The Sacred Secret of Bruges: Inside the Basilica of the Holy Blood and Its 900-Year-Old Relic

I’ve visited many churches in Europe—from the grand cathedrals of Rome to remote stone chapels hidden in the hills—but nothing quite prepared me for the Basilica of the Holy Blood in Bruges. Tucked into a corner of Burg Square, it doesn’t shout for attention. There’s no towering spire or ornate façade. In fact, I almost walked past it entirely.

But inside, this quiet place holds one of Christianity’s most sacred—and most mysterious—relics: a vial said to contain the actual blood of Jesus Christ, brought to Bruges from Jerusalem almost 900 years ago.

As a Catholic, I entered with reverence. As a curious traveler, I left with questions. And the more I researched, the more the story of this basilica fascinated me—not just spiritually, but historically.

Standing at the entrance of the Basilica of the Holy Blood in Bruges—where mystery, history, and faith collide in one unforgettable relic.

Who Was Count Thierry of Alsace—and Why Was He in Jerusalem?

Before the relic arrived in Bruges, it belonged to a much bigger story—a story of faith, power, and ambition at the height of the Crusades. And at the center of that story was Count Thierry of Alsace, a nobleman whose journey to the Holy Land would forever change the spiritual legacy of his homeland.

Born around 1099, Thierry (also known as Diederik van de Elzas in Dutch) was the son of Baldwin VII of Flanders and the nephew of King Baldwin I of Jerusalem, one of the founding rulers of the Christian Kingdom of Jerusalem after the First Crusade. That royal connection gave Thierry both prestige and access to sacred circles in the East, including the Patriarch of Jerusalem himself. Some even suggest it gave him motivation to go to Jerusalem not just as a pilgrim, but as a protector of his family’s spiritual legacy.

By the 1140s, Thierry had inherited the County of Flanders, one of the wealthiest and most strategically important regions in medieval Europe. But wealth wasn’t enough. Like many noblemen of his era, Thierry saw participating in the Crusades as a way to gain eternal salvation and elevate his status among both kings and popes.

In 1147, he joined the Second Crusade, a military expedition called by Pope Eugene III and inspired by the fiery preaching of St. Bernard of Clairvaux. Thierry didn’t go as a tagalong—he commanded a full Flemish force and played a prominent role in the campaign, especially during the failed Siege of Damascus in 1148. Despite military disaster, Thierry stayed on in the Holy Land after most of the European nobles returned home.

During his extended stay, it’s believed that Thierry grew close to Patriarch Foucher of Angoulême, head of the Church in Jerusalem. And it was likely during this time that he was entrusted with a sacred relic: a vial believed to contain the blood of Christ, collected by Joseph of Arimathea after the Crucifixion and preserved in the East for over a millennium.

Whether it was a gift or a symbol of gratitude, Thierry brought the relic back to Bruges in 1150, where it was received with awe and immediately enshrined. That homecoming would go on to shape the religious identity of Bruges for centuries.

Later in life, Thierry continued to support monastic reform and Cistercian abbeys, a sign that his spiritual journey didn’t end in Jerusalem. He died in 1168, but his most enduring legacy—the relic—still rests at the heart of Bruges.

The Debate: A Gift from the Patriarch or a Later Addition?

Like most medieval relics, the story of the Holy Blood is wrapped in mystery and speculation. Some scholars argue that the relic didn’t come from Jerusalem at all, but from Constantinople during the looting of the Fourth Crusade in 1204. Others point to a lack of contemporary documentation from the Patriarch of Jerusalem or the Pope at the time.

Still, by the early 13th century, Bruges’ own records and religious writings firmly referenced the relic, its holy nature, and its ties to Count Thierry. Fact or faith? That’s for each visitor to decide.

From Chapel to Basilica: How the Building Evolved

The Basilica of the Holy Blood is actually two chapels built on top of each other—a symbolic structure that mirrors the layers of faith and history that define the place.

• The Lower Chapel: Romanesque Simplicity

The lower chapel, dedicated to St. Basil, dates back to around 1134 and remains one of the most authentic Romanesque buildings in Belgium. It’s dark, silent, and almost cave-like—its heavy arches and lack of decoration creating an atmosphere of ancient monastic stillness. This was the original home of the relic, and walking through it today feels like stepping back to the 12th century.

