All 4 Christian Gospels describe the Passion and Resurrection of Christ as the central events in the life of Jesus. During Holy Week, the Last Supper, the Eucharist, the Way of the Cross, the Crucifixion and the Resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth are commemorated. Basically the entire Catholic creed comes together in these few days before Easter. And one of the traditions is to visit the relics at Easter. Do you want to know more about the Relics of Holy Week: what they are and which are the most important? We tell you.
what are relics
In Holy Week many different rituals and traditions are carried out, and one of them is the visit of the relics of Holy Week, that is, visiting and worshiping those objects that refer to the life of Christ or that are related to important moments that are mentioned in the Bible.
An inherent problem in this is the authenticity of the relics and although many studies have been done on the matter and the antiquity of these objects has not turned out very well, Christians adore these pieces and they all have their history, as we say, intrinsically related to the one that is told in the Bible about the life of Christ and his relationship with God.
The most important relics
Below we leave you some of the best-known relics that we can find in Spain (along with the Shroud of Turin) in case you want to enjoy Holy Week by taking a tour of these relics that speak of the death and resurrection of Jesus.
The Holy Chalice of Valencia
Tradition explains that Pope Sixtus II ordered Lorenzo to hide the chalice that Jesus had used at the Last Supper so that Emperor Valerian could not find it and steal it. The story goes on telling that the chalice passed from hand to hand and from Pope to Pope until it reached Valencia, where survived both the war of independence and the civil war, when he had to go through the house of several faithful to be protected and preserved. Although the veracity of this object is not known, the enormous tradition behind it is known and, in fact, although no Pope has affirmed that this chalice was really in the hands of Jesus during the Last Supper, it has been mentioned in several times some of them like the Pope John Paul II, Benedict XVI and the current Pope Francis.
Lignum Crucis of Santo Toribio de Liébana
In the monastery of Franciscans of Santo Toribio de Liébanafound in Cantabria, what is considered to be the greatest existing relic of the Cross on which Jesus died has been kept for more than 1,200 years: his left arm. Tradition tells that Toribio de Astorga, after being ordained a priest and guarding Holy Places, when the Persians persecuted him, several Christians sheltered him and helped him until he reached Rome where he arrived with this relic.
How did he get Toribius of Astorga this part the cross? apparently it was kept by Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine. Legend has it that since there were so many crosses on Mount Calvary, they did not know how to recognize which one was Jesus’, so they decided to take a sick person who, when placed next to Christ, was cured immediately.
Although we cannot know exactly that the relic kept was in contact with Jesus, the investigations were made. carbon 14 tests that determined that this piece was over 2000 years old.
Shroud of Turin
In Turin we can appreciate the shroud that never ceases to amaze all those who come to see it because of its AB sign human blood stains and the shadow-like stains that reveal the shape of a corpse. According to the studies that try to explain the reason for this footprint, it is identified that the deceased person died vertically, with flagellation marks and also some head injuries, which could be easily identified with the death of christ.
The Shroud can be described as the most important relic of all, since it reflects the hope of Christians that their god has been wrapped in it and has left traces of his blood impregnated. In addition, this object is a testimony to history.
The Shroud of Turin, or the Shroud or Holy Shroud, as it is also known, measures 436 CM x 113 cm. Such is its importance that the chapel where it is located was built with the sole and firm purpose of keeping the relic.
Do you know why Ash Wednesday is celebrated?
Shroud of Oviedo
Tradition has it that the Shroud found in the cathedral of Oviedo This is the shroud that held the head of Christ as he descended from the cross. From the studies that have been done on this Shroud, it is explained that there are also group AB blood stains in addition to pollen typical of a typical plant of the 1st century Palestinewhich also used to be used when a person was buried.
The stains found also verify that a dead person is found vertically, that he had long hair as well as a mustache and beard, explaining that it is possible that it is the shroud placed on the head of a crucified person, who wore a crown of thorns and He had pulmonary flooding. All these data correspond to the death of Christ. In addition, experts say that the marks fit with those found on the Shroud of Turin.
The Shroud of Oviedo is also known as the Oviedo Scarf and measures 83 x 53 centimeters. It can be visited, but only on some important dates such as Good Friday, September 14 and also the day of the Apostle Saint Matthew, September 21.
Other relics of the Passion
Apart from these sacred relics that we have seen, there are other objects that are considered equally sacred and that are distributed throughout the world attracting the faith of millions of believers. Among these objects we can mention the Columns of the Jerusalem Temple, place where Jesus Christ died. And here we also mention the columns of the veil of the temple, because they say that the temple veil it was torn in two halves when Christ died. These columns of the veil are kept in Rome and, specifically, in the cloister of the Basilica of San Juan de Letrán.
On the other hand, we have the table of the last supper which is preserved in the Basilica of San Juan de la Cruz. While the plate of the Holy Supper is protected in the holy church of Genoa. We also have the towels with which Christ washed the feet of his disciples, in the Basilica of San Juan. Meanwhile he Seat of the Last Supper it is in the chapel of the Sancta Sanctorum in Rome.
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