by grieving women goes Joseph of Arimathea carrying the chalice in which the blood of Christ was received.
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A group with banners is called “the Arms of Christ”. The banners are portraying the instruments of the Passion or Arma Christi.
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The Chamber of the Rhetoricians of the Three Saints present the scene of the Resurrection, because there are three saints in its coats of arms: St Barbara, St Catherine and St Mary Magdalene who was the chief witness of the Resurrection.
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Copyright by embee, used with permission
Now starts the historical section, with a herald announcing the arrival of Thierry of Alsace, returning from the Crusades. He brings the relic of the Holy Blood with him. Tradesmen and members of the guilds go forth to welcome the Count. The band enhances the spirit of the festive arrival in this “good city” while town messengers announce the annual fair and procession.
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There are flagwavers and their flags are showing a pelican who feeds her young with her own blood to save them from starving to death; it’s a symbol of Jesus Christ you’ll find everywhere in Bruges.
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And then there is Count Thierry with the relic. Besides him is his lady, Sybilla of Anjou. There are no Templars in the Procession. Nevertheless, according to the legend, it were the Knights Templar who gave the Count the relic of the Holy Blood. Count Thierry is followed by his son Philip of Alsace, who later will be the commisioner of Chrétien de Troyer, the writer of the first Grail Story, as is told in the article Perceval and the Holy Grail of Bruges.
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Copyright by embee, used with permission
Finally, the Saint George’s Guild opens the most important section of the procession. This guild was also responsible for maintaining order in the medieval city. Is it a coincidence their red cross reminds us of the banner of the Knights Templar?
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The Holy Blood relic is carried by two prelates and four members of the Noble Brotherhood surround the shrine, dating from 1617, and set with hundreds of precious stones amongst which is the “black diamond”, coming from Mary Stuart, Queen of Scotland. Here is a last picture of the shrine, taken in the morning, when it was carried out of the Chapel of the Holy Blood…
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User Comments
Unofre Pili
On May 26, 2009 at 3:25 am
Enjoyed reading it. Very-well presented.
Debra.
On May 26, 2009 at 6:25 am
Excellent write, Patrick! I enjoyed reading the entire piece! It was very well written and the pics added so much depth. Very entertaining.
C Jordan
On May 26, 2009 at 8:30 am
Very interesting recount of the procession and its historic significance. Nice pics by embee.
Lauren Axelrod
On May 26, 2009 at 8:20 pm
What a fascinating subject Patrick. I never knew about this.
Joe Dorish
On May 30, 2009 at 11:40 am
Very interesting, enjoyed reading this.
Ruby Hawk
On May 30, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Very enjoyable reading.
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