The Procession of the Holy Blood in the historic Belgian city of Bruges is one of the unique events listed as a World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. This historic procession is the most important and solemn religious ceremony in Bruges, Belgium, attracting countless tourists and believers every year to watch and worship.
This activity originated in the 12th century more than 900 years ago. Diederik, Count of Flanders at that time, participated in the Second Crusade in 1147 and helped the Kingdom of Jerusalem resist Muslim invasion. He was also the brother-in-law of King Baldwin III of Jerusalem. In order to thank him for his great help, Baldwin III gave him a drop of the holy blood of Jesus that had been preserved for more than a thousand years. Diederic returned to Bruges in 1150 and personally handed the bottle containing the holy blood to the clergy here. It has since been stored in a reliquary made of gold and embedded with gems and diamonds, and is enshrined in what is now the Temple of the Holy Blood. Only the annual “Holy Blood Procession” will be taken out for everyone to pay homage to.
Regarding the origin of the Holy Blood, the official Gospels do not mention it. It is said that when Jesus was crucified, a Roman soldier pierced his side with a spear. This caused his holy blood to flow from the wound, which was collected in a chalice by Joseph of Arimathea. However, the fact that Joseph of Arimathea dedicated the cemetery originally prepared for himself for the burial of Jesus is indeed recorded in the four Gospels.
In the 1st century AD, the Holy Grail was brought to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem by Saint Helena and has been preserved ever since. In the 12th century, King Baldwin III of Jerusalem donated a drop of Jesus’ holy blood to Diederick in Bruges. This is the origin of the Holy Blood Basilica in Bruges. Another theory is that Joseph of Phialimathea received fragments of clothing soaked in the blood of Jesus. The holy blood is extracted from the clothes.
There is controversy in historical circles about the authenticity of the Holy Blood, and there is no conclusive evidence to prove the origin and inheritance of the Holy Blood. However, the legend remains of great significance to the religious culture and traditions of Bruges.
n Bruges, Belgium, the annual Procession of the Holy Blood transforms this beautiful place into a stage for religious carnival.
The Procession of the Holy Blood is forty days after Easter, which is Ascension Day. As the day of the parade approaches, the entire city begins to prepare for the event. Buildings on both sides of the street were decorated with brightly colored flags, and residents were busy decorating their windows in preparation for this important moment. The city square is filled with stalls selling all kinds of festive delicacies and handicrafts. It is fragrant and lively.
The procession is composed of priests, monks and ceremonial staff. They wear solemn religious costumes, hold Bibles and crosses, and march slowly through the stone streets of the city.The most eye-catching one is of course the gorgeous palanquin carrying the holy bottle box with a drop of holy blood. The sedan chair is made of gold and gems, exuding dazzling light. In the middle is the holy blood box, which is revered by millions of people. A dozen priests holding medieval bows and arrows carefully guard the sacred existence.
The route of the parade passes through the most representative sights of Bruges, starting from the square in front of the Cathedral, passing through the ancient city center and along the canals. The roadside auditorium was filled with tourists from all over the world, who were looking forward to witnessing this magnificent scene. As the sedan moved forward, people in the team sang religious hymns loudly, and the loud singing echoed throughout the city, making people intoxicated. The Holy Blood Procession is not only a visual feast, but also an inner baptism. This ancient tradition connects people together and feels endless hope and blessing.
