Ampulla eulogia cu reprezentările Sf. Dimitrie și Sf. Teodora de Tesalonic
Ampulla eulogia featuring depictions of St. Demetrius and St. Theodora of Thessaloniki

Summary/Abstract: Amulets, talismans, phylacteries, and spoken or material blessings—associated with life, death, health, prosperity, and protection—have been widespread elements across cultures and religions. Women already wore such protective objects in biblical times (Isaiah 3:20). Even when limited to the Old Testament tradition and its continuation in early Christianity, the topic remains vast, allowing here only an introductory point of departure. No civilization or religious tradition has ever reached a level of security that eliminated the desire for protection from forces beyond the natural order. This longing often transcended confessional boundaries, leading to the adoption of practices and objects from other cultures, sometimes contested by coreligionists. The contemporary abundance of such items reflects a persistent human need to seek divine or supernatural connection—beyond formal ritual—intertwined with the desire for personal advantage in life’s struggles. In early Christianity, material supports of protection took the form of phylacteries inherited from Judaism, initially consisting of short biblical verses worn continuously. While ancient Jews expressed blessing verbally as an invocation of good, Christians expanded the concept to include blessed objects—such as bread—and exchanged gifts that gradually formed a rich inventory. Over time, these objects acquired new meanings derived from contact with holiness and, eventually, from embodying holiness itself.

• Details
• Contents