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Ambassador Natividad joins Filipinos on a Pilgrimage to Trier, Germany Print E-Mail
Written by Philippine Embassy Webmaster   
Wednesday, 16 May 2012

 

Ambassador Maria Cleofe Natividad and Ms. Generosa Balocating, Attaché of the Philippine Embassy in Berlin were warmly received by Bishop Jörg Michael Peters of Trier in front of the oldest church in Germany and UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Trierer Dom.
08 May 2012 – Ambassador Maria Cleofe Natividad joined the numerous Filipinos in Germany who made a  pilgrimage to Trier, Germany’s oldest city, for the rare exhibition of the Holy Robe, the seamless garment believed to be worn by Jesus Christ shortly before his crucifixion.  The garment went on display for the first time in 25 years from 13 April 2012 until 13 May 2012 at the Trier Dom, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  This year marks the 500th year anniversary when the Holy Robe was first shown to the public in Trier.

 

Ambassador Maria Cleofe Natividad meets with Bishop Jörg Michael Peters and officials of the Diocese of Trier.
During this visit, Ambassador Natividad and Ms. Generosa Balocating, Attaché of the Philippine Embassy in Berlin, were hosted by the Bishop of Trier Jörg Michael Peters.  They also met with the officials of the Diocese. 

Ambassador Natividad conveyed to Bishop Peters that the visit to the City of Trier and the pilgrimage to view the Holy Robe have a special meaning to Filipinos because of their deep Catholic faith.  The Philippines is the biggest Catholic country in Asia.

Bishop Peters congratulated the Filipinos in Germany for their deep religiosity and faithfulness to the Catholic Church.

The Ambassador also shared the unique connection between Trier and the Philippines - the “Flores de Mayo”, the Catholic and Aglipayan festival held in the Philippines during the month of May in honor of the Virgin Mary.  The festival is highlighted by the Santacruzan, held in honour of Empress Helena (known as Reyna Elena) and King Constantine finding the True Cross in Jerusalem.  Empress Elena hails from Trier and was also the one who brought the Holy Robe from Jerusalem to Trier. 

The visit of Ambassador Natividad was featured in the online edition of the diocese newsletter, “Paulinus”.  – END