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Three Magi from the East
Cologne! fair city on the Rhine,
how fortunate you are!
You hold the relics of three kings,
that followed once a star.
And brought the Christ Child gold and myrrh,
and costly frankincense,
And offered it to Jesus dear,
then went back to their lands.
St. Thomas, the Apostle who
in eastern lands baptised
Met the three kings and baptised them
into the Risen Christ.
And they in turn spread with success,
the Word on many a shore,
'Gainst pagan foes victorious
That soon would Christ adore.
They died, but Empress Helen heard
about their wondrous deeds,
and found the place they were interred,-
Saint Helen had good leads.
She found the Savior's cross and then
went East to look for them,-
The relics of three magi kings
That came to Bethlehem.
Lo!Hagia Sophia! - Wisdom's grace,
Constantinople - Istanbul
Gave the three kings a dwelling place,
That people called on worshipful.
Constantinople welcomed them,
and held their relics dear,
Then they were transferred to Milan,
And later on to Trier.
But Barbarossa, Emperor,
had vanquished proud Milan,
And seized the relics for decor,
as prizeless Talisman.
To Barbarossa, (think red beard),
this effort deemed just fine,
The precious casket multi-tiered,
would see his German Rhine.
The route was long, the ways were rough,
the people vehement,
A ride so difficult and tough
to reach Germanic land.
And Barbarossa's chancellor,
a cardinal prelate,
Had custody, and would therefore
decide the relics' fate.
Cologn's cathedral he saw fit,
as permanent abode
To house the relics he decreed
To the greater Glory of God.
Adventurous journey, perilous,
on planes or mountain-height,
A trip so very arduous,
with such unusual freight.
Pack animals irons were turned round,
reversed, to cheat,- deceive,
For lawless bandits did abound
and many a murderous thief.
But in Milan stand empty now,
three caskets and some bier,
In St. Estorgius church signs show:
"Three Persian kings lay here".
But now they were en route and rode,
by day and night until
The train of escort with the kings,
reached frankish Longueville.
Slow rolled the treasure laden cart,
up north the route as planned.
For fear that bandits hid might thwart,
the ride to Teuton land.
They rode all day they rode all night,
and things seemed going well,
One morning when the sun rose bright
they glimpsed the stream Moselle.
They reached the town of Trèves (speak Trier),
then saw the Rhine at last,
Cologne's Cathedral and with cheer,
Saw Rhine ships' sturdy mast.
Trier was Constantine's realm
and Empress' Helen's home,
As both preferred the northern town,
to their palaces in Rome.
Be proud Cologne, you can compete
with Trèves, -the famous Trier,
With emperor Constantine's seat
and treasures rare held dear,
It holds the Robe of our Lord,
that pilgrims often viewed,
And Emperor Constantine's sword,
and parts of Jesus' rood.
The Emperor had forgot the siege
and the celestial sign,*
The Tiber and the Milvian bridge,
and much preferred the Rhine.
Cologne's fame now quickly spread,
its lofty reliquaire
Drew people as a magnet does
from regions everywhere.
And many a wise and savvy head,
and pious multitudes,
Like by a star to it were led,
despite the tribal feuds.
Cologne's cathedral on the Rhine,
with spires striving high,
Holds now the lofty sacred shrine,
where the three Magi lie.
There rest the intact the sacred bones
within the reliquaire,
Encased with gems and precious stones
that kings and emperors wear.
And people come their toilsome way
to pay due reverence,
Where Constantine's reign held sway,-
In all the Christian lands.
In Swabia-Gmundt still can be seen
in writing quaint but bright:
"A convoy passed this tavern inn
led by a Teuton knight"
"Here, in our tavern, reads the script,
and folks still say with pride,
The convoy with Three Holy Kings
did rest and spent the night"!.
And proudly every burgher sings,
and celebrates and feasts,
The relics of three Christians kings,
once Zoroastrian priests.
That traveled wide and traveled far,
and followed a bright guiding star,
Their glorious names emblazoned are:
+ Caspar + Melchior+ Balthassar!"
Christus Mansionem Benedicat.
(Shrine of the holy three kings in Cologne's Cathedral)
*In hoc signum vinces
(conquer by this sign)
Barbarossa's chancellor was the Archbishop of Mainz, Reinald von Dassel, who was in charge of the transfer of the relics from Milan to Koeln (Cologne) on the Rhine after Barbaross�as victory over Milan.. The convoy with the relics arrived triumphantly in Cologne on July 23rd 1164.
