Its the feast of the most precious blood occasion for a grand celebration on the small island in Lake Constance in southern germany. The second stone is assisted this morning by his brother and his sister in law on what for him is the busiest day of the year. The celebration is virtually unknown in the rest of germany but its an important tradition here the monks on the island of horizonal created a unique center of art and culture more than one thousand years ago. And the islands current residents are proud of that legacy. The traditional live and that also involves us doing certain chores in the. Warning on. This if for opted to use. Me its a change from my daily routines plus of us all i can put on my cares behind me and take a few minutes for myself to meditate a while for him. The. The. The. Not everybody is able to take part in the festivities fisherman stephanie is already out on the leg. Giving presents another long tradition in the. After what about and for my customers expect me to supply them with fish and i have to use all the Time Available with my. Own dog. I miss out on the festivities its a pretty crowded home. The basilica is treasury contain some impressive items including a one thousand two hundred year old illuminated gospel book. And a fifth century scibor him for this special celebration some of the treasures are actually put to use again for instance the gilded reliquaries sekret stand month with mila and his brother in their element. In the new ad it was manhood miller has served as secretary and here for more than sixteen years the job is not very well paid as a selfemployed plumber he earned considerably more. But looking after the vestments and altar vessels has its own rewards. This. Is not just a job its an honor. Its a giving in and of course god wants to make a contribution to the splendor of the liturgy this is lets at this i mean ultimately its a matter of faith and doesnt its a rare privilege to get so close to the essential elements of the face of. The moment in. A few days before the festivities in the basilica of st mary and st mark we were committed to see the relic of the precious blood. It is kept in the precious blood altar behind a large black grill. In the ninth century governor of jerusalem named her son presented the relic to the empress charlemagne who he greatly admired. After charlemagnes death the relic was intrusted to the months of passion now and is still today the islanders most treasured possession. In her life this is the precious blood altar. This is the monstrance. You see the plate to which the relic is attached. And midday on the feast of the precious blood tied to the plate is removed from the monstrance of the faithful to venerate the relic host common. Down here is a fragment of blood soaked cross. Splinters of christs cross. So that it doesnt have any material value but it is a religious treasure i might say its priceless because. The basilica of st mary and st mark once formed the heart of the old man history benedictine monks lived here for a thousand years the whole island belong to them some two hundred years ago the priory was closed and the months expelled bus on the Western Shores of no island something remarkable is now occurring. The monks have returned to the press the terry of st peter and st paul its not a fully fledged monastery yet but whats called a cell. It was father stephens green. Miners in one thousand nine hundred two when i was studying and. I came down here to Lake Constance with an american trappers friend. We visited right now and were deeply impressed and spiritually drawn to the three churches. To the former Benedictine Monastery the very first monastery ever founded by german marks. But there were no monks living here any longer and that wouldnt let me rest that we had stayed with me for years it was however i had no idea that we could change that situation. Father stephan invites laypeople to join the monks will pray three times a day. Since last christmas theyve been joined by two benedictine nuns from the philippines. Father hugo has been his somewhat longer. The entire comprises just these benedictines. There are no monastery walls behind which they can only eat no cloister. They take their meals together at the press the terry. Father stefan is late for dinner the sistas have cooked. Oh what you have if. You have. The. South. Asian noodle soup. Im from. They dont maintain silence during meals as benedictines usually do. In this instance stations around. Here on this. One where they communicate in a mixture of german and english the nuns have only been here for six months in. The same benedict cell comprises the church of st peter and st paul in the west of the island and just to other buildings. The monks live in the press the terry and the sisters next door. At night yet it is not. The nuns help out wherever they can with a sewing machine they make curtains vestments and whatever else is needed. Sister or a silly has a doctorate in theology and was primaries and her Previous Community but she and sister rachele are not too proud to tackle the simplest tasks that need to be done including sewing and. My mother taught me how to do this. And. I think i was i was thinking its not going to be used in a convent but we do. In this simple balance very very useful in her convention and when we do it with choi its not its not by some. Sister rachele keeps in touch with her former convent by smartphone