Magi’s relics needed a home, so cathedral was built

During the age of wonder in medieval Europe lovely stories from Scripture surrounding the birth of Christ were passed on from family to family and generation to generation.

One such story that was transformed into verses of pure delight is the legend of the Wise Men’s relics that were said to be preserved by the early Christian communities and later brought to Cologne where they remain to this day. 

The Archbishop of Cologne acquired the relics in 1164, which the Holy Roman Emperor Fredrick Barbarossa had taken from the Basilica of Sant’Eustorgio in Milan.

Because of the great religious and historic significance of such prize relics, pilgrims came from all across Christendom to see and pay special homage, walking mostly on dirt roads and medieval ox cart trails. 

Soon after the relics arrived from Italy the Catholics of Cologne began to draw up plans for a cathedral worthy of the name that would properly house the vaunted reliquary and welcome the pilgrims.

Thus began the construction of the mighty cathedral, built in a “new” style of Gothic architecture, influenced in some ways by the cathedral of Amiens in France. 

Cologne’s medieval builders had planned a fitting structure not only to house the relics, but also as a place of worship for the Holy Roman Emperor, built to last the ages while inspiring visiting pilgrims. 

Art historians describe the cathedral as a masterpiece of exceptional intrinsic value. This is partly because although it was begun in 1248, the cathedral was only completed in 1880.

After centuries of construction, the structure was finished and consecrated according to the original medieval plan while utilizing modern construction techniques, including iron roof girders. 

When the cathedral was finally completed it was during a time of intense 19th-century romantic enthusiasm for the Middle Ages.

The day was celebrated as a national event with the dedication attended by the Emperor himself, Wilhelm I. 

Catholic and Protestant Germany (the Prussian Court) rejoiced with the new national monument, for a short time the tallest building in the world.

The cathedral remains the largest Gothic church in Northern Europe, the largest façade of any church in the world and the second-tallest church spires in the world. It is also Germany’s most visited building, averaging 20,000 visitors a day. 

Visitors flock to the cathedral, many climbing 533 steps up the original spiral staircase to the viewing platform about 100 m (330 ft) above the ground, with a commanding view of the city and the Rhine River. 

The full name of the cathedral is the Cathedral Church of St. Peter. This is fitting as it was Cologne cathedral that the newly elected German Pope visited on his first apostolic voyage to his homeland on Aug. 18, 2005.

This was the first international voyage of Pope Benedict, who made his triumphal entry into the cathedral, having arrived by boat on the Rhine River where he was welcomed by over one million pilgrims participating in the international World Youth Day celebration.

The youth had waded into the waters and stood in the river to cheer the newly elected Pontiff’s entry into the historically Catholic city, a moment of epic proportions in German history.

Historians described the papal election and first visit to the fatherland as the ultimate defeat of Hitler, an event that will long be remembered, especially by the surviving war generation. 

Not a few prominent German Catholic survivors of the Second World War lived to see the day, including a national hero, Nina von Stauffenberg, the wife of one of the leading members of the failed 1944 plot to kill Hitler and remove the Nazi Party from power. She died the following year at age 92.

Many citizens of Cologne still recall the horrific destruction of the Second World War when the cathedral suffered 14 hits by aerial bombs but was miraculously left standing in an otherwise completely flattened city. 

Allied bombers depended upon the easily recognizable structure as a navigational landmark and tried their best to avoid bombing it directly. In March 1945, the American Army arrived to liberate the city. 

To this day constant repair and maintenance work is carried out on various parts of the cathedral by the finest stonemasons in the Rhineland. The building is rarely free of scaffolding but is threatened today by air pollution and the elements. 

The story of the Wise Men has been re-told countless times in German lore over the centuries. In former generations every German child knew the story by heart while many adults nurtured a special devotion to the Wise Men. The story is fitting for our times and teaches some important lessons. 

Archbishop Fulton Sheen writes, “Since Christ was the King of Kings it was suitable that He should have recognition from representatives of the pagan world. And so Providence decreed that the Wise Men, scholar-priests of the Gentile world, led by the star, should come to Bethlehem to pay their respects, and adore their God.”

There indeed they came to pay their respects and to adore their God, the creator of the world, in a first act of Christian pilgrimage.

Gathering their households and staff, the Wise Men set off on their massive camel caravans from the East. Some scholars believe they may have come from eastern empires such as Arabia, Persia, India, Tibet or even as far as China, the “Middle Kingdom.”

The Bible only mentions the Wise Men in St. Matthew’s Gospel and does not say they were three in number - the number is thought to be based on the statement they brought three gifts - only stating they came “from the East” (“from the rising [of the sun]”). 

Tradition ascribes their names as Melchior, Caspar, and Balthazar. 

The Magi made their way to the capital city, Jerusalem, confident they were being led to the king. Their simple question has guided pilgrims for centuries: “Where is he that is born King of the Jews?”

As they travelled along on their arduous journey, this question created great excitement and controversy in the land of the Jews. 

King Herod, an evil man who was detested by his people, heard the news and was alarmed of a potential rival. 

Herod summoned the Sanhedrin, the ecclesiastical council of the Jews, and asked of them, “Where should Christ be born?”

On account of the explicit prophecy the answer came with ease: “In Bethlehem of Judea” was the reply.

Herod sent for the Wise Men and gave them this information, instructing them to report back to him later so that he, too, may pay homage to the new king.

The Wise Men prostrated themselves when they finally found Jesus, presenting their wealth of gifts ordinarily given to a king: gold, frankincense and myrrh. 

The Wise Men departed, warned by God in a dream of King Herod’s evil intentions, disappearing as mysteriously as they had come, returning by another path to the ends of the earth to plant the seeds of the coming of a new king to help prepare the pagan world. 

Pilgrims who visit Petra, Jordan, are told the Wise Men would have travelled through that exact spot on their way to Bethlehem, journeying on the caravan route from the East. 

J.P. Sonnen is a travel writer, tour operator and history docent with Orbis Catholic Travel LLC.