In the main square of Maastricht stands two impressive churches. The one on the left is Sint Janskerk, a Protestant church, and the one on the right is Sint Servaas, a Catholic church.
We couldn't go in Sint Janskerk, but we decided to take a better look at Sint Servaas. We began to walk around the perimeter, where we discovered parts of the church actually spread "over" the roads to join the neighboring buildings.
One of the main doors was actually quite small, and you couldn't see most of the church while entering it.
Once inside the church, we pay a visit to the courtyard.
Bram and the giant bell.
The church had a very impressive treasury, with some items dating back many centuries.
This was a pretty neat old item - it is a combination safe!
Weird horns, with feet.
The church also had many impressive relics. This St. Nicolas' tooth.
Proof Santa is real...
A very impressive relic - a mandible!
The arm of a saint. A point if you can guess which one.
A neat sculpture featuring Jesus sitting on Mary's lap, and Mary sitting on St. Anne's lap.
A modern church, with modern conveniences.
Inside, the very impressive stained glass windows.
On one of the facades of the church, the statues and door have been repainted. This is what many of the cathedrals used to look like (including Notre Dame!) before the paint faded away!
The floor had representations of several of the ancient great cities.
Jerusalem
Constantinople
The interior was recently repainted as well, showing how this cathedral, and others, used to look like when they were first constructed.
Some of the modern stained glass, replacing windows that did not survive the centuries.
I spent Holy Thursday in a very unique way. In a country where prostitution and some drug use is legal, and religion is rarely discussed, I came together with 20,000 Dutch people, some who crossed the entire country, to celebrate the Passion.
It seems odd that the largest event I've been to so far in this country is centered around religion. Odd, but also awesome.
Every year on Holy Thursday, the Passion is reenacted in a city somewhere in the Netherlands. This year, it took place in Groningen. Major Dutch actors and singers come together to put on a concert/musical, where Jesus' passion is retold in a modern light.
Along the main shopping road, stores are given crosses to work into their storefront displays.
On seeing this, I was a bit skeptical of the whole evening. It seems a bit too flashy, too commercial.
Yes, the concert too was flashy. But this, I think, is not necessarily a bad thing. There is something very special to celebrate something so spiritual in a group so large in a very public place, with amazing light displays and moving music (even if it all is in Dutch).
But the night did not start out so hopeful. Rain, of course, was present, and I couldn't see much over the sea of umbrellas. Luckily, when the concert began, people put their umbrellas away, and only the choir was able to remain dry.
On the big screen, we are introduced to Jesus (left) and his friend Peter (right). Jesus and his friends hang out in places around Groningen, from the bowling alley, to celebrating the last supper in the park behind the Martini Tower.
One fateful night, Jesus was praying with his friends in the parking garage, when the police come to arrest him.
Jesus, in an orange prisoner's outfit, awaits to hear his fate.
In a particularly moving portion of the concert, the crowd cheers for the release of Barabbas over Jesus.
As a culmination of the evening, the actual Crucifixion is represented by hundreds of people carrying a giant illuminated cross. These people began their procession from across town, and slowly walked towards the main square as the evening progressed. Some of these people had very sad stories - for example, one man had lost his son that year, but they all explained that God had somehow been there for them throughout that year.
The narrator describes the final hours of Jesus' life.
Of course, we know, this is not the end of the story. The last song was filled with hope and joy. Four giant strobe lights pierce the rain and project a cross on the low hanging clouds. I look around the crowd, soaked through from the rain, and see them smiling, realizing the power of what we have all just witnessed.
That's right - he's back - showing that nothing can conquer love - not even death.
So yes, even though it was flashy, it was a very special night. In a world that is far too afraid of religion, we came together to celebrate something that is truly meaningful and remember that we too are loved beyond our wildest dreams.
If you are curious - you can watch the entire movie of the passion here (although it is all in Dutch). But not to worry - apparently the Passion is coming to New York City next year!
Our hotel was very close to the Vatican. One neat thing about staying so close to the Vatican - every day, you can pass back and forth multiple times from one country to another! Yes, the Vatican is the smallest country I've been to - the smallest country in the world!
This was the view from our hotel:
Sunset over St. Peter's Square.
In a giant oval around the square, statues of the saints and of Jesus himself look down on the crowds.
The entrance of St. Peter's Basilica.
On the morning of Epiphany, thousands of people crowd into St. Peter's Square.
Exiting the church after Mass.
Since it was also a Sunday, the Pope appeared to give his Angelus to the thousands gathered in St. Peter's square.
In light of the recent news - this event is even more special now.
The Pope addressed the crowd, speaking at least 6 languages.
To give you an idea of where the Pope was - here you can see the window (top, second from the right) with the red banner hanging from it. Pretty far away (so I was happy my camera can ZOOM!)
Giving his final blessing.
The Vatican (at least on this side) is surrounded by a huge fortification.
The next stop was the Vatican Museum, a huge collection of art assembled over the centuries.
One of the Egyptian rooms, set up to look like an ancient temple.
A rare (in least in my experience) statue.
Also an Egyptian statue, a little more realistic.
An ancient envelope, made of clay. Pretty neat!
In the random statue room - the moral of this room - the Vatican has a lot of random statues.
This arch is so neat! Escher would have loved it! It actually is three dimensional - almost like a mobius arch.
Missing a bow.
Bram, with the random statue room behind him.
I need this statue in my office - the muse of astronomy.
There is even some (weird) modern art on the grounds of the Vatican. A point if you can tell me what the heck it is.
Exploring some more, we come across this Greek vase where a man tries to jam a boar into a pot that already contains another man.
A tapestry of the ascension.
The famous map room - decked out with a beautiful ceiling.
The map room had maps from all around Italy. Another point if you can guess what this is a map of! And as always, you can only make a guess at one of the questions at a time.
And a map of Sicily!
The very famous staircase in the Vatican museum - art in its own right.
Sunset over the Vatican.
Then we head onwards to visit the Sistine chapel. It is amazing. Literally amazing. You can really see the talent of Michelangelo. Unfortunately, we could not take pictures there, but if you ever have a chance to go to Rome, please go there and stand in wonder at the paintings.
Next up was St. Peter's Basilica.
Welcome!
An arch on the way to the Basilica.
Inside, one of the most famous statues of all time - Michelangelo's Pieta.
But that wasn't the only amazing statue. St. Peter's is filled with amazing art. Note the woman in this picture for scale.
The incredible art behind the altar. These marble statues are maybe twice as big as lifesize. Amazing.
Looking across the huge expanse of St. Peter's. The large monument on the left is the monument to St. Peter - and St. Peter is buried underneath.
Another famous statue - St. Peter - his foot rubbed smooth by thousands of pilgrims touching it.
St. Peter's, to the tune of a visiting American choir.
With that, our trip to Rome draws to a close. I know it's late, but I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and Happy Epiphany!
