What does reliquary mean and what is it?

Learn about the types of relics and reliquaries, true keepers and witnesses of faith. From capsule reliquaries to monumental reliquaries. Read now.

A reliquary is a sacred container used to hold relics, which are fragments of bones or objects that belonged to saints or Church martyrs. The reliquary was first created with the symbolic function of protection, while ensuring proper display of relics.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF RELICS

Each relic has its own value and this is how the Church has divided it into classes:

Class I relics – referring to objects that had direct contact with Jesus Christ, such as the Holy Cross or the Holy Cradle.
Class II relics – objects used by the saints during their daily lives such as robes or crucifixes.
Class III relics - objects that came into contact with Class I relics or cloth fragments that had direct contact with a saint's body
Class IV relics – fragments of cloth or religious objects, such as medals and rosaries, that came into direct contact with objects of saints.

There are also other types of relics. This is about objects of veneration related to saints, although they did not come into direct contact with them.

TYPES OF RELIQUARY: A CONTAINER WITH A SYMBOLIC FUNCTION

The need to find a container that could store relics became widespread from the IV Century AD, a period in which the veneration of relics became more and more widespread. The earliest reliquaries initially appeared as actual altars made over the tombs of martyrs, apostles and saints. Over time these sacred containers clearly underwent a major evolution both in size, shape and material. We come to speak of true objects d'art made from precious materials such as gold, silver, and gems.

It may not sound like it, but in the huge world of liturgical supplies there are different types of relic containers. There are the capsule-shaped, cylindrical or sphere-shaped reliquaries, which were mainly used in the Middle Age. These were particularly suitable for storing small relics, allowing easy transportation during pilgrimages. These are mostly small containers that are distinguished into: medallion reliquary, pendant reliquary, bezel reliquary. Then there are also those that are considered monumental, with larger dimensions such as: vasiform reliquary, zoomorphic reliquary, and cross reliquary.

In addition to their artistic beauty, these sacred vessels are witness of a long religious tradition. They have changed over time, evolving in shape, size and materials, while always maintaining their symbolic function of protection. (Reliquie e reliquiari: storia, tipi e classificazioni)