kingdom of nations

Chapter 37: Selection Ceremony (Part )
In the early morning of January 1, the entire Holy Cross Castle woke up.

Amalric I had trouble sleeping these days and needed Heraclius to give him some milk of poppy before he could fall asleep. Today he even drank some Saracen black drink to keep his mind clear and his reaction quick.

Heraclius beside him also drank a large cup for the rare occasion. Heraclius' condition was even worse than the king's. He spent seven consecutive days and nights preparing medicines, observing reactions, taking care of cleaning, and re-preparing medicines... He spent his time in this cycle. Finally, when both children fell asleep, he had to run to Amalric I to report the situation, and during this period he had to constantly accept the king's temptations.

Amalric I did not doubt Heraclius. What worried him was that Cesar was too good, better than expected.

He had already made up his mind that after the birth of his second son, he would appoint two regents for Baldwin. One would definitely be Heraclius, and the other he would choose between Raymond and Bohemond. In this way, even if Baldwin would be too weak to fight or govern after he ascended the throne, these two ministers would be able to ensure that the holy city would not fall into the hands of pagans or the church.

The problem was that Baldwin now had Cesar, a boy who was only nine years old. While other noble boys would still be learning etiquette and poetry under the skirts of their hostess, Amalric I had already seen in him the embryonic form of a powerful official.

Although Heraclius repeatedly assured his loyalty to Baldwin, is loyalty a good thing? Sometimes it is not necessarily so. Amalric I thought that if Caesar really regarded Baldwin as a master or even a brother as they said, his second son would become Caesar's enemy. Whether it was the healthy body that Baldwin lacked but his brother was born with, or his decision to make Baldwin a transition or even a stepping stone, the child was destined not to be liked by Caesar.

But he had to do it, both as a father and as a king.

Amalric I closed his eyes and took a deep breath of cold air. With this action, torches, candles and oil lamps were lit, as if the darkness here was also completely absorbed into his body - a group of people surrounded the king and climbed to the top of the main tower, the chapel of the Holy Cross Castle.

In the eyes of the clergy from Rome, this plain chapel was totally unfit to enshrine the "True Cross". It was very small and could only accommodate thirty people (standing at most). The dome used the most basic four-rib arch instead of the more sophisticated six-rib arch. There were only six niches dedicated to saints instead of twelve. There were no piers, no reliefs or side columns, no arch decorations, window decorations, spires or canopies. Although the Romanesque dome windows used blue and red glass, they did not have the most fashionable way of spelling out saint portraits, but only used common geometric shapes.

There was no thick, soft carpet or smooth marble on the ground; only a large lion skin was stingily laid out in front of the altar.

The stone altar was rough and heavy, covered with white linen, dark blue and scarlet silk, and displayed with various sacrificial vessels made of crystal, gold and silver. On both sides stood altar screens in Byzantine style, and the saints on them were gazing at the people who came to perform the sacrament in a classic posture with their bodies turned sideways and their faces facing forward.

On the altar, there is the "True Cross".

It was said that Crusaders who carried the "True Cross" on every expedition would be victorious. Whether this was true is now impossible to verify. However, later generations, through film and television adaptations, often saw a wooden cross similar in size to the real instrument of torture, inlaid with gold and jewels. This led to the mistaken assumption that the relic cross found by Saint Helena (Empress of Rome) was of that size—in fact, it was not.

What St. Helena found was not a whole cross, but fragments of the true cross. They were picked up and kept in a reliquary. Usually, this reliquary was kept in a secret room, but it was placed on the altar today. Everyone who saw this holy relic could not help but show irrepressible excitement, even the usually gloomy and introverted Bohemond was no exception.

Heraclius first read two passages of scripture, which basically corresponded to the content of Epiphany. We will not go into details here. Then everyone prayed together, hoping that they could also be guided like the three wise men and walk towards the light of faith. The three wise men found Jesus under the guidance of God, and as Christians, they could also find Jesus, and not the baby Jesus, but the Jesus who came in the second glory.

Afterwards, Amalric I led the way, followed by Princess Sibylle, and finally Cesar, who performed the sacrament on behalf of Prince Baldwin. They offered gold, myrrh, and frankincense to the altar in turn, and Heraclius read the dedication prayer for them.

