Why Do We Revere The Relics Of Saints?
Why Do We Revere The Relics Of Saints?
St. John Chrysostom's Homily on St. Ignatius I Mother Mary's Missing Relics I The Translation of St. Raphael's Relics
“For not the bodies only, but the very sepulchres of the saints have been filled with spiritual grace… God allowed us the remains of the saints, wishing to lead by them us to the same emulation, and to afford us a kind of haven, and a secure consolation for the evils which are ever overtaking us.” -St. John Chrysostom (Eulogy on St. Ignatius of Antioch)
From time memorial, Christians have treasured and venerated the remains of the apostles, martyrs and saints. In 155 AD, the Martyrdom of St. Polycarp tells us that the early Christians
“took up his bones, as being more precious than the most exquisite jewels, and more purified than gold, and deposited them in a fitting place, whither, being gathered together, as opportunity is allowed us, with joy and rejoicing, the Lord shall grant us to celebrate the anniversary of his martyrdom, both in memory of those who have already finished their course, and for the exercising and preparation of those yet to walk in their steps.”
In 386 AD, St. Jerome (Letter 46) urges a friend to come to Bethlehem and Jerusalem to venerate the tomb of our Lord and the saints.
“On what grounds, then, do men regard as blessed those spots where Peter and Paul, the leaders of the Christian host, have shed their blood for Christ?… Everywhere we venerate the tombs of the martyrs… Will the day never come when we shall together enter the Savior's cave, and together weep in the sepulchre of the Lord…? Then shall we touch with our lips the wood of the cross, and rise in prayer and resolve upon the Mount of Olives with the ascending Lord… We shall make a pilgrimage to Samaria, and side by side venerate the ashes of John the Baptist, of Elisha, and of Obadiah.”
Even to this day, Christians enter the tomb of our Lord in order to kiss the holy place where His Resurrection took place! It is a sacred space filled with love and great acts of devotion come quite natural for those who love Christ.
St. John Chrysostom Eulogy on St. Ignatius’ Remains
A spiritual grace (that sometimes brought about miracles) was also known to be present within the shrines of the saints as St. John Chrysostom tells us. In his Eulogy on St. Ignatius of Antioch (died 107 AD), the ancient preacher tells us that the shrine of Blessed Ignatius inspires faithfulness to Christ, brings about blessing, and is filled with spiritual grace. He writes,
“this blessed Ignatius fills those who come to him with blessings, with boldness, nobleness of spirit, and much courage… Not only today, therefore, but every day let us go forth to him, plucking spiritual fruits from him. For it is, it is possible for him who comes hither with faith to gather the fruit of many good things. For not the bodies only, but the very sepulchres of the saints have been filled with spiritual grace. For if in the case of Elisha this happened, and a corpse when it touched the sepulchre, burst the bands of death and returned to life again, 2 Kings 13:21 much rather now, when grace is more abundant, when the energy of the Spirit is greater, is it possible that one touching a sepulchre, with faith, should win great power; thence on this account God allowed us the remains of the saints, wishing to lead by them us to the same emulation, and to afford us a kind of haven, and a secure consolation for the evils which are ever overtaking us.”
For St. John Chrysostom, the miraculous tomb of the martyr not only tells us that the saint is glorified in Heaven, but more importantly, that Christ’s Resurrection truly happened and the resurrection of the dead will take place at the end of time. The role of relics throughout church history is a way for the Holy Spirit to bring the past and the future into the present moment!
Holy Chrysostom also speaks of the intercession of the saints in regards to their presence among us through their holy remains:
“Considering all which things, let us prefer this way of spending our time, to all delight, all pleasure, in order that rejoicing at once, and profiting, we may be able to become partakers with these saints, both of their dwelling and of their home, through the prayers of the saints themselves, through the grace and lovingkindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, with whom be glory to the Father with the Holy Spirit, now and always forever and ever Amen.”
Mother Mary’s Missing Relics
Ancient Christians not only honored the empty tomb of Jesus, but they also celebrated the empty tomb of Mary, the Holy Theokotos (God-bearer). In this case, St. John Damascene’s account is helpful:
"St. Juvenal, Bishop of Jerusalem, at the Council of Chalcedon (451), made known to the Emperor Marcian and Pulcheria, who wished to possess the body of the Mother of God, that Mary died in the presence of all the Apostles, but that her tomb, when opened upon the request of St. Thomas, was found empty; wherefrom the Apostles concluded that the body was taken up to heaven."
Of course, everyone knew of Jesus’ empty tomb, because it was tied to the very preaching of the apostles (read St. Peter’s sermon in Acts 2 at Pentecost!), but Mary’s Dormition and entrance into heavenly paradise (body and soul) was kept more hidden in the mystical and liturgical heart of the Church. Orthodox theologian, Vladimir Lossky, writes,
“It is hard to speak and not less hard to think about the mysteries which the Church keeps in the hidden depths of her inner consciousness.... The Mother of God was never a theme of the public preaching of the Apostles; while Christ was preached on the housetops, and proclaimed for all to know in an initiatory teaching addressed to the whole world, the mystery of His Mother was revealed only to those who were within the Church.... It is not so much an object of faith as a foundation of our hope, a fruit of faith, ripened in Tradition.”1
All ancient Christian communities commemorate Mary’s Dormition or Assumption, and most eastern Christians participate in the Dormition Fast from August 1st until August 15th (the Day of the Dormition). It is a wonderful time to experience the ‘hidden depths’ of the Church and to look forward to the day when Christ will raise up our ‘lowly’ bodies on the Last Day (Read 1 Corinthians 15).
Would you consider supporting the Barrel Aged Faith for only $5 a month? It allows us to keep spreading the hope of the Resurrection and the ancient faith given to us by Christ around the world!
Panagia, in The Mother of God, ed. E.L. Mascall, p.35
"The role of relics throughout church history is a way for the Holy Spirit to bring the past and the future into the present moment!" Excellent! A blessed Dormition Fast to you and your family!