relics attributed to Jesus
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There are many relics attributed to Jesus that people believe or believed to be authentic relics of the Gospel accounts.
The Shroud of Turin is perhaps the most well-known relic; its authenticity was questioned due to radiocarbon dating, performed in 1988, the accuracy of which has itself been subsequently questioned. The earlier-measured sample was generally agreed to have been thrown off by contamination on the shroud, though retests are also debated, and it remains a controversial item.
Another famous relic is the Holy Chalice which Jesus used for serving wine during the Last Supper. Stories of this relic are often intertwined with medieval legends around the Holy Grail.
Other items described as relics include:
- Pieces of the True Cross, including the half of the INRI inscription tablet, preserved at the ancient basilica Santa Croce in Gerusalemme in Rome. Very small pieces or particles of the True Cross are preserved in hundreds of other churches in Europe and inside crucifixes. According to Gerasimos Smyrnakis[1] Rohault de Flery calculated that the total volume of the True Cross was 178,000,000 cubic milimeters but by his time only 3,942,000 cubic milimeters survived. Smyrniotakis noted the largest part (870,760 cubic milimeters) was in Mount Athos, 537,587 in Rome, 516,090 in Brussels, 445,582 in Venice, 436,450 in Ghent and 237,731 in Paris.
- The Calvary of crucifixion, a small rock called
Golgotha , in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Inside the church is a pile of rock about 3 m high, believed to be what is now visible of Calvary. - The Sudarium of Oviedo purported to be the cloth that was wrapped around the head of Jesus after he died.
- The Iron Crown of Lombardy and Bridle of Constantine, said to be made from nails used during the crucifixion
- The Holy Prepuce or foreskin of Jesus, removed during his circumcision
- The Holy Lance (or Spear of Destiny), the spear of Longinus used to pierce Jesus' side when he was on the cross, to ensure that he had died.
- The Crown of Thorns which was placed upon the head of Jesus at his crucifixion by Pontius Pilate
- Veronica's Veil, used to wipe the sweat from Jesus' brow as he carried the cross
- The Seamless robe of Jesus, which is kept at the cathedral of Trier
- Letters said to be written by Jesus himself to Abgar, the King of Edessa declining an invitation to visit his palace.
- The "Icon Not Made by Hands" that Jesus allegedly sent to King Abgar V of Edessa to cure him of leprosy.
- The Holy Sponge, in Santa Croce in Gerusalemme
- The Holy Umbilical Cord
- The Gifts of the Magi in the St. Paul Monastery in Mount Athos
- Hair of Jesus
- Tears Jesus wept over Jerusalem
- Blood shed by Jesus on the cross
- Milk teeth of the infant Jesus
- The Column Jesus was tied to when he was scourged
There are no alleged relics of his bones, because Christians believe in Jesus' resurrection and ascension into heaven.
In 2002, an ossuary with the inscription Ya`aqov bar Yosef akhui Yeshua` ("James son of Joseph brother of Jesus") came to light under questionable provenance and was thought by some to be historical evidence for Jesus's brother James. On June 18, 2003, the Israeli Antiquities Authority published a report concluding that the inscription on the ossuary is a modern forgery based on their analysis of the patina. It appears that the inscription was added recently and made to look old by addition of a chalk solution. The dealer, Oded Golan, was arrested at his Tel Aviv home July 21, on suspicion of forging ancient artifacts. He was released on July 25; as of August 8 charges had not yet been filed against him. Allegedly, authorities found forgery equipment and partially completed forgeries in Oded Golan's home.
In the work Asarim, by Marisa Vallejo, a bloodstained cloth called the Sudarium (John 20:7) is described as a turban or napkin (Gk. σουδάριον) wound around Jesus' head at the time of his burial. It is claimed that this is the cloth that was set aside in the tomb after the Resurrection. This relic can be seen in the Cathedral of Oviedo in Spain. There is some evidence that at some stage in time, this cloth and the Turin Shroud covered the same, dead body.
References
- ^ Το Αγιον Ορος (The Holy Mountain), Athens 1903 reprinted 1998 p.378-379
See also
External links
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