The collections of the Terra Sancta Museum are, it goes without saying, impressive. The Custodia of the Holy Land was, after all, gifted with many precious objects of liturgical art over the centuries including many precious sets of vestments. Many of these objects were the gifts of European princes and nobles; not merely gifts, but one might fairly call them devotional offerings to the land and sites in which Christ lived and died upon this Earth. For that reason, they are typically especially precious character, including a set of seventeenth century paraments that came to my attention.
This particular set includes a full complement of pieces, not only the usual pieces associated with a solemn Mass set (chasuble, cope, dalmatic and tunicle), but also an antependium and even a lectern cover. From the Terra Sancta Museum:
In the last quarter of the seventeenth century the Republic of Venice distinguished itself through the gift of a particularly sumptuous set of vestments made of crimson velvet embroidered with precious metallic threads and garnets. The set is made up of seventeen pieces, which arrived in Jerusalem at different times between 1669 and 1675. The decoration consists of vegetable shoots, volutes, bouquets and large flowers in gold and silver, without motifs of religious inspiration except for the monogram of Christ on the chalice veil. However, the insignia of the Custody are embroidered on the chalice veil and on the back of the chasuble, with slightly above them the letters "C.D.V." (Commissariat of Venice) indicating their origin, while a curious small winged lion - the symbol of Saint Mark and of Venice - appears on most of the other pieces...
As the museum further notes, "Venice played a fundamental role in the relations between Christianity and the Holy Land, since after the Middle Ages it was the embarkation port for the majority of pilgrims. And it was to the Republic of Venice that the Franciscans applied for specific products: glass of all kinds, medicines, books and writing paper." In short, there was an especially strong connection between Venice, the Holy Land and the Custodia.
Today we're pleased to feature some of the different parts and pieces coming from this set for your edification and enjoyment.
THE CHASUBLE
THE CHALICE VEIL, MANIPLE AND STOLE
THE DALMATIC AND TUNICLE
THE COPE
THE ANTEPENDIUM
Those interested in this and other precious vestments from the collection of the Terra Sancta Museum may like to pick up their exquisite catalogue of vestments, Paramenti Sacri: Sacred Vestments from Europe to the Holy Land.
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