Relics?

Suzannah · Jan 21, 2004

I am very curious about them. Do Orthodox venerate relics? Does every Orthodox church have a relic? If yours does, what is it?

I think they are fascinating. I am reading a book about the lives of the Apostles, and in each bio, they attempt to give a good description of which relics exist and where they are currently kept.
I find it a fascinating thing. As a simple, ordinary every day Christian, if I were to come across a church that had, the walking stick of the Apostle Peter, I would probably just want to touch it, and hold it, and try to imagine what Peter would have to say to me in the way of advice for my life. I wouldn't worship it or anything, but it would be a wonderful experience! Do you agree or disagree? What are your thoughts?

Orthodox Andrew · Jan 21, 2004

Suzannah said:
I am very curious about them. Do Orthodox venerate relics? Does every Orthodox church have a relic? If yours does, what is it?

I think they are fascinating. I am reading a book about the lives of the Apostles, and in each bio, they attempt to give a good description of which relics exist and where they are currently kept.
I find it a fascinating thing. As a simple, ordinary every day Christian, if I were to come across a church that had, the walking stick of the Apostle Peter, I would probably just want to touch it, and hold it, and try to imagine what Peter would have to say to me in the way of advice for my life. I wouldn't worship it or anything, but it would be a wonderful experience! Do you agree or disagree? What are your thoughts?

Yes we do venerate the relics of Saints. If you're interested in seeing some pictures of relics and other Holy things, check out this site... http://www.orthodoxphotos.com/

Reader Nilus · Jan 21, 2004

Yes in fact every parish has relics. Sewn into the antimension is a relic, without an antimension there can be no celebration of a Divine Liturgy. Ask your priest what is the relic in his antimension.
Jeff the Finn

Suzannah · Jan 21, 2004

Andreas, thank you! I enjoyed the pictures and downloaded the screensaver of OurLord.

Jeff,
Please tell me : what is an antimension???? I don't understand what that is, so I am not properly understanding what you're saying?

Orthodox Andrew · Jan 21, 2004

jeffthefinn said:
Yes in fact every parish has relics. Sewn into the antimension is a relic, without an antimension there can be no celebration of a Divine Liturgy. Ask your priest what is the relic in his antimension.
Jeff the Finn

Every single Orthodox Church in the world has one? Wow!

Reader Nilus · Jan 21, 2004

Suzannah said:
Andreas, thank you! I enjoyed the pictures and downloaded the screensaver of OurLord.

Jeff,
Please tell me : what is an antimension???? I don't understand what that is, so I am not properly understanding what you're saying?

An antimension is pictured above, it is given to a parish or mission by the Bishop for celebration of the Divine Liturgy, without one a priest can not celebrate it.
Jeff the Finn

Suzannah · Jan 21, 2004

So the antimension is in the hands of the parish, not necessarily the actual church Iam attending? And the antimension is the cloth that "protects" the relic? How wonderful if so! What is your parish antimension and relic?
Please tell me? I am so interested in this aspect of Orthodoxy only because I want to imitate Christ and the lives of the Saints.

Reader Nilus · Jan 21, 2004

The antimension is placed on the table in the altar when the Euchrist is celebrated. Our parish's antimension has a relic of St Barbara in it. Also on the antimension is the signature of the Bishop, which is the authorization of the Bishop for the priest to celebrate. In Orthodoxy the head of the parish is the Bishop, a priest is acting in his stead.
Jeff the Finn

Suzannah · Jan 21, 2004

jeffthefinn said:
The antimension is placed on the table in the altar when the Euchrist is celebrated. Our parish's antimension has a relic of St Barbara in it. Also on the antimension is the signature of the Bishop, which is the authorization of the Bishop for the priest to celebrate. In Orthodoxy the head of the parish is the Bishop, a priest is acting in his stead.
Jeff the Finn

O I C!!!! I'm sorry that I misunderstood you ! I see it now. I will ask the priest about it.

He has, incidentally, been very, very kind to me. His name is Father James. I went to Vespers tonight, in much emotional turmoil over a personal issue, and during the service he came over to where I was standing, took my hand and physically showed me how to make the "cross" and then afterward, stood next to me and invited me to "read". It was my first experience with chanting and I enjoyed it very much! I also felt honored by that opportunity. There were only three people in the chapel so maybe that gave me extra courage. If there were more, I would have felt very much out of place. I stayed afterward for the ongoing catechumen class. I asked a couple questions and he answered them with thoughtfulness, and much kindness to me personally, for even having the guts to admit my questions! He is a very kind and holy man. That much is very clear. I felt much better after!
Not sure how that fits in this thread, but wanted to share it...