this wife i hear the two filipino nuns are optimistic about their future in germany we need to learn the language because because theyre angry yeah the court youre. Here so when theyre. Very close but reason why are. You there. Strictly speaking is no longer an island. It is connected to the mainland by a down with a statue of pillman at the entrance of him and was the itinerant bishop who founded the benedictine abbey on haifa now in seven hundred and twenty four. First the month had to clear the island of dense forest and snakes according to the legend. But the temperate climate the fertile soil and the fish from Lake Constance provided them with plenty of food. The benedictine motto all right its love bora pray and work is still painted on many of the houses traditions are held here. Stefan leader and his son are no strangers to hard work theyre out fishing every morning before anybody else is awake. If you think you know i thought it through side i dont know how many generations have been fisherman here all of our great grandfathers were fisherman but i really dont know when it started with them weve been. In the old days the lake provided the monks with food today its the tourists who eat the fish. The catch today includes white fish speciality of late constance. Tradition countryside and faith are united here. Not every day is as beautiful as this while some days are really bad storms wenden everything they go doesnt make the link karma but its a help. And i also think its important in the family. Because we think. The whole island of together with its three churches declared a unesco World Heritage site in two thousand. In the carolingian era keisel abbey was one of the most important and influential monasteries in europe abbotabad advised the impression to me. Charlemagnes great grandson charles the third is buried in the abbey church. This source of the monks power was simple in those days only monks were able to read and write this and its often big this is the way to the form of script torreon where the monks compliment and illustrated their manuscripts the same gallon plant shows it was down here with the monasteries library a part of. A cold vault with not much light today its a depositary full stone sculpture. One thousand years ago this was where the monks created their precious many scripts but there are no manuscripts here now. And heres in. The manuscripts created here were commissioned by bishops by kings by emperors. When. As you might order a car today choosing options and configuring it the manuscripts were made to order. Finally they were handed over to the patrons and thats why theyre no longer on the island they are scattered all over the world voids and. However copies exist of the original manuscripts today these treasures are stored in the parish archives the head of high snows Tourist Office verla takes us down to the cellar the depositary contains a five hundred year old copy of one of the most famous books ever produced on the island de cota her toward him written by abbot valid. In the year eight hundred and forty five. This is to be the oldest book on horticulture that we have in europe where the author describes plants and its very interestingly how to garden or why its the first look at testing to methods of horticulture in europe and describes twenty four plants medicinal herbs for cooking and flowering plants. So valid for the first gardening tips here in europe in or performed by lovely because. Upstairs is the Tourist Office and rice in the center a model of the monastery. The monks of haifa now evolved the famous same gun plan instructions for building a monastery in eight hundred and thirty the prototype was their own abbey i hear and then all here on the Northeast Corner in the same gallon monastery model you see the location of the herb garden. That was where violet plant must have planted his herbs will be enforced in the grain will buy a lovely time in court gotten up thanks to carvel it there is once again to her garden on the site of the former monastery in exactly the location indicated by the old plan and precisely following the old abbotts instructions. Hands on approach to history more accessible than a precious manuscript locked away in a safe. You can also see examples of painting for which the monks of hyson are with famous especially for the illuminated books here in St Georges Church when you first arrived on the line and. This monumental display of the miracles of christ was any rediscovered in eighteen seventy nine. It had been painted over now restored to their original splendor the scenes speak for themselves. The coming of the storm on the sea of galilee. The the healing of to hear a sister or sad. The Parish Office as housed in one of the former monastery buildings. Father stephan acts as parish priest thats the deal the benedictines have made with the local bishop they may revive monastic life here if they also provide for the spiritual needs of the island. Bloom wants to have a child baptized father stefan explains the significance of this ritual. Without water your son will be baptized with water so that his love may flow and he may mature as a person. It is not always easy to combine the duties of a parish priest with a monastic vocation st benedict taught that prayer should be the first duty of his monks not pastoral concerns. This song a frogger its a question of planning and discipline and for when you derive joy from both