Editing Relics associated with Jesus

{{Short description|None}}
{{Jesus}}
A number of alleged '''relics associated with Jesus''' have been displayed throughout the history of Christianity. While some individuals believe in the authenticity of Jesus [[relic]]s, others doubt their validity. For instance, the sixteenth-century philosopher [[Erasmus]] wrote about the proliferation of relics, and the number of buildings that could be constructed from wooden relics claimed to be from the [[crucifixion of Jesus|crucifixion cross of Jesus]].<ref>{{harvnb|Dillenberger|1999|p=5}}</ref> Similarly, at least thirty [[Holy Nail]]s were venerated as relics across Europe in the early 20th century.<ref name="HN">{{CathEncy|wstitle =Holy Nails|title=Holy Nails|first= Herbert|last=Thurston}}</ref> Part of the relics are included in the so-called {{lang|la|[[Arma Christi]]}} ("Weapons of Christ"), or the Instruments of the Passion.

Some relics, such as remnants of the [[crown of thorns]], receive only a modest number of pilgrims, while others, such as the [[Shroud of Turin]], receive millions of pilgrims, including [[Pope John Paul II]], [[Pope Benedict XVI]], and [[Pope Francis]].<ref>{{citation|last=Pope John Paul II|author-link=Pope John Paul II|title=Pope John Paul II's address in Turin Cathedral|url=https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/travels/documents/hf_jp-ii_spe_24051998_sindone_en.html|publisher=Holy See|date=1998-05-24}}</ref>

As Christian teaching generally states that [[Ascension of Jesus|Christ was assumed into heaven corporeally]], there are few bodily relics apart from those described as being removed or expelled from Christ's body prior to his ascension, such as the [[Holy Prepuce|Holy Foreskin of Jesus]] or the blood of the [[Sudarium of Oviedo|Oviedo Shroud]].

==The True Cross==
[[File:Accademia - Giambattista tiepolo - Esaltazione della croce, 1740-45 ca.jpg|thumb|Discovery of the True Cross, by [[Giovanni Battista Tiepolo|Tiepolo]], 1745]]

The "[[True Cross]]" refers to the actual cross used in the [[Crucifixion of Jesus]]. Today, many fragments of wood are claimed as True Cross relics, but it is hard to establish their authenticity. The story of the fourth-century discovery of the True Cross was reported in [[Jacobus de Voragine]]'s ''[[The Golden Legend]]'' published in 1260, that included the lore of saints venerated at the time.<ref>Margaret Aston, ''Faith and Fire'' Continuum Publishing, 1993 {{ISBN|1-85285-073-6}} p. 272</ref>

Tradition and legend attribute the discovery of the True Cross to [[Helena, mother of Constantine the Great]] who went to Syria Palaestina during the fourth century in search of relics. [[Eusebius of Caesarea]] was the only contemporary author to write about Helena's journey in his ''Life of Constantine''. But Eusebius did not mention the True Cross, although he dwelt on the piety of Helena and her reporting the site of the [[Holy Sepulchre]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/NPNF2-01/Npnf2-01-29.htm#P7646_3165242|title=NPNF2-01. Eusebius Pamphilius: Church History, Life of Constantine, Oration in Praise of Constantine - Christian Classics Ethereal Library|website=www.ccel.org}}</ref> In the fifth century writings by [[Socrates Scholasticus]], [[Sozomen]] and [[Theodoret]] report on the finding of the True Cross.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Thiede|first1=Carsten Pet|author-link1=Carsten Peter Thiede|last2=d'Ancona|first2=Matthew|author-link2=Matthew d'Ancona|date=2000|title= The quest for the true cross|url=https://archive.org/details/questfortruecros00cars/page/22|location=London|publisher=Weidenfeld & Nicolson|page=22|isbn=9780297842286 }}</ref>

