holies

Holies is a plural noun formed from the adjective holy. In English, it is used occasionally to refer collectively to what is considered sacred in a given context—people, places, or objects that are endowed with religious or ceremonial significance. It is not a standardized technical term in religious studies, but it appears in scholarly writing and in literature as a descriptive label.

In religious and cultural contexts, holies can denote a range of sacred referents. They may be holy persons such as saints, priests, prophets, or other figures regarded as spiritually pure or specially consecrated. They can also refer to sacred places like temples, shrines, or altars, and to sacred objects such as relics, icons, or vessels believed to embody or convey divine power. Access to holies is often governed by ritual rules, taboos, or initiation practices, and rituals of blessing, cleansing, or pilgrimage may be associated with them.

In fiction, fantasy, or comparative ethnography, the term holies is sometimes used to describe an organized group, a caste, or a faction associated with sacred duties, purity codes, or ritual authority. The precise meaning of holies is therefore highly contextual, relying on cultural, religious, or narrative frameworks to identify what qualifies as holy and why it is venerated.

See also: holiness, sacred, relic, shrine.