Aachen Cathedral – Aachen, Germany (Con’t)

The Cathedral itself got several names: the Palatinate Cathedral, St. Mary’s Church and the Minster. The Charlemagne’s activity bore the two main reasons of the modern vivid interest and care to this church – first, he created the royal residence palace at the Cathedral and, as stated above, he was also buried there according to his will; second, he managed to develop the unique collection of the Christian relics and gathered and kept all of them in the Cathedral

This is the Golden Shrine of Saint Mary (Marieshrein) at Aachen Cathedral, with the swaddling clothes of Jesus (Windel Jesu). Rarely were they exhibited before the 14th century. Now they are exhibited in Aachen approximately every 4 years.

There are so many important items in the reliquary. Here is the list of some of them: 1. The white robe the Virgin Mary was wearing when she gave birth to Jesus 2. The cloth in which the body of John the Baptist was carried after his decapitation 3. The swaddling clothes of Jesus 4. The linen that covered Jesus after being taken down from the cross with marks from Jesus precious blood 5. A piece of the Holy Cross encased in gold that was always carried by Charlemagne 6. A belt of the Blessed Mother 7. A belt of Jesus 8. The sponge with which Jesus was given a drink on the cross 9. The point of the nail which held Jesus to the cross 10. A relic of Saint Simeon the Just 11. A link of the chain which once held the Apostle Peter 12. The right-hand of Charlemagne

13. The head of Charlemagne 14. A piece of the shroud of Jesus and a piece of the reed given to him when he was mocked 15. The cord with which Jesus was flogged