Pieces of the purported [[True Cross]], including half of the [[INRI]] inscription tablet, are preserved at the [[basilica]] [[Santa Croce in Gerusalemme]] in Rome. Other small pieces of the True Cross are reportedly preserved in hundreds of other European churches. The authenticity of the relics and the accuracy of reports of finding the True Cross is not accepted by all Christians.  The belief in the [[Early Christian Church|Early Christian Church tradition]] regarding the True Cross is generally restricted to the Catholic and [[Eastern Orthodox Churches]]. The medieval legends of the True Cross provenance differ between Catholic and Eastern Orthodox tradition. These churches honour Helena as a saint, as does also the [[Anglican Communion]].<ref name=ACCalendar>{{cite web|title=Saint Helena Queen and Widow|url=http://www.anglicancatholic.org/liturgicalcalendars/280|website=anglicancatholic.org|access-date=April 10, 2015}}</ref>

=={{Transliteration|grc|Acheiropoieta}}==
A number of {{Transliteration|grc|[[acheiropoieta]]}} ({{lit|made without hand}}; icons not made by hand) images reported to be of the face or body of Jesus impressed on cloth have been displayed. In many cases these images are subject to intense debate and speculation. Although devotions to the face of Jesus are practiced, the term "[[Holy Face of Jesus]]" relates to the specific devotions approved by Pope [[Leo XIII]] in 1895 and Pope [[Pius XII]] in 1958 for the image from the [[Shroud of Turin]].<ref>{{harvnb|Cruz|2003|p=200}}</ref>

=== Shroud of Turin ===
{{Main|Shroud of Turin}}
[[Image:Shroud positive negative compare.jpg|thumb|240px|A photo of the [[Shroud of Turin]] face, positive left, negative on the right, having been contrast enhanced|alt=]]

The [[Shroud of Turin]] is the best-known and most intensively studied relic of Jesus.<ref>"The Shroud of Turin is the single, most studied artifact in human history" statement considered as "widely accepted" in Lloyd A Currie, ''[http://nvl.nist.gov/pub/nistpubs/jres/109/2/j92cur.pdf The Remarkable Metrological History of Radiocarbon Dating {{bracket|II}}] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206195414/http://nvl.nist.gov/pub/nistpubs/jres/109/2/j92cur.pdf |date=2010-12-06 }}'', ''J. Res. Natl. Inst. Stand. Technol.'' 109, 2004, p. 200.</ref>

The origin is still highly debated, with some modern research believing the relic is original. In 1988, [[radiocarbon dating]] determined that the shroud was from the [[Middle Ages]], between the years 1260 and 1390.<ref name="'Turin Nature">{{cite journal |last1=Damon |first1=P. E. |last2=Donahue |first2=D. J. |last3=Gore |first3=B. H. |last4=Hatheway |first4=A. L. |last5=Jull |first5=A. J. T. |last6=Linick |first6=T. W. |last7=Sercel |first7=P. J. |last8=Toolin |first8=L. J. |last9=Bronk |first9=C. R.|last10=Hall|first10=E. T. |last11=Hedges |first11=R. E. M. |last12=Housley |first12=R. |last13=Law |first13=I. A. |last14=Perry |first14=C. |last15=Bonani |first15=G. |last16=Trumbore |first16=S. |author16-link=Susan Trumbore |last17=Woelfli |first17=W. |last18=Ambers |first18=J. C. |last19=Bowman |first19=S. G. E.|last20=Leese|first20=M. N. |last21=Tite |first21=M. S. |s2cid=27686437 |title=Radiocarbon dating of the Shroud of Turin |journal=Nature |date=16 February 1989 |volume=337 |issue=6208 |pages=611–615 |doi=10.1038/337611a0 |bibcode=1989Natur.337..611D |url=https://escholarship.org/content/qt6x77r7m1/qt6x77r7m1.pdf?t=nus03r}}</ref>

=== Sudarium of Oviedo ===
[[File:Santo Sudario Oviedo.jpg|thumb|260px|The Sudarium of Oviedo]]
The [[Sudarium of Oviedo]] is a bloodstained cloth, measuring {{cvt|84 × 53|cm}}, curated in the [[Cámara Santa, Oviedo|Cámara Santa]] of the [[Cathedral of San Salvador (Oviedo)|Cathedral of San Salvador]], [[Oviedo]], Spain.<ref>Michael McDonnell (2007). ''Lost Treasures of the Bible''. {{ISBN|1-84753-316-7}}. page 31.</ref> The Sudarium ([[Latin]] for "sweat cloth") is purportedly the cloth wrapped around the head of [[Jesus Christ]] after he died, noted in the [[Gospel of John]] (20:6–7).<ref>{{Bibleverse|John|20:6–7|NIV}}</ref>

