The beginnings of the cult of relics / Robert Wiśniewski.

First edition.

9780191817601 (electronic book)

Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2019.

English

1 online resource : illustrations.

BX2315

235.2

Christians have often admired and venerated martyrs who died for their faith, but for long time thought that the bodies of martyrs should remain undisturbed in their graves. Initially, Christian attitude toward the bones of the dead, saint or not, was that of respectful distance. This text examines how this changed in the mid-fourth century. Robert Wiśniewski investigates how Christians began to believe in power of relics, first, over demons, then over physical diseases and enemies. He considers how they sought to reveal hidden knowledge at the tombs of saints and why they buried the death close to them.

Christians have often admired and venerated martyrs who died for their faith, but for long time thought that the bodies of martyrs should remain undisturbed in their graves. Initially, Christian attitude toward the bones of the dead, saint or not, was that of respectful distance. This text examines how this changed in the mid-fourth century. Robert Wiśniewski investigates how Christians began to believe in power of relics, first, over demons, then over physical diseases and enemies. He considers how they sought to reveal hidden knowledge at the tombs of saints and why they buried the death close to them.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Access limited to authorized users.

Description based on online resource; title from home page (viewed on January 14, 2019).

Oxford scholarship online.

Print version: 9780199675562

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