THE HOLY COAT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 9488, 10 August 1891, Page 5

THE HOLY COAT.

THE PILGRIMAGE TO TREVES. ( Special to Press Association.! [Received August 8, at 8 p.m.J BERLIN, August 6. The ceremony of exposing the “ Holy Coat ” at Treves took place yesterday. The proceedings were marked by immense fervour on the part of a great congregation of pilgrims, for whose accommodation no less than seven hundred extra inns have been opened.

BERLIN, August 7. _ A million pilgrims are expected to visit Trevea to pay honour, to the “ Holy Coat.” In 1844 a centenary jubilee was held at Troves under toe direction of Archbishop Arnoldi, when the Holy Coat was exhibited to the faithful. On that occasion, so great was the influx of visitors that it was found impossible to lodge them. " By the first dawn they took up their post by the cathedral doors, and long before these were opened a line of many hundreds was added. Sometimes the line was more than a mile in length, and few persons could reach the high altar where the Coat was placed in less time than three hours. The heat, dust and fatigue wore too much for many, who fainted by the way; yet hour after hour a dense throng passed round the interior of the cathedral, made their oblation and retired.” As many of our readers will be aware, the Holy Coat is reputed to be that which was worn by the Saviour at his execution, and for which the soldiers cast lots. It has been described as follows:

“ The Coat is a loose garment with wide sleeves, very simple in form, of coarse material, dark brown in colour, probably the result of its age, and entirely without seam or decoration. It measures from the extremity of each sleeve sft sia; the length from the collar to the lowermost edge being sft 2in. In parts it is tender, or threadbare; and some few stains upon it are reputed to be those of the Redeemer’s blood.”

Treves is one of the oldest—perhaps the oldest—cities in Germany, situated on the right bank of the Moselle. Over the river there is an ancient Roman bridge, 690 ft long; and the city is remarkably rich in Roman remains. The more modern part of the city is walled, and the ordinary occupations of the people ate prosaic enough—the manufacture of cloth, carpets, hats, porcelain, soap, glue, leather, tobacco; and various other industries. Treves was the home of St Ambrose and the school of St Jerome. Its most remarkable building is the irregularly built cathedral, wherein are numerous rich, altars and a wonderful marble gallery. The Holy Coat was the gift of the mother of Constantine the Great, the Empress Helena. The coat was periodically displayed in the Middle Ages, though but seldom—once in a century, according to one statement.

In connection with the ceremonial of 1844, there was a sensational occurrence. Amongst the cleric reformers of Germany was Johann Ronge, who addressed to the Archbishop an epistolary denunciation of this revival of mediaeval superstition. The anger of Rome was greatly excited, and Ronge was excommunicated. Thereupon there sprang up around the ousted priest a body of sympathisers, whose set purpose seems to have been to dispute the supremacy of Rome. But the Government of Germany took alarm, and by dint of vigorous measures the new party was soon suppressed, Ronge ultimately finding a refuge in London.]