The Sudarium is soiled and crumpled, with dark flecks that are symmetrically arranged but do not form an image as with the Shroud of Turin. Proponents for the relic's authenticity, such as Vatican archivist Msgr Giulio Ricci,<ref>{{harvnb|Ruffin|1999|p=47}}</ref> contend that both cloths covered the same man.

===Image of Edessa===
[[Image:Holy Face - Genoa.jpg|thumb|The Holy Face of Genoa|alt=]]
The [[Image of Edessa]] is also known as the Mandylion. Two images are claimed to be the Mandylion: the Holy Face of Genoa at the [[San Bartolomeo degli Armeni|Church of St. Bartholomew of The Armenians]] in [[Genoa]] and the Holy Face of San Silvestro, curated in the Church of [[San Silvestro in Capite]] in Rome until 1870, and now in the Matilda Chapel of the [[Vatican Palace]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Houlden|2003|loc=vol. 2, p. 66}}</ref> That the Mandylion is in fact the [[Shroud of Turin]] is the subject of debate.<ref>{{Harvnb|Wilson|1991}}</ref>

===Veil of Veronica===
The [[Veil of Veronica]], used to wipe the sweat from Jesus' brow as he carried the cross, is claimed to bear the likeness of the face of Christ. Today, several relics are claimed to be the Veil of Veronica, with several age-old copies also being venerated.

====Rome====
An image kept in [[Saint Peter's Basilica]] in Rome since the 14th century is purported to be the Veil of Veronica revered in the Middle Ages. The most detailed recorded inspection in the 20th century occurred in 1907 when Jesuit art historian [[Joseph Wilpert]] inspected the image.{{sfnp|Nickell|2007|p=75}}

The [[Hofburg Palace]] in Vienna has a copy of the Veil of Veronica, identified by the 1617 AD signature of the secretary of [[Pope Paul V]], during whose reign a series of six copies of the veil were made.<ref>{{Harvnb|Wilson|1991|p=157}}</ref>

====Alicante====
The image at the Monastery of the Holy Face in [[Alicante]], Spain was acquired by [[Pope Nicholas V]] from relatives of the Byzantine Emperor in 1453 and placed in Alicante in 1489.{{citation needed|date=September 2012}}

====Siena====
The [[Jaén Cathedral]] in Spain has a copy of the Veronica which probably dates from 14th century Siena, known as the {{lang|es|Santo Rostro}} and acquired by Bishop Nicholas de Biedma.<ref>{{Harvnb |Wilson|1991| p=94}}</ref>

====Manoppello====
In 1999, Father Heinnrich Pfeiffer announced at a press conference in [[Rome]] that he had found the Veil in the [[Order of Friars Minor Capuchin|Capuchin]] monastery in the village of [[Manoppello, Italy]], where it had been since 1660.<ref name="Ian Wilson page 161">Ian Wilson, ''Holy Faces, Secret Places'', page 161</ref> This Veil is discussed in Paul Badde's 2010 book ''The Face of God''.<ref>The Face of God: The Rediscovery of the True Face of Jesus, Igantius Press, Paul Badde, 2010.</ref> Characteristics evidenced during 3D processing of the Manoppello Image have been reported.<ref>[http://www.shroud.com/pdfs/jaworski.pdf] J. Jaworski, G. Fanti 3-D PROCESSING TO EVIDENCE CHARACTERISTICS REPRESENTED IN MANOPPELLO VEIL (article)</ref>

====Gallery====
<gallery widths="155px" heights="200px">
File:Vatican Veil of Veronica.jpg|The Vatican Veil of Veronica
Image:Volto-Santo 01.jpg|The Manoppello Image
Image:Manoppello and Turin shroud.jpg|Superposition of the Veil of Manoppello on the negative of the Shroud of Turin
</gallery>