The real Romanesque lower chapel of the Basilica of the Holy Blood—simple, silent, and still echoing with 12th-century devotion.

• The Upper Chapel: Gothic Elegance

In contrast, the upper chapel, built in the 15th century and later restored in the 1800s, dazzles with its vibrant stained glass, gilded decorations, and richly colored murals. This is where the relic is now housed and venerated. A beautiful spiral staircase connects the two, and ascending it feels like rising from the hidden to the heavenly.

Europe is full of tiny churches with massive stories—some hidden in city walls or growing trees from their roofs. I’ve seen it firsthand in St. Martin’s Chapel in Split, Croatia, which may be the smallest functioning church in the world, and in Nerežišće, where a tree literally sprouts from the roof. Like the Basilica of the Holy Blood, these places quietly blur the lines between legend and devotion.

What Is the Relic, Exactly?

The sacred object housed in the Basilica of the Holy Blood is said to be a cloth stained with the blood of Christ, carefully sealed in a rock crystal vial, which is itself encased in a richly decorated gold and silver reliquary. According to tradition, it was brought to Bruges by Count Thierry of Alsace after his journey to Jerusalem in the 12th century.

Today, the relic is not just kept in a display case behind glass—it is reverently presented by a priest to visitors inside the upper chapel. During most of the year, this happens once daily, typically between 10:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. and again from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (though hours may vary slightly by season or special occasion). During this quiet ceremony, the priest holds the reliquary at the altar while visitors line up to approach, pause, and pray or simply take in the moment.

There are no loud announcements or mass recitations—just a solemn, almost silent procession of believers and curious travelers alike. You won’t hear music or witness spectacle. What you will feel is something else entirely: the weight of nearly 900 years of devotion focused on a single, sacred object.

The Annual Procession at the Basilica of the Holy Blood Bruges

Every year on Ascension Day, Bruges celebrates the relic in one of Europe’s most elaborate religious pageants: the Procession of the Holy Blood. Dating back to 1291, this moving event involves hundreds of participants dressed in medieval costumes, re-enacting scenes from both the Old and New Testaments. The relic itself is carried through the cobbled streets in a dazzling silver shrine.

UNESCO recognized it as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009. Whether you’re religious or not, it’s hard not to be moved by the sheer dedication and historical continuity behind the event.

A Sacred Detour: The Holy Robe of Trier Cathedral

While Bruges offered the mystery of Christ’s blood, my journey took a poignant detour to Trier Cathedral in Germany, where the legendary Seamless Robe of Christ—also called the Holy Tunic—is preserved. According to tradition, this was the garment worn by Jesus during the Crucifixion, woven without seams as described in the Gospel of John.

The robe was said to have been discovered by Saint Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine, during her pilgrimage to the Holy Land in the 4th century. She is believed to have brought it to Trier, one of the oldest cities in Germany and a Roman imperial capital at the time.

Trier Cathedral’s breathtaking Baroque altarpiece, where the Seamless Robe of Christ is enshrined behind golden gates.

The relic is rarely displayed. It has been shown to the public only a handful of times across the centuries, often during moments of deep spiritual or historical significance:

• 1512 – First public exhibition, under Archbishop Richard von Greiffenklau

• 1933 – Displayed during a time of national spiritual fervor, drawing over 2 million pilgrims

• 1959 – Shown in the wake of World War II, as a gesture of hope and renewal

• 1996 – Marked 500 years since Trier’s university received papal privileges

• 2012 – Most recent exposition, commemorating the 500th anniversary of its first display

  
  

Today, the tunic is kept sealed in a shrine within the cathedral’s west choir, protected from light and environmental damage. Even though the robe itself was not on view when I visited, just being in the same cathedral where it rests felt profoundly moving.

Where Else Can You Find Relics of Jesus?

The Basilica of the Holy Blood in Bruges and Trier Cathedral aren’t the only places claiming a physical connection to the life—or death—of Jesus Christ. Across Europe and the Holy Land, relics tied to His Passion, burial, and ministry have been preserved, venerated, debated, and sometimes even contested. From fragments of the True Cross to the Holy Grail itself, these relics offer both believers and historians a tangible link to the sacred.

