From the terricolous to the celestial.

Relics are a morbid (but divine) testimony and curiosity to holiness. They are real, imaginary, fantastic and spurious, i.e., .... relics of the Holy Family and Houses that fly. First, second and third class relics are honoured by the faithful. From intact, complete bodies to fragments of bones. It is not only the physical remains of saints that are so honoured. Material things like the True Cross, the Seamless Robe, the Spear of Longinus, etc., also exist. Locations have been identified "holy" as well. The shrines and reliquaries created to house the relics, and administer to the devotion of them, number in the tens of thousands and are located in almost every corner of the world. They were translated, honoured, stolen, broken apart, transported, sold, falsified and multiplied two (or more) times, i.e., the Head of John the Baptist (and many others).

From Stephen (Proto-Martyr), the first Christian martyr and the first to be so honoured individually as a saint - in c. 35, (for almost four centuries many Christians eagerly sought for the martyr's crown), and St. Helena's incredulously fortunate discoveries in the Holy Land, to Blessed Pope John 23rd. (whose third class relics are already being sold in Vatican gift shops).

If you are interested in this aspect of the divinely inspired, join us on the search for who, what, where, when and how this has come about and the history, legends, myths, stories and fabrications that made it possible.

Note:
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