== Other relics ==
===Nativity and childhood===
[[File:Sacra culla.jpg|thumb|Reliquary of the Holy Crib]]

Wooden pieces claimed to be remnants of the manger of the baby Jesus reside in the '''Holy Crib''' reliquary at the Basilica of [[Santa Maria Maggiore]] in Rome.<ref name=AP19/> The relic consists of five narrow pieces of [[Ficus sycomorus|sycamore]] wood, which tradition holds to have been brought from the Holy Land either by [[Helena, mother of Constantine I|Empress Helena]] (see [[Helena, mother of Constantine I#Pilgrimage and relic discoveries|326–328 pilgrimage]]), or in the time of [[Pope Theodore I]] (642–649).<ref name=SA>{{cite journal |last= Longhurst |first= Christopher |title= A Roman Christmas Ritual: Micro-Architecture and the Theatre of the Presepio |journal=[[Duncan G. Stroik#Institute for Sacred Architecture and The Sacred Architecture Journal|Sacred Architecture]] |volume= 16 (Fall 2009) |publisher= The Institute for Sacred Architecture |url= https://www.sacredarchitecture.org/articles/a_roman_christmas_ritual_micro_architecture_and_the_theatre_of_the_presepio |access-date= 24 December 2023}}</ref><ref name=TJC>{{cite encyclopedia |last= Craughwell |first= Thomas J. |title= Holy Manger (first venerated in the fourth or seventh century) |encyclopedia= Saints Preserved: An Encyclopedia of Relics |year= 2011 |pages= 123–124 |publisher=[[Crown Publishing Group]] |isbn= 978-0307590749 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=jQblhT1XtkMC&pg=PA124 |access-date= 24 December 2023}}</ref> In 2019, a fragment of the crib was removed from the Holy Crib reliquary and placed on permanent display at the [[Church of Saint Catherine, Bethlehem|Church of Saint Catherine]] in [[Bethlehem]].<ref name=AP19>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |agency=The Associated Press |title=Relic thought to be from Jesus' manger arrives in Bethlehem |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/religion/relic-thought-be-jesus-manger-arrives-bethlehem-n1093676 |work=nbcnews.com |date=2019-11-30 |access-date=2019-12-01}}</ref>

[[Agiou Pavlou monastery|St. Paul's Monastery]] on [[Mount Athos]] claims to have relics of the '''[[Gifts of the Magi]]''', while in [[Croatia]], [[Dubrovnik]]'s cathedral claims to have the '''[[swaddling clothes]]''' the [[Child Jesus|baby Jesus]] wore during the [[Presentation of Jesus at the Temple|presentation at the Temple]].<ref>{{citation |last=Janekovic-Romer|first=Zdenka|title=Javni rituali u politickom diskursu humanistickog Dubrovnika|url=http://hrcak.srce.hr/file/76971|language=hr|page=78|publisher=Zavod za hrvatsku povijest Filozofskog fakulteta Zagreb - Institute of Croatian history, Faculty of Philosophy Zagreb|year=1996}}</ref>

===The Last Supper===
====Last Supper knife====
The knife used by Jesus during the [[Last Supper]] was also a matter of veneration in the Middle Ages, according to the 12th-century ''Guide for Pilgrims'' to [[Santiago de Compostela]].<ref>{{citation |last= Snoek |first= Godefridus |title= Medieval Piety from Relics to the Eucharist |publisher= E.J. Brill |location= Leiden |year= 1995 |isbn= 978-90-04-10263-7 |page=248 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=vXtHb-OODMkC&pg=PA281}}</ref> According to French traveler Jules-Léonard Belin the knife used by Jesus to slice bread was permanently exhibited in the Logetta of [[St Mark's Campanile]] in Venice.<ref>{{citation |last=Belin|first=Julien-Léonard|title=Le Simplon et l'Italie septentrionale: promenades et pèlerinages|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bOQNAQAAIAAJ&pg=RA1-PA218|language=fr|page=218|publisher=Belin-Leprieur|year=1843}}</ref>

