Magi Relics' Historic Journey To Cologne On May 27, 1613

The Shrine of the Three Kings, or the Tomb of the Three Magi, is a grand reliquary believed to contain the remains of the Biblical Magi, or Three Wise Men. The magnificent gilded sarcophagus is located in the western German city of Cologne, specifically in the Cologne Cathedral. The shrine's journey began in Constantinople, moved to Milan in 314, and finally reached Cologne in 1164, gifted by the Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick Barbarossa, to the city's Archbishop, Rainald of Dassel. The arrival of these relics in Cologne on May 27, 1613, marked a significant event in the city's history, attracting pilgrims from around the world.

The Shrine of the Three Kings

The shrine has a rich history that began in Constantinople when Empress Helena, Constantine the Great's mother, brought the relics there. The relics were then moved to Milan in 314 by Eustorgius I, the city's bishop, to whom they were entrusted by Constantine. In 1164, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa took the relics from the Church of Saint Eustorgio in Milan and gifted them to the Archbishop of Cologne, Rainald of Dassel.

The relics within the Shrine of the Three Kings are believed to be the bones of the Three Kings, or the Three Wise Men: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar. The presence of these relics has made the shrine a significant religious site, drawing pilgrims from around the world to Cologne.

The construction of the present Cologne Cathedral, which houses the shrine, began in 1248 to accommodate the influx of pilgrims visiting the shrine. The cathedral took over six centuries to complete and is now the largest Gothic church in northern Europe.

The Magi's relics arrive in Cologne

The year is 1164. The relics of the Three Kings, or the Three Magi, have arrived in Cologne. The journey began in Constantinople, where the remains were brought by Empress Helena, mother of Constantine the Great. From there, the relics were moved to Milan in 314, entrusted by Constantine to the city's bishop, Eustorgius I. Eight centuries later, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa took the relics from the Church of Saint Eustorgio in Milan and gifted them to the Archbishop of Cologne, Rainald of Dassel.

The relics were installed in a highly ornate golden reliquary, known as the Dreikönigsschrein, which translates to Shrine of the Three Kings. This magnificent gilded sarcophagus is believed to hold the remains of the Biblical Magi, or Three Wise Men. The shrine was crafted between 1180 and 1225 and is considered a masterpiece of Mosan art. It stands as the largest reliquary in the Western world.

The arrival of the relics in Cologne was a momentous occasion. Archbishop Rainald of Dassel described the relics as "an incomparable treasure, more valuable than all gold and precious stones." The city's residents cheered enthusiastically as the relics entered the city, marking the beginning of Cologne's transformation into one of the most beloved pilgrimage centres in the Western world.

The Shrine of the Three Kings is located in the Cologne Cathedral, which was constructed between 1248 and 1880 specifically to house these important relics. The cathedral is now the largest Gothic church in northern Europe. The shrine itself is situated above and behind the high altar, and its surfaces are adorned with intricate decorations narrating the stories of the Three Magi, the Virgin Mary, and the life of Christ.

The relics' arrival in Cologne was not without its challenges. Archbishop Rainald employed various tricks to protect the valuable cargo from potential robbers during the journey. This included nailing horseshoes on backward to avoid being tracked and declaring the remains as plague corpses transported in tin coffins.

The Cologne Cathedral

The relics' journey began in Constantinople, where they were acquired by Empress Helena, Constantine the Great's mother, an avid collector of holy relics. She is said to have found the grave of the Three Wise Men during her search for objects related to Jesus of Nazareth. Helena then bestowed the relics to the Milanese bishop, Eustorgius, who transported them to Milan in 314.

In 1164, the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa took the relics from Milan and gifted them to the Archbishop of Cologne, Rainald of Dassel. The construction of the present Cologne Cathedral commenced in 1248 to accommodate the influx of pilgrims drawn to the city by the relics. It took over six centuries to complete, resulting in northern Europe's largest Gothic church.

The Shrine of the Three Kings is an ornate triple sarcophagus situated above and behind the high altar of the cathedral. Adorned with intricate gold and silver decorations, the shrine narrates the stories of the Three Magi, the Virgin Mary, and the life of Christ. The shrine's surfaces are embellished with figures meticulously crafted from gold-plated silver.

