Reliquary
A shrine was originally a sort of enclosure to house one or more relics. The shrines are in fact a great variety of form and use.
Summary |
Within the meaning of the word, a reliquary (Latin reliquiarium) contains the relics of a holy Christian.
Different types
The oldest form of Christian shrine is the shrine (from Latin capsa "box", "trunk"), which recalls the original coffin and contains the whole body of the saint.
In some churches like to Rouen , was long retained the old term of pride (Latin feretrum "stretcher" or "mortuary stretcher").
The term applies theoretically to all reliquary container of relics, including shrines , but in practice it is subject to boxes and boxes of smaller size that does not contain the whole body of a saint.
It has sometimes used the Greek term lipsanothque (literally "cabinet relics"), to describe furniture or reliquaries for receiving several relics. Some portable shrines for the exhibition of the relics were called monstrances. Others, following the shape of the object they contain are termed topical (and reliquary busts and heads reliquary containing generally all or part of the skull of a saint, arms-reliquaries, etc.. ).
Called staurothque , at least in middle Byzantine reliquary containing a fragment of the True Cross.
Finally, there are other methods of preservation of relics such as their insertion in regalia (scepters, crowns, hands of justice, etc..), or their use as talismans (in amulets or in the sheath of the sword ), but out here under the reliquaries themselves.
Form and Matter
It is therefore of boxes of size and shape variable, to collect valuable items and revered.
Most shrines are made of metal, often silver or gold. They can be enriched either of enamel or precious or semi-precious stones.
A window may suggest the relic in his chest.
Several geometries are available: square, cube, octagonal, cylindrical or otherwise.
Among the topical reliquaries, reliquary heads take the form of either a head or bust, like the head reliquary of St. Ferreol to Naxon from the mid-fourteenth century Functions The relics are intended to preserve the material remains of saints personnnages or other objects that have been sanctified by contact. They serve to protect them from corruption and filth. That's why we use less wood and more metal, at least for the most precious relics. They are used to ensure authenticity and integrity. Therefore they are most often sealed and sometimes with charters drafted and signed by a bishop. They serve to expose the relics to the piety of the faithful, whether in the church itself or in procession. Initially, in fact, the relics were kept in the altars of churches but from the twelfth century they were exposed to the piety of the faithful, either on the altar or on a "forum for exposition" , or even in portable shrines called monstrances. The portable shrines were sometimes used to be shown to the faithful during tours designed to raise funds. Another function of the reliquary, or rather the ornaments of precious relics, was to manifest the glory and prestige of the saint which contained the remains, and beyond the saint himself, the glory and prestige of the community that it protected. At the same time it was kind of investment, because in case of crisis, the shrine could be melted. As objects of precious reliquaries were kept in the Treasury of the churches with other silverware such as chalices. The splendor of the shrine had also serves to commemorate the generosity of donors or who had financed the production or enrichment. The memory of the donor could indeed be focused on the shrine is the representation of his coat , or that of his patron saint , or by registration. Head reliquary of Saint Baudime (St Nectaire, France) Reliquary of the crib (Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome) Lipsanothque of St. Anastasia (Rome) Reliquary Column of the Flagellation (Ste Praxde, Rome) Reliquary of St. Louis , at the Basilica of San Domenico (Bologna). Reliquary Bust of Saint evils (Acquigny - Eure - Normandie) After the death of the Buddha history took place "War relics", whose design was the possession of the remains escaped the pyre of the Buddha . A traditional part of Buddhist architecture, the stupa has its origins in the worship of relics of the Buddha , which were first designed to house them. Buddhist kings have bought with gold and precious relics preserved in the relics of the Buddha Sakyamuni and other holy figures of Buddhism The Islamic world, inspired by the practices of Christianity Byzantine reliquaries also used to house the relics stolen from the Christians or of more recent origin, especially for the beard of Muhammad. The largest collection of relics Muslim, and therefore Muslim shrines, is located in the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul , former capital of the Ottoman Empire, whose Sultan put a point of honor to be prestigious collections of relics. In African traditional religious thought is closely linked to ancestor worship. Magical powers are loaned to reliquaries . Some people - like Bakota of Gabon - are famous for their shrines . Different materials are used, such as wood, copper, bone or iron. Also known as reliquary boxes or similar containers for preserving treasured human remains other than those of the saints, or other mementos of loved ones or admired. The use of the ancien regime in France was to retain the heart of kings apart, and usually in a different church than the rest of their remains. So was it called reliquaries containers where they are kept, by analogy with those of saints. At the time romantic spawned Napoleonic relics, intended to honor the memory of the Emperor. It also cites as an unexplained quirk in the Gothic gilt reliquary discovered by the heirs of Vivant Denon (1747-1826), containing among other bone fragments of Heloise and Abelard, part of the beard of Henry IV torn from his tomb in 1793 , a tooth of Voltaire , and many other remnants of historical figures and is now kept at the museum Bertrand of Chateauroux . At the same time it was often stored in different kinds of family heirlooms or relics of lovers, such as, for example, the curl of a loved and too soon. Examples of Christian reliquaries
The reliquaries in other religions
The Buddhist reliquaries
The Islamic shrines
The African reliquaries
The secular reliquaries
See also
References
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