Next, everyone received the Eucharist and recited the Prayer of Thanks, but this time was slightly different from the past. Heraclius did not immediately take back the golden cup containing the Holy Blood (wine), but filled it with clear spring water and took out a fragment from the reliquary - Cesar could feel the rapid breathing of the people around him - the monk dipped the fragment of the True Cross in the spring water three times, and then took it out and distributed it to the people to drink.

Cesar returned to Baldwin with two cups. In the past, Baldwin would just drink it all in one gulp, but this time he gave half of the water soaked with the fragments of the True Cross to Cesar.

"It doesn't taste like much." Cesar finished the drink in one gulp and commented.

Baldwin shook his head and said nothing.

At this time, the procession was ready. They would walk through the entire holy city, and then climb the stairs to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre at morning prayers (around five in the morning), escort Baldwin and Cesar into the main hall of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where the Holy Sepulchre is located, and then close the doors everywhere, leaving them alone inside to wait for the arrival of angels and saints.

This was a procession of over a hundred people, and as the procession progressed, the number of attendees would increase. All participants were men, all on foot. Leading the procession were Amalric I, his courtiers, and the Grand Masters of the major knightly orders. Following them were monks carrying icons and crosses. Behind the monks was supposed to be the Patriarch of Alaska, but he suddenly "fell ill," so Heraclius took his place.

The monk, who enjoyed the king's deep trust, had a frown on his face and looked worried. Following him were the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, and then the Knights of the Charity House and the Knights Templar. Few of the knights looked worried. They closed their eyes cautiously and followed the monks step by step. Occasionally they looked up at the crowds gathered on both sides of the path - the local residents and pilgrims. They had to wait until the procession had gone a certain distance before they were allowed to catch up, otherwise they would be beaten with sticks.

These devout people had been very quiet, but when the morning light came and they were about to step onto the steps leading to Calvary Hill, some memories were awakened. Some people began to discuss the two boys who were to have the "selection ceremony" today. Cesar's name was mentioned repeatedly. People did not discuss whether he would be "chosen". They had much more confidence in Cesar than he did himself. "If the saint doesn't choose this child, who else can he choose?" they all said so.

Some people also mentioned Baldwin. Some said that the fact that the prince had such a virtuous companion was enough to prove that his leprosy was just a test from God, so he asked such a good man to watch over him and prevent him from dying prematurely. But someone immediately retorted that sinners also have guards. Perhaps it was precisely because he was full of sins that a saint came to his side and taught him sternly to prevent him from going astray.

Geoffrey, walking in the procession, couldn't help but feel thankful for the prince's young attendant. King Amalric I was almost at the Place de la Crucifixion, and he didn't hear anyone saying these things. If he had, he would have been furious. The person who said them deserved to be hanged, and César's life would have been miserable—he just hoped there weren't too many chatterboxes here, he thought. As he thought this, he didn't notice the person in front of him, and they bumped into each other—it was the person's fault for suddenly stopping and not moving forward. "What's wrong?" Geoffrey asked, and then, with the vigilance of an old Templar, he immediately pushed past the person in front of him and ran forward. He immediately saw that in front of King Amalric I stood a line of black-robed priests and gray-robed monks, also holding icons and crosses.

These priests and monks were like the stars surrounding the moon, guarding a man who wore a bishop's mitre with front and back corners, a white robe, and a red surplice. This was not right, because on Epiphany, he should have worn a white surplice.

This was, of course, the Patriarch of Alasarus. He had been persuaded by the Roman Catholic envoy, or perhaps he had long harbored this intention. Who wouldn't want to rule the Holy City? Furthermore, his previous refusal to treat Amalric I's only son had already offended the king. So, what was the point in continuing to conceal the truth? It would be better to put an end to it all!
Amalric I glared angrily at the Grand Master of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre - since the "selection ceremony" was to be held in the Cathedral of the Holy Sepulchre, it was necessary to ensure that nothing would go wrong here. It could be said that Cesar's penance and good deeds a few months ago saved them a lot of effort, and the monks of the Gerard family had the upper hand in the internal struggle of the church.

But when the king's eyes swept over these priests and monks, he did not see Thomas, nor did he see those familiar faces. This showed that Og de Balaban, whom he had entrusted with the task of ensuring the safety of the Holy Sepulchre, had failed to live up to his expectations, and this perfect thing had a flaw from the very beginning. Their enemies also failed to take advantage of this omission and seized it accurately.