of them and you perform both with love you can combine the two very easily by the farm. This evening a choir from athlon is singing the Divine Office for ones best days are not held in the small sign chapel bus in the basilica of st peter and same pool. Therefore we are very pleased to have come to sing best first with us in this very beautiful location and so im not sure welcome here and. Everyone is welcome to attend fest this island s. And tourists alike and take pass in the benedictine legacy. Still with us make much when the sun think that you really experience the benedictine tradition in the fields and at least the few times that ive been here the way that i perceive it people are celebrating and appreciating that and and and scientists but actually you should fold here in the old building im here on haifa now a regional gregorian chants the size of a big enough for instance which came from here we cant imagine anything lovely on. The island is spellbinding. The next day sexist and madonna has to climb the bell telling. Tomorrow is the feast of the precious blood all the islanders have fled their houses and of course the bells must ring out from the steeple. The alan flag with the image of a monk is visible from a great distance. The church choir holds a final rehearsal only to get into the mood for a celebration the precious blood him first verse. The hour venice sings in the choir. The. The. The demands legacy can be felt everywhere. Even in prayer in the basilica sister a silly addresses the congregation for many german catholics this is unusual a foreign woman with an unfamiliar accent preaching. But the nun from the philippines is not intimidated. Dont be afraid of holiness. And be afraid to strive for the high go to be loved and purified by god. Dont be afraid to be led by the holy spirit. The next morning the great day dawns. Father stefan awaits the arrival of the auxiliary bishop. Has his hands full in the sacristy. Celebration is a big attraction priests have come from all over germany. The axillary arrives at the basilica. The alex diocese of high book subsidizes the monks. Hes been set on but does feel sorry i am very grateful that we have benedictine monks on a price you know once again with the money and i am also very grateful that sense quite recently just a few months but we also have nuns who have established a small branch here in a climate to todd and meanwhile bad omen at the sector stands brother has smoked his vacuum cleaner for tuba hes a member of the civil government these days its just a society that marches on holidays like this one in times past however the civil guard was made up of six attached to the abbey. They were the only ones permitted to carry weapons on the island. Vandeman as wife is also wearing a traditional costume. The. Then the high mass begins. Month at mina follows the mass from the sacristy. His brother banner is seated on the side in one of the transepts he can enjoy the Service Better from this position. Some of his come rates have their own ideas about how to enjoy a Church Service two of them have been detailed off to god the weapons in front of the church. However the others are in the old secrest he across from the basilica. And now the highlights of the celebration the exposition of the precious blood relic. The congregation leaves the church and proceeds across the aisle and. Carville is especially proud to be one of the canopy berras. Mixing freely with the islanders a sister michelle and sister are s. L. E. For the rest of germany this is a normal working day bus on the high chanel its the highlight of the year. Yeah. The un interests are determined to keep the monks legacy alive. The. The the the. The be. The be. The be. The be. The be. The be. The be. The because. The but. The be. The be. The be. The be. The but also to the be. Mall or. Bursts observe species suburban home more significant the bills are big changes and most start with small steps but. Globally dias tell stories of creative people and innovative projects around the world would like to use the term goodness to screen Image Solutions and reforestation. Interactive content teaching the next generation of those environmental protection. Using all channels available to inspire people to take action and more determined to build something here for the next generation globally as the environment series of global three thousand on t. W. And online. In the wake of devastation. Mosul one year after its liberation from the islamic state. D. W. P. Of course is getting she was on location to see what life is like now in the war torn city. Filled with death and bombs and explosions every way it just didnt stop it was all she. Says day on d. W. B. And. This is a fifteen year old girl. Being gang raped. His teacher is beating a board for talking by compliance on the rest of the transports of. Purist culture as being hit by his mother breaking up forms. Just because you can see violence against children doesnt mean others and there are make them visible visible of us might violence against children. Cause. More. Good. This is news live from greg zink chaos in the u. K. As the governments top official for negotiating britains divorce from the e. U. Resigns david davis steps down after a scathing attack on the beleaguered british Prime Minister his departure fueling turmoil within the government and raising the prospect of a potential leadership battle we will ask what it means