Blood of Jesus: Is it kept in the Basilica of Bruges?
Of course, more places aspire to have the blood of Christ kept here. One of the most famous is the Basilica of the Holy Blood in the Belgian city of Bruges. Can we see the blood of Jesus Christ here?
The Basilica of the Holy Blood was built between 1134 and 1157. The Alsatian Count Thierry was supposed to provide the blood of Christ for it. He allegedly returned from a crusade in 1150 and had this legendary liquid packed in his travel luggage.
From Jerusalem to Bruges
A sample of the blood of Jesus is said to have been preserved by Joseph of Arimathea during the ritual washing of Christ’s dead body. Thieri was then to be handed the ampoule with blood by Balduin III. Jerusalem as a reward for faithful services.
But is the rare relic now kept in Bruges the blood of Christ?
According to modern research, the prized relic with the alleged blood of Christ comes not from the period of the Second Crusade, but from the Fourth Crusade. It could have been obtained, for example, as loot from the sack of Constantinople.
The mystery continues
However, this does not change the fact that the presence of the relic significantly affected the whole of Bruges. As early as 1310, a papal bull was issued that forgave pilgrims for their sins if they visited the basilica and viewed a valuable relic.
Examining the contents of the relic using modern methods is not possible. It can only be stated that its “cover” dates from the eleventh or twelfth century and points to its provenance in the Constantinople area.
There is no evidence to disprove the claim that the contents of the relic are the actual blood of Jesus Christ. On the other hand, there is no evidence to support this either. The mystery continues…