====Holy Chalice (Holy Grail)====
{{Main|Holy Chalice}}

The [[Holy Chalice]] is the container Jesus used at the Last Supper to serve wine ([[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] 26:27–28).<ref>{{Bibleverse|Matthew|26:27–28|NIV}}</ref>

Several Holy Chalice relics are reported in the legend of the [[Holy Grail]], though not part of Catholic tradition.<ref>{{CathEncy| wstitle = Chalice| title =  Chalice|  first =Herbert | last = Thurston}}</ref> Of the existing chalices, only the {{lang|es|Santo Cáliz de Valencia}} (Holy Chalice of the [[Cathedral of Valencia]]) is recognized as a "historical relic" by the Vatican,<ref>{{citation|title=Official website of the Valencia cathedral - The Holy Chalice of the Lord Supper|chapter-url=http://www.catedraldevalencia.es/en/el-santo-caliz_historia.php|chapter=The History of the Holy Chalice }}</ref> although not as the actual chalice used at the Last Supper.<ref>{{Harvnb |Griffin|2001|p=103}}</ref> Though not claiming the relic's authenticity, both [[Pope John Paul II]] and [[Pope Benedict XVI]] have venerated this chalice at the Cathedral of Valencia.<ref>{{citation|title=Pope to Venerate Holy Grail|url=http://www.zenit.org/article-16519?l=english|publisher=Zenit News|date=2006-07-07|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100725102819/http://www.zenit.org/article-16519?l=english|archive-date=2010-07-25}}</ref>

===Crown of Thorns===
{{Main|Crown of thorns}}
[[File:Couronne_d'epines_-_Crown_of_Thorns_Notre_Dame_Paris.jpg|right|thumb|[[Relic]] of the crown of thorns, received by French [[Louis IX of France|King Louis IX]] from [[Baldwin II, Latin Emperor|emperor Baldwin II]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Davisson |first1=Darrell D |title=Medieval Italy: An Encyclopedia |date=2004 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9780415939294 |editor1-last=Kleinhenz |editor1-first=Christopher |volume=1 |location=Abingdon, England |page=955}}</ref> It was preserved at [[Notre-Dame de Paris]] until April 2019, when it was moved to the Louvre following [[Notre-Dame fire|a fire]].]]
The relics of [[Passion (Christianity)|the Passion]] presented at [[Notre-Dame de Paris|Notre-Dame Cathedral]] in [[Paris]] include a piece of the True Cross from Rome as delivered by Helena, along with a Holy Nail and the Crown of Thorns.  The [[Gospel of John]] tells that, in the night between Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, Roman soldiers mocked Jesus by placing a thorny crown on his head (John 19:12).<ref>{{bibleverse|John|19:12|NIV}}</ref> The crown is a circle of cane bundled together and held by gold threads. The thorns were attached to this braided circle, which measured {{cvt|21|cm}} in diameter. The seventy thorns were reportedly divided up between the Byzantine emperors and the Kings of France.

The accounts of pilgrims to Jerusalem report the Crown of Thorns. In 409, Paulinus of Nola states the Crown was kept in the basilica on Mount Zion in Jerusalem. In 570, Anthony the Martyr reports the Crown of Thorns in the Basilica of Zion. Around 575, Cassiodorus wrote, "Jerusalem has the Column, here, there is the Crown of Thorns!" Between the 7th and the 10th centuries, the Crown of Thorns was moved to the Byzantine emperors' chapel in Constantinople for safekeeping. In 1238, the Latin Emperor [[Baldwin II of Constantinople]] pawned the relics for credit to a Venetian bank.

