Sfințenia de dincolo de moarte. Venerarea moaștelor între credință, minuni, comerț și relicvarii
Holiness beyond Death. Worshiping Relics in terms of Faith, Miracles, Trade and Reliquaries

Summary/Abstract: In the Christian world, the worship of relics dates back to the second century of the Christian era. The veneration of the earthly remains of the saints, considered lucky and having healing powers, came to occupy a very important place in the culture of saints’ worship. The relics retained all the prerogatives of the holy bodies of which they were a part, having the great power to heal the sick, to protect the communities from epidemics and invasions, to bring good fortune and prosperity. Moreover, people believed that the remains of the saints had unsuspected powers, including the power to secure the connection between the world of the living and the heavenly world, in which God reigns and judges. Relics were found to be the solution for almost every problem. As a form of popular devotion, the worship of relics has occupied an extremely important place in the history of Christianity, its evolution being long-lasting and allowing the analysis of the most intimate feelings of the members of the Christian community. One may state that this cult of relics is one of the most amazing and striking aspects of medieval religious life.

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