166 Items Tagged

Relics and Reliquaries

Basilica of St. Valentine

Terni calls itself the "City of Lovers" and celebrates its links to Saint Valentine on February 14th—but is it the right Saint Valentine?

Covington, Kentucky

Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption

Northern Kentucky’s very own Notre Dame showcases intricate stained glass and the bones of saints.

Sponsored by Meet Northern Kentucky

A church altar of sculpted amber saints that seems to float at the front of the church

Gdańsk, Poland

St. Bridget's Church

One of the world's largest amber altarpieces is housed within this reconstructed medieval church.

Malacca, Malaysia

Francis Xavier Statue

This statue of the famed saint is missing his right hand, a rare depiction of his posthumous amputation.

9 Hidden Wonders in the Heart of Kansas City

Explore the secret side of Kansas City with a trip to these local gems.

Sponsored by Visit KC

Saint Jovan Bigorski Monastery

Rostushe, North Macedonia

Saint Jovan Bigorski Monastery

St. John the Baptist's forearm is housed in this remote 11th-century monastery.

A closeup of the plaque on the obelisk.

11 Places to See Real Hearts

Hearts stand still for eternity at these memorials.

Jonathan Carey February 10, 2023

Churches from Poland to Missouri claim to possess some of Saint Valentine's remains. This, from the Basilica di Santa Maria in Rome, is supposed to be his skull.

4 Truly Unexpected Ways to Express Your Feelings on February 14th

What does Valentine's Day have to do with wounding insults, bone relics, and meat juice?

April White February 9, 2023

Altar and relic

Reliquary of St. Margaret Clitherow

The preserved left hand of a saint once known as "the Pearl of York."

Podcast: Galileo’s Middle Finger

Investigating a renowned scientist's iconic digit.

The Podcast Team January 31, 2023

Reliquary

London, England

Hand of St. Etheldreda

One of the oldest remaining Catholic churches in England is home to the hand of a 7th-century saint.

Reliquary of St. Margaret of Scotland

Dunfermline, Scotland

Reliquary of St. Margaret of Scotland

The remains of "the Pearl of Scotland" can be found inside this church.

Galileo's Middle Finger

The Ultimate Guide to Scattered Body Parts

One way or another, these heads, shoulders, hands, and toes have lost their bodies.

Michelle Cassidy October 19, 2021

The cave

Northumberland, England

St. Cuthbert's Cave

A rocky outcrop where monks hid their most holy relic while escaping Danish invaders.

Inside the basilica

Basilica di Sant'Andrea

It took more than 300 years to build this church, which is home to two sacred vessels believed to hold the blood of Christ.

All Saints' Church, Brixworth

Brixworth, England

All Saints' Church, Brixworth

This church is considered the largest and most complete Saxon church in England.

Church of the Virgin and King's Church

Brezova, Serbia

Studenica Monastery

This beautiful medieval Serbian monastery is home to frescoes, peculiar sculptures, and historical curiosities.

Lipsanothecae of the Chapel of Saint Francesco de Geronimo

The relics of dozens of martyrs are stored in a single chapel.