Christianity - Christianity - Relics and saints: The cult (system of religious beliefs and rituals) of the saints emerged in the 3rd century and gained momentum from the 4th to the 6th century. "It's like stepping into Europe," said Carole Brueckner, director of St. Anthony's Chapel and one of its several tour guides. ... Shrine of the Holy Relics ... makes requests for new relics from the Vatican. The United States is home to many beautiful shrines and churches that house relics.

22) Particles of relics of saints usually are embedded in altar tables and foundation stones of churches during consecration of churches. The other two parts of the cross mentioned above were divided again into smaller parts, currently spread throughout Europe. The tradition of placing relics in the altars of Catholic churches and cathedrals is solemn and sacred. Today, this is the site of the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem, although in 1629 some of the relics were transferred to the newly constructed St. Peter’s Basilica by Pope Urban VIII. The World Pilgrimage Guide web site is the most comprehensive source of information on this subject. 5,000 Relics in St. Anthony's Chapel. The body of the saint provided a …

The New Testament refers to the. “ We look to these holy men and women as examples of how to live our faith and they can inspire us to live holy lives, as they do for so many people today, ” said Lesa Truxaw, director of the Office for Worship for the Diocese of Orange.

Rome's churches are filled with countless religious relics. Relics can include anything from the body parts of a saint to shards of the True Cross to …

Martin Gray is a cultural anthropologist, writer and photographer specializing in the study and documentation of pilgrimage places around the world.

23) Holy sweat - the relics of Saint Nektarios , which emitted a sweet-smelling sweat after he had passed away and showed no sign of decay until 20 years after his death. Relics were more than mementos. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania The largest public collection of Catholic relics in the world is in -- Pittsburgh. In the Middle Ages, relic veneration became obligatory and every church in Christendom was required to have a holy relic.

During a 38 year period he has visited more than 1500 sacred sites in 165 countries.

The bones of martyrs were believed to provide evidence of God’s power at work in the world, producing miracles and spectacles of the effectiveness of faith.

Christian belief in the power of relics, the physical remains of a holy site or holy person, or objects with which they had contact, is as old as the faith itself and developed alongside it.