Reliquien

Reliquien, or relics, are objects or bodily remains associated with saints that are venerated by believers. In Christianity they are usually housed in reliquaries—ornate containers that display and protect the sacred items. Relics may be physical remains, possessions of a saint, or objects that touched one in life. The practice is especially prominent in Catholic and Orthodox traditions.

Relics shaped medieval worship and pilgrimage. Churches collected relics to attract pilgrims, justify church authority, and sanctify altars. Relics were moved in ceremonies called translations, creating networks of shrine churches and regional devotion. Their care and display were typically the duty of bishops, monasteries, and cathedrals.

Catholic tradition classifies relics as first-class (bodily remains or a portion), second-class (items belonging to the saint), and third-class (objects that touched a first-class relic). Orthodox practice uses similar concepts. Relics are commonly venerated during liturgy and in dedicated chapels or shrines.

Relics are housed in a range of reliquaries, from simple boxes to elaborate gold-and-enamel shrines. The containers are often valued as art objects reflecting their era and region. They were displayed near altars or in chapels to inspire reverence.

Today relics remain in some Catholic and Orthodox churches and in museums as historical artifacts. Attitudes vary; some communities continue public veneration, while others view relics as primarily historical. The term reliquary denotes the vessel as well as the relic inside.