The relics of saints - we often hear this phrase, but few people think about what it is. Meanwhile, with the veneration of the holy relics, the history of the church's formation is directly connected. The holy righteous and great martyrs have always been an example of a great service to the cause of faith, and after death have become the object of trembling veneration.
What are the relics of saints?
People who are not related to religion do not always know what power is. The word "power" in the literal sense means the remains, what is left of the person after death. The closest related words - to be able, to be able, to power - signify either the possibility to perform some action or a greater force, hence, it seems, we need to start off when we call the remains of the saints the relics. The Great Martyrs received a holy gift in life, a special Divine Power - Grace, could work miracles. This power remained in them even after death.
What are the relics of saints - literally - "remains that can perform an action". Indeed, very often around the relics of saints are miracles. Why? As the Church explains, a righteous person has both a soul and a body sacred, therefore the church reveres relics as a temple, as a repository and source of God's grace, which can be poured out upon anyone who turns to him with prayer.
What do the relics of saints look like?
It is not true that relics are only a body that is not subject to decay. What the relics of saints consist of and what the relics of the saints in Orthodoxy mean-the church explains that the reverence of relics is not related to their incorruption, but only to the divine power present in them, and the absence of only corporeal corruption is not a sign of holiness.
- During the time of Diocletian's persecutions, the martyrs were burned for the faith, they were given to the beasts for tearing, and therefore any remains were considered as believers - bones, ashes, ashes.
- By the emperor Trajan, the holy martyr Ignatius was thrown to pieces by beasts and only the hardest bones remained of him, which were reverently hidden by admirers.
- The PriestMartyr Polycarp was slaughtered by the sword and burned afterwards, but ashes and the remaining bones were carefully carried away by believers, as a sacred gift and pledge of well-being
It would be wrong to say that the relics exist only in the form of scattered bones.
- When the relics of Sergius of Radonezh were recovered, they were imperishable.
- Matrona of Moscow had a saying: "Hold on to my heel, and I will bring you to the kingdom of heaven." At the acquisition of the relics of the Blessed Matron, her heel was untouched by decay.
Only those righteous people are ranked among the saints, on whose graves many miracles are performed, and only after the discovery of the relics one can see in what form they survived. As the Church testifies, many bodies are not touched by decay, but in view of the absence of miracles, these relics are not recognized by saints. When asked how the relics look, you can give such an answer - in a broad sense - it's any remains, in a narrower - the bones of saints.
What are the relics stored in?
What is the "acquisition of relics"? This is the discovery of the remains of the righteous and transferring them to the temple. This process is accompanied by a special ritual, and the relics are placed in a special box called "cancer." If relics are exposed for worship, they are dressed in ceremonial clothes, and the casket, in which the relics lie, is made of precious wood, noble metals, usually in the form of a coffin. It is decorated, covered with beautiful fabrics. On great holidays, the crayfish is taken out of the temple. Small crayfish are called arkans or caskets. There are particles of relics.
What is the difference between the power and the particle?
The ancient Church performed the sacrament of Communion in the catacombs on the relics of the holy righteous. At the end of the VIII century it was established that worship can only be held in the church where there are relics of saints. Since then, antimises have been introduced in the temples - consecrated boards with straight corners, with a small sewn pocket, where a piece of holy relics is placed. Antimins must be in the altar of any Orthodox church.
When the consecration of the church throne is carried out by the bishop, there must also be holy relics. They are located in a special box under the throne. This means that all worship services are performed with the direct presence of saints. What is a particle of the relics of a saint is a part separated from larger ones. The phenomenon of particles of relics is that it does not matter what size a part - both large and small, they equally carry within them the Grace, which is filled with the righteous. In order to share the relics, so that as many people as possible can touch the Divine Power.
What does it mean - the relics of myrrh?
Mirotochenie known for a long time. There is a fierce debate - what is the remnant of the relics. It is a liquid that appears in an unknown way on the shrines. Sometimes it is transparent, dense, like resin or liquid, like a tear. Can smell, it is curative. Analyzes conducted in laboratories show that the world is of organic origin. At present, the myrrh-streaming of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Myrrh-Streaming Heads - skulls of nameless Orthodox saints. Scientists can not yet explain the phenomenon of Myrrh-Streaming Chapters.
Why worship the relics?
The church claims that Jesus was resurrected both spiritually and bodily. Therefore, not only the soul, but also the body is sanctified. It becomes the carrier of Divine Grace and spreads this Grace around. Traditions of worship relics for many years. The Seventh Ecumenical Council directly says that such relics are saving springs, pouring out on worthy of the power of God through Christ, which dwells in them. The answer to the question - why to apply to the relics of saints is simple - by touching the sacred objects, we are attached to the Divine Grace.
How correctly to apply to the relics of saints?
People apply to holy relics for various reasons, someone is seeking healing, someone just wants to touch the shrine. In any case, people hope for help, support. There is a kind of instruction how to be applied to the relics of saints.
- When approaching the shrine you need to bow twice, you can make an earthly bow. You can never detain people, therefore, before bowing, you need to make sure that there is no queue.
- Women should be without makeup.
- After a bow, you can cross and touch the cancer.
- Read the prayer, turn to the saint. You can ask for advice, tell about your trouble, touching the holy object - this is another way to turn to God.
- Once again, make the sign of the cross, bow and move away.
What should I ask of the relics?
People often resort to the help of saints. There are always diseases and suffering on earth. Even a rich man who lives in luxury, without knowing hunger, is mortal, subject to depression and fear. Where to find protection and comfort, if around the same people with their own fears. In the church, a person can receive comfort, help in his spiritual poverty, strengthening in virtue. Why the relics of the saints are needed - there is a grace in them that they share with us, for the dead saints heal and drive out our demons. Touching the holy relics, we are directly in touch with the Divine power.