Suzannah · Jan 21, 2004

I'm sorry for the double post. My computer burped.Or maybe it was just me!

prodromos · Jan 21, 2004

Dear Suzannah,

I posted a rather poorly described historical account of why we have the relic in the antimension (and why Catholics have it in the altar) in the thread you started in OBOB.

Our church is blessed to have a relic of Saint Nektarios of Aegina (along with Saint Silouanos, Saint Arsenios of Cappadocia and Saint Papa Nikolas Planas). When Saint Nektarios died, his body remained incorrupt for twenty years. Each time they opened his grave they found him exactly as if he had just been buried, except that his fingernails continued to grow and his body gave off a powerful sweet aroma. After twenty years though, they found that his flesh had dissolved and only his bones remained. One woman who was devoted to the saint was in despair when she learned that his body had not continued to remain incorrupt and she asked God again and again why He had allowed this to happen. She was answered by Saint Nektarios himself in a dream she had. He explained that it was his own wish that his body not remain incorrupt, so that his relics would be able to be distributed to churches all over the world

Thessaloniki (where I live) is home to the relics of Saint Demetrios the Myrrh Gusher, whose relics have continued to produce a strong sweet smelling fragrant oil for centuries. We have some cotton wool soaked in his myrrh from over two years ago and it still smells as strong as ever

Praise God for glorifying his saints!

John.

ChoirDir · Jan 21, 2004

It should also be noted that when the altar table is consecrated a relic is usually put inside the altar table. I remember the consecration service from my old parish. We had in addition to the parish priest serving, Metropolitan Theodocius, Bishop Peter and Bishop Job from the OCA. It was an absolutely wonderful service.

Suzannah · Jan 21, 2004

Thank you all so much for your replies! I understand much better now, what I am reading!

Matrona · Jan 21, 2004

I don't know what my church's relics are, but I do know that my friend's dad (who is an Orthodox priest) has one of St. Catherine's rings. I've never seen it, though.

I have to admit, relics were one thing that kind of freaked me out when I was a catechumen. Where everyone else seemed very comfortable and reverent around them, I couldn't help but think, "Aaaack! Dead people! I can't deal with that!" I'd always kind of been taught to be afraid of anyone and anything dead so I was highly uncomfortable the first time I realized that every Orthodox church and every antimension has relics in it. But with my conversion to Orthodoxy came a new understanding about death, and with that a new understanding of relics.

I still have a tough time with open-casket funerals, but I'm working on it.

nicodemus · Jan 21, 2004

There is Scriptural support for relics. In the New Testament there are references to people being healed by cloths touched by the apostles and one person being healed by passing through a shadow of an apostle. I can't remember exactly where, but I can tell you tomorrow (I think it is in Acts.)

This book deals excellently with relics and several other "controversial" topics relating to Orthodoxy.

Here's the link to buy the book. I can't recommend it enough.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/9608677807/qid=1074704475/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-0456654-8858343?v=glance&s=books

cjfile2000 · Feb 20, 2004

prodromos said:
Dear Suzannah,

I posted a rather poorly described historical account of why we have the relic in the antimension (and why Catholics have it in the altar) in the thread you started in OBOB.

Our church is blessed to have a relic of Saint Nektarios of Aegina (along with Saint Silouanos, Saint Arsenios of Cappadocia and Saint Papa Nikolas Planas). When Saint Nektarios died, his body remained incorrupt for twenty years. Each time they opened his grave they found him exactly as if he had just been buried, except that his fingernails continued to grow and his body gave off a powerful sweet aroma. After twenty years though, they found that his flesh had dissolved and only his bones remained. One woman who was devoted to the saint was in despair when she learned that his body had not continued to remain incorrupt and she asked God again and again why He had allowed this to happen. She was answered by Saint Nektarios himself in a dream she had. He explained that it was his own wish that his body not remain incorrupt, so that his relics would be able to be distributed to churches all over the world

Thessaloniki (where I live) is home to the relics of Saint Demetrios the Myrrh Gusher, whose relics have continued to produce a strong sweet smelling fragrant oil for centuries. We have some cotton wool soaked in his myrrh from over two years ago and it still smells as strong as ever

Praise God for glorifying his saints!

John.

cjfile2000 · Feb 20, 2004

Dear John- In 2000,Gerontissa Agathi of Meteora sent me a little of this sacred myrrh-has there been any flowing of the myrrh from his sacred relics since 1999? With love in Christ,John File USA.

Oblio · Feb 20, 2004

Welcome to CF and TAW John

Photini · Feb 20, 2004

I don't know what relic(s) my parish has. My sister's parish has a relic of St. Patrick. Somebody also gave my sister and her husband a relic for their baby...it's a little thread from the vestments of St Raphael of Brooklyn.

brewmama · Feb 20, 2004

My church has the relics of St Vitalis, presented to us by Bishop Basil .

Info on St. Vitalis http://www.abcgallery.com/saints/vitalis.html

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