Here are some of the most notable—and intriguing—places where relics of Jesus are said to be kept:

1. Basilica of the Holy Blood – Bruges, Belgium Let’s start with the one I visited—home to a crystal vial said to contain the blood of Christ, brought back from Jerusalem by Count Thierry of Alsace after the Second Crusade in 1150. Whether you believe in the relic’s authenticity or not, standing before it during veneration is a deeply moving experience.

   
   

2. Trier Cathedral – Trier, Germany Another stop from my own journey: the Holy Robe of Christ, believed to be the seamless tunic worn during the Crucifixion, is preserved here. According to tradition, it was brought to Trier by Saint Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine. It’s rarely displayed, but its spiritual weight still permeates the cathedral.

   
   

3. Santa Croce in Gerusalemme – Rome, Italy This basilica in Rome was built specifically to house relics brought from Jerusalem by Saint Helena in the 4th century. It contains fragments of the True Cross, nails from the Crucifixion, a piece of the Titulus Crucis (the INRI sign placed over Jesus' head), and even a thorn from the Crown of Thorns.

   
   

4. Notre-Dame Cathedral / Sainte-Chapelle – Paris, France Before the tragic 2019 fire, Notre-Dame de Paris housed some of the most famous relics: the Crown of Thorns, a piece of the True Cross, and a Holy Nail. These relics were rescued and are now stored at the Louvre and Saint-Denis Basilica. The Crown was originally purchased by King Louis IX in the 13th century and brought from Constantinople.

   
   

5. Shroud of Turin – Turin, Italy Possibly the most controversial of all, the Shroud of Turin is a linen cloth bearing the faint image of a crucified man. Many believe it to be Christ’s burial shroud. Though carbon dating places it in the medieval period, debates continue. It’s rarely displayed, but pilgrims travel from around the world just to be near it.

   
   

6. Sudarium of Oviedo – Oviedo, Spain Also known as the Shroud of Oviedo, this bloodstained cloth is believed to have covered Jesus’ face after His death. Unlike the Shroud of Turin, this one has been continuously documented since the 7th century and is publicly displayed only a few times a year.

   
   

7. Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre – Jerusalem, Israel The holiest site in Christianity, built over the believed locations of Calvary and Jesus’ empty tomb. While no traditional relics are enshrined here, the church itself is a living relic—a direct connection to the final hours of Christ’s life. The Stone of Anointing and the Aedicule are powerful places of prayer and reflection.

   
   

8. Cathedral of Valencia – Valencia, Spain This cathedral claims to possess the Holy Chalice, believed by many to be the true Holy Grail—the cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper. The chalice has been carbon-dated to the time of Christ and has papal recognition as a relic worthy of veneration.

   
   

9. Basilica di San Lorenzo – Genoa, Italy Genoa also claims a version of the Holy Grail, which was brought back by Crusaders. Though less favored in academic circles than Valencia’s chalice, it remains an object of great devotion.

   
   

10. Monastery of Santo Toribio de Liébana – Cantabria, Spain This remote monastery houses what is considered the largest surviving fragment of the True Cross (known as the Lignum Crucis). Pilgrims visit this peaceful site along the Camino de Santiago to pay homage.

    
    

11. Other Minor Relics Around the World Throughout Europe, countless churches and monasteries claim smaller relics said to be linked to Jesus—thorns from the Crown, drops of blood, splinters of the cross, even teeth or hair. While many were likely distributed or replicated during the height of medieval relic trade, their symbolic power still draws the faithful.

    
    

    

    A quiet moment in the cloister garden of Trier Cathedral—where history, faith, and beauty intertwine.

Final Thoughts: A Sacred Relic in the Heart of a Fairytale City

Bruges may be known for its canals and chocolate, but its soul lives in this small basilica. The Basilica of the Holy Blood Bruges isn’t just a church—it’s a portal to medieval faith, to whispered prayers across centuries, to a story still unfolding in the hearts of its visitors.

Whether you believe the relic is real or symbolic, the experience is powerful. It reminds you that sometimes the most extraordinary places aren’t the loudest—they’re the quiet ones you almost miss.

And if you’re as intrigued by spiritual oddities and sacred architecture as I am, check out some of the most fascinating places I’ve visited:

• Croatia’s Tiny Marvel: St. Martin’s – Split’s Smallest and Narrowest Church

• Exploring the Enigmatic Story of Nerežišće – Where Church Meets Tree

• Ave Maria, Florida: A Slice of Heaven Where Pizza Meets Piety