In which Belgian city would you find the Basilica of the Holy Blood?

The Basilica of the Holy Blood (Dutch: “Heilig-Bloedbasiliek”, French: “Basilique du Saint-Sang”, Flemish: “Basiliek van het Heilig Bloed”) is a 12th century Roman Catholic basilica in the medieval town of Bruges, Belgium.

The Holy Blood refers to the blood of Jesus Christ which, according to apocryphal gospels and popular legend, was collected by Joseph of Arimathea after Jesus was taken down from the cross. It is believed that the King of Jerusalem gave the vial of blood to the Count of Flanders. However, it is more likely the relic was obtained by Count Baldwin IX during the notorious Fourth Crusade (1202–1204) called by Pope Innocent III, which ended in the sack of Constantinople.

The vial that contains the blood has never been opened. Experts, however, believe that the vial is an 11th century AD Byzantine perfume bottle, which casts doubts on the authenticity of the relic. The vial itself is a marvel, adorned with gold and enclosed at each end by coronets decorated with angels.

On Ascension Day, the Bishop of Bruges carries the cherished vial through the streets preceded by residents performing a historic reenactment of the relic’s arrival and acting out other biblical scenes. The first recorded procession took place in 1291.

The blood of Jesus is of great significance in the Christian faith. Pope Clement V issued a papal bull in 1310 granting indulgences to pilgrims who view the relic, freeing them from punishment for their past sins.