What is a reliquary in Orthodoxy? This question is asked by everyone who is just starting to visit the temple and for the first time hears this strange word. A reliquary is a special case for storing holy relics - the remains of the body of a deceased saint or saint. The relics do not have to be incorrupt, that is, have the remains of incorrupt flesh, as, for example, the saints of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra. Sometimes it can be simple bones or their small parts.
How are relics placed in reliquaries?
The relics of saints are usually stored in large monasteries or cathedrals in those places where their earthly life and prayer feat took place. However, since the veneration of God's saints extends much further, many churches, especially sanctified in honor of the saints, try to get a piece of the relics of their heavenly patron. To achieve this, you should write a petition on the name of the local bishop in order to obtain permission to take a piece of relics. If the bishop’s permission and blessing is obtained, then after the prayer to the saint, the priest carefully cuts out part of the saint’s relics with a spear (a church knife in the shape of a spear), which is immediately placed in wax for preservation. After that, such a particle of relics is already placed in a reliquary - a small capsule covered with glass.
Reliquary materials
Orthodox reliquaries are usually made in the form of a circle, cross or eight-pointed Christmas star, and their decorative design can be different. In the old days, reliquaries were made of gold and silver, due to their minimal oxidation. Now, alloys of metals less susceptible to corrosion, such as brass are used as material for reliquaries, as well as precious metals, but rather infrequently. If silver reliquary in our time can still be found in large cathedrals, then gold reliquary is very rare.
Where can you buy a reliquary in Ukraine?
Earlier it was rather difficult to buy a reliquary, since the number of workshops producing such cases was small. But in the Internet era, everything has become much simpler and more accessible. In the Axios online store, you can buy a reliquary for relics directly from your home, using your phone or computer. We guarantee the quality of our products and fast delivery.
