Procession

A memorial from 1360 records a procession in March.

It is likely that from 1346 up to the Alteration in 1578 the priests and parishioners of the Holy Stead took the Holy Sacrament to the present Oude Kerk (old church) every year on the first Wednesday after St George’s Day, then, joined by the priests of parishioners of the Old Church, they took the Sacrament back to the Holy Stead, thus commemorating the Miracle of 1345.

This procession will have been a festive sight to which every Catholic citizen of Amsterdam contributed his mite.

At the front of the procession marched the guilds carrying their guild banners as well as the statues of each guild’s patron saint.

Children, carrying statues of other saints, followed and after them a man on horseback representing St George, dragging a large dragon behind him.

Then came more children, these with wings at their shoulders, and three divisions of the National Guard, and clergymen and monks. Finally came the priest of the Holy Stead with the Holy Sacrament of the Miracle in a large silver ciborium, under a decorated baldachin, carried by the four burgomasters of Amsterdam.

The procession proceeded to music played by various bands of town musicians. At the end of the procession walked the praying faithful.

Such public processions were prohibited at the Alteration.