"A sinner has no right to perform any sacrament!" The Patriarch boomed. All priests who need to preach have this ability—they can carry their voices far, whether indoors or outdoors: "I have mercy on you, King of Alaska, and I also have mercy on your child, but God sees everything, King. You have committed sins a hundred times, a thousand times, ten thousand times greater than your child!
One day, Jesus went outside the city and saw a leper. When the leper saw Jesus, he knelt down and said to Jesus, "If you are willing, you can make me clean." Then the Savior put his hands on his head and said, "You are clean." He was indeed cleansed, and he was able to enter the city and offer sacrifices on the altar.

Attention everyone!
Jesus was powerful and full of compassion, but he did not say, "Isn't leprosy a sin?" He cleansed the man before allowing him to enter the city to perform the sacraments. Did he, out of his own mercy, allow this sinner to pollute and poison innocent people?
No!

Your child has suffered for your sins, and you must pay for them. You say you have a duty to fight for God and cannot go out into the wilderness, wearing a sackcloth cloak and barefoot to repent—this sounds very reasonable, but is it confession, is it repentance? No!

He shouted, "This is the devil tempting you, making you covet worldly power and the ties of flesh and blood, and ignore the salvation of your soul! That's why I have to say..."

The Patriarch breathed hard but quickly: "You are lying again, you are sinning again! Even the Savior did not dare to ask a filthy person to perform the sacraments, and you dare to ask a leper to come here!"

He pointed suddenly backwards: "If I had never known, if I had never come, where would this sinner go? To the place where Jesus was crucified? To the place where Jesus was laid down, with the Virgin Mary and the saints weeping around him? To the place where Jesus slept and rose again? Would his festering feet walk over every place kissed by devout Christians?"

As expected, his words caused a slight commotion.

A fleeting smile flickered across the Patriarch's face. He took a step forward, standing before Amalric I. His once respectable face was now red and bright, his pupils shrunken to the size of a pinpoint. He saw the king had placed his hand on his belt, where a decorative dagger hung. Even if it was just a decoration, it could still kill. Far from feeling fear, he laughed heartily: "Come on!"

He stretched out his arms and cried out, "Come, come, pierce my breast with your sword, where the Savior suffered! I must have a cloth covered over my face, so that I cannot bear this honor!"

Heraclius rushed forward and grabbed the king, and whispered anxiously: "He is right, he is wearing a red chasuble!" (Note 2) As soon as people saw the red chasuble, they knew that he was going to be martyred today. If Amalric I really took action in public, Alasarus would really be handed over to the church.

In fact, Heraclius had previously asked whether it was possible to get some people to control the patriarch or increase the number of personnel stationed in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre before January 1, but Amalric I had the body and courage of a lion, as well as the stubbornness of a lion. He said that the patriarch sent an envoy to deliver a letter on Christmas Sunday.

In the letter, the patriarch admitted with great humility and a bit of frustration that what befell Prince Baldwin was only a test from God, not a punishment. He had been misled by some people and had developed some unrealistic delusions. Now, he knew that he had made an unforgivable mistake. He was willing to accept the punishment and was willing to ask his priests to treat Baldwin. As long as the king was willing to forgive him, he could become a monk in the vineyard.

Heraclius did not believe a word of the letter, but the king thought that this was because the "election ceremony" was just around the corner - he believed that his son would definitely be chosen, and if so, the church's statement would be self-defeating. The patriarch's letter was just a precaution - seeing that there was no hope, and these priests were all cowards, it was not surprising that they asked for mercy in advance.

He did not accept Heraclius' proposal.

At this moment, the Patriarch stood before him, and every word he said mocked the stupidity of Amalric I.

The patriarch was panting heavily, his eyes filled with a hint of pride and even more of madness. A priest suddenly seemed to have noticed something and whispered something to him. He smiled sarcastically, "Oh," he said, "I saw it. A sinful child and a pious child. You put him next to the sinner. Are you trying to deceive the people and the saints?"

He waved his hand, signaling the priest to come forward, "Quick, rescue that child! Don't let him stay with the sinners!"

　Note 1: At that time, people believed that it was a sin for a couple to have sex on Sunday, and that children conceived on that day would be infected with leprosy.

　　Note 2:
　　White chasuble - purity, joy.

　　The red chasuble—fervor, martyrdom—on the Patriarch certainly signifies the latter.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)