During the Saint's canonization in 1083, his body was exhumed and historical accounts report that his right hand remained intact while the rest of his body had decomposed. Recognizing its significance, the hand was detached and preserved as a cherished relic. Every year on August 20, St. Stephen's Day in Hungary, the hand is respectfully removed from its resting place and paraded around the city in commemoration of the saint.

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The tongue of Saint Anthony -

Saint Anthony of Padua passed away in 1231. On later exhumation, it was discovered his tongue, jaw, and vocal cords had not decomposed. This miracle was attributed to his exceptional speaking abilities.

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The tongue of Saint Anthony -

The tongue, along with other body parts, remains in Padua to this day. This illustration portrays the reliquary housing the preserved tongue of Saint Anthony.

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The tongue of Saint Anthony -

These relics are actually taken on tour. This gold statuette contains the tongue, vocal cards, and floating rib of Saint Anthony as it visits Saint Mary's Basilica in Secunderabad, India.

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The skull of Saint Valentine -

For a non-traditional Valentine's Day, consider visiting the Basilica di Santa Maria in Cosmedin, Rome. There you can pay homage to the saint's skull. Who says romance is dead?

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The skull of Saint Valentine -

However, it's unclear whether this skull is truly that of the patron saint of lovers. Numerous churches assert their possession of the saint's relics.

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Saint Clare of Assisi -

Saint Clare, who was a follower of Francis of Assisi, later established the Order of Poor Ladies. She's recognized as the patron saint of televisions and computer screens.

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Saint Clare of Assisi -

Renowned for her lovely hair, it's also preserved at the Basilica di Santa Chiara in Assisi, Italy, along with her other physical relics.

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Hairs of Muhammad's beard -

The Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, Turkey houses a glass reliquary that holds hairs from Muhammad's beard. These hairs were said to be cut by his barber, Salman the Persian, after his death.

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The blood of Saint Januarius -

Januarius, a former bishop, died around 305 CE. He was recognized as a martyr and revered as a saint in both the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches.

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The blood of Saint Januarius -

Januarius' ancient blood is said to turn liquid when it's placed near his skull; a ritual that is still performed to this day.

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The blood of Saint Januarius -

The solid blood is also said to liquify on other occasions, such as when the Pope visited Naples.

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Muhammad's footprint -

In addition to the relic of Prophet Muhammad's beard, his footprint is also preserved in the Muslim world.

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Muhammad's footprint -

Muhammad's footprints are present at the previously mentioned Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, Turkey, as well as the Shrine of the Holy Footprint in Delhi, India, and the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem.

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The heart of Saint Camillus -

Camillus de Lellis, a respected Roman Catholic priest, devoted himself to the care of the sick and established the religious order of the Camillians. He earned sainthood in 1746 and was designated as the patron saint for the sick and those in the medical field.

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The heart of Saint Camillus -

The heart of Saint Camillus, known for his immense generosity, was carefully preserved after his passing. This precious relic is currently housed at the generalate house of the Camillian religious order, but it has also toured other countries, including the Philippines.

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Saint Catherine of Siena -

Saint Catherine of Siena experienced visions of Jesus during her childhood. In 1461, she was canonized and today her head is displayed at Saint Dominic's Basilica in Siena, Italy.

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Saint Catherine of Siena -

Saint Catherine of Siena's hand is also exhibited at the Basilica, in addition to her head, in case that's not sufficient.

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The Mandylion -

The Shroud of Turin is a piece of fabric made of linen that displays a man's negative image (where it is dark, it should be bright). This man is thought to be Jesus, and it is said to have served as his burial cloth. However, prior to the Shroud, there existed the Mandylion, which is also referred to as the Image of Edessa.

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The Mandylion -

The Mandylion is a cloth containing the imprint of Jesus' face, regarded as the oldest representation of Christ worldwide.

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The Mandylion -

The Mandylion is currently housed in the Redemptoris Mater Chapel, previously known as the Matilde Chapel, within the Vatican Palace.

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The milk of the Virgin Mary -

The milk of the Virgin Mary is believed to have remarkable properties, stemming from its association with the son of God. It's associated with a miracle that took place in the 12th century.

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The milk of the Virgin Mary -

According to legend, the Virgin Mary allegedly appeared to a monk named Bernard of Clairvaux and miraculously healed his eye infection by sprinkling milk into his mouth. The event, known as the Lactation of Saint Bernard, also bestowed wisdom upon him.

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The milk of Virgin Mary -

If you can't go back to the 12th century and witness the miracle yourself, you can still go to the Milk Grotto near Bethlehem. Legend has it that this is the place where Our Lady spilled a drop of milk, miraculously turning the stone white.

Source: (Grunge)

Sacred relics from around the world

Ever wondered about the prophet's hair and miracle milk?

05/12/24 | StarsInsider

LIFESTYLE Spirituality

Often regarded as sacred and/or believed to possess extraordinary qualities, over the centuries numerous religious relics have been preserved. These relics are highly valued and revered. Can you imagine a tooth that continues to grow or blood that has remained liquid for 1700 years? As incredible as that might sound, the Holy Right (the right hand of St. Stephen) displayed in Budapest, and Saint Catherine of Siena's head, shown in Siena, Italy, are examples of such oddities.

Intrigued? Click through the gallery to learn about fascinating religious relics, from around the world.