The relics have attracted a constant stream of pilgrims to Cologne, and their significance is reflected in the city's emblem, which features three crowns symbolizing the Magi. The cathedral also houses other notable relics, such as the skulls of the Maccabean brothers and their mother, as well as the remains of Saint Severin.

The Magi's relics journey from Milan

The journey of the Magi relics from Milan to Cologne in 1164 was a significant event that transformed the German city into one of the most important pilgrimage centres in the Western world. The relics, believed to be the remains of the Biblical Magi or the Three Wise Men, were transferred from Milan to Cologne by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, who gifted them to the Archbishop of Cologne, Rainald of Dassel.

The relics' journey began in Constantinople, where they were brought by Empress Helena, Constantine the Great's mother, an avid collector of holy relics. Helena found the grave of the Three Wise Men and brought the relics to Constantinople. From there, the relics were entrusted by Constantine to Eustorgius I, the Bishop of Milan, in 314, who transported them to Milan in an oxcart.

In 1162, Emperor Frederick Barbarossa besieged Milan, and Archbishop Rainald of Dassel, who was part of the military campaign, requested the relics of the Three Wise Men as spoils of war. The relics were then transferred to Cologne by Rainald of Dassel, arriving in the city in 1164.

The arrival of the Magi relics in Cologne was a highly celebrated event, with the Archbishop describing them as "an incomparable treasure, more valuable than all gold and precious stones." The relics were installed in a highly ornate golden reliquary, known as the Dreikönigsschrein, which was completed between 1180 and 1225. The construction of the present-day Cologne Cathedral began in 1248 to accommodate the large influx of pilgrims visiting the city to see the relics.

The Shrine of the Three Kings is a large gilded and decorated triple sarcophagus situated above and behind the high altar of Cologne Cathedral. It is considered a masterpiece of Mosan art and is adorned with intricate decorations and narratives depicting the stories of the Three Magi, the Virgin Mary, and the life of Christ. The shrine is approximately 110 cm wide, 153 cm high, and 220 cm long, and its basic structure is made of wood, with gold and silver overlay decorated with filigree, enamel, and over 1,000 jewels and beads.

The Magi's relics as war spoils

The Magis relics as war spoils

The relics of the Three Kings, or the Three Magis, have had a long journey, passing through several hands before reaching their final resting place in Cologne Cathedral. The bones of the Biblical Magi, or Three Wise Men, are believed to have been brought to Cologne from Milan as war spoils by the Archbishop of Cologne, Rainald of Dassel, in 1164.

The relics were originally taken from Constantinople by Empress Helena, Constantine the Great's mother, in the 4th century. Helena was an avid collector of holy relics and, following the legalisation of Christianity across the Roman Empire, she embarked on a mission to find all possible objects associated with Jesus of Nazareth. She is said to have discovered the cross on which Jesus died and the grave of the Three Wise Men.

The relics were then entrusted by Constantine to Eustorgius I, the Bishop of Milan, who embedded them in a marble sarcophagus and transported them to Italy on an oxcart. Upon reaching Milan, the exhausted animals pulling the cart are said to have collapsed, and Eustorgius built a basilica outside the city gates to house the remains of the Three Wise Men.

Almost eight centuries later, in 1162, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, also known as Frederick I, besieged Milan. Archbishop Rainald von Dassel, who was not only a man of the church but also imperial chancellor and military leader, requested the trio's remains as spoils of war. The relics were brought to Cologne, where they were installed in a highly ornate golden reliquary, known as the Dreikönigsschrein.

The acquisition of these important saints from biblical times was a significant event for the city of Cologne, turning it into a major pilgrimage centre. The relics drew a constant stream of pilgrims, and the construction of the massive Cologne Cathedral was begun in 1248 to accommodate the influx of visitors. The cathedral took over six centuries to complete and is now the largest Gothic church in northern Europe.

The Shrine of the Three Kings is a large gilded and decorated triple sarcophagus situated above and behind the high altar of Cologne Cathedral. It is considered a masterpiece of Mosan art and is adorned with intricate gold and silver decorations, jewels, and narratives from the lives of the Three Magi, the Virgin Mary, and Christ. The shrine has undergone periods of damage and restoration, and the relics were unveiled to the public in the 19th century, although they have always been on display.

The relics of the Three Kings continue to be a significant attraction, drawing pilgrims and tourists alike to Cologne Cathedral, where they have been carefully preserved for centuries.

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