[[Louis IX of France|Louis IX]], the king of France redeemed the Crown from the Venetian Bank. On 10 August 1239, the king deposited 29 relics in [[Villeneuve-l'Archevêque]]. On 19 August 1239, the relics arrived in Paris. Wearing a simple tunic and with bare feet, the King placed the Crown of Thorns and other relics in the palace chapel in a structure he commissioned. During the French revolution, the relics were stored in the National Library. After the Concordat in 1801, the relics were given to the archbishop of Paris who placed them in the Cathedral treasury on 10 August 1806. Since then, these relics have been conserved by the canons of the Metropolitan Basilica Chapter, who are in charge of venerations, and guarded by the Knights of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. Napoleon I and Napoleon III each offered reliquaries for the crown of thorns. They were on display at Notre-Dame Cathedral during scheduled religious ceremonies, until a serious fire struck the cathedral on 15 April 2019.<ref>[http://www.notredamedeparis.fr/Veneration-of-the-Crown-of-Thorns Notre Dame de Paris - Veneration of the Crown] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101028110046/http://www.notredamedeparis.fr/Veneration-of-the-Crown-of-Thorns |date=2010-10-28 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/04/16/notre-dame-cathedral-art-relics-saved-fire-firefighters-crown-of-thorns-paris/3485917002/|title=Notre Dame fire: Paris Fire Brigade chaplain braved the blaze to rescue cathedral treasures|website=[[USA Today]] |date=2019-04-17}}</ref>

===Crucifixion===
[[File:Heiliger Nagel 1.jpg|thumb|Relic with a [[holy nail]] at the [[Bamberg Cathedral]]|alt=|374x374px]]

Many relics currently displayed result from the journey of [[Helena (empress)|Helena]], the mother of [[Constantine the Great]], to [[Syria Palaestina]] in the 4th century.{{citation needed|date=September 2012}} The authenticity of many of these relics is questioned. For instance, the [[Holy Nails]] brought back by Helena, some believe the ''[[Catholic Encyclopedia]]'' notes are problematic based on the number of claimed relics:<ref name="HN" />

{{blockquote|Very little reliance can be placed upon the authenticity of the thirty or more holy nails which are still venerated, or which have been venerated until recent times, in such treasuries as that of Santa Croce in Rome, or those of Venice, Aachen, Escurial, Nuremberg, Prague, etc. Probably the majority began by professing to be facsimiles which had touched or contained filings from some other nail whose claim was more ancient.}}

The [[Scala Sancta]], the stairs from [[Pontius Pilate]]'s praetorium, ascended by Jesus during his trial, were brought to Rome by [[Helena of Constantinople]] in the 4th century according to tradition.{{sfnp|Nickell|2007|p=96}}

The [[Basilica of the Holy Blood]] in [[Bruges]], [[Belgium]], claims a specimen of Christ's blood on a cloth in a [[phial]], given by [[Thierry of Alsace]] after the 12th century.{{sfnp|Nickell|2007|p=169}}

Other claimed relics, based on the [[Crucifixion of Christ]] include:

* The [[Holy Coat]]: The possession of the seamless garment of Christ ({{langx|la|tunica inconsultilis}}; John 19:23),<ref>{{Bibleverse|John|19:23|NIV}}</ref> for which the soldiers cast lots at the Crucifixion, is claimed by the cathedral of [[Trier]], Germany, and by the parish church of [[Argenteuil]], France. The Argenteuil church claims that their Holy Coat was brought by [[Charlemagne]].{{sfnp|Nickell|2007|p=104}}
* The crucifixion site called Golgotha, is in the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]] in Jerusalem. Inside the church the crucifixion site consists of a pile of rock about {{convert|7|m|ft}} long by {{convert|3|m|ft}} wide by {{convert|4.8|m|ft}}.{{citation needed|date=September 2012}}
* The [[Iron Crown of Lombardy]] and [[Bridle of Constantine]] are reported to be made from the Holy Nails.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Holy Nails |url=https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10672a.htm |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=www.newadvent.org}}</ref>
* The [[Holy Lance]] is the spear used by the Roman soldier [[Longinus (hagiography)|Longinus]] to pierce Jesus' side when he was on the cross.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Holy Lance {{!}} History, Relic, Legend, & Authenticity {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Holy-Lance |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>
* The [[Holy Sponge]] is claimed by numerous holders, including the church [[Santa Croce in Gerusalemme]] in Rome.
* The Column of the Flagellation, which Jesus was tied to during the [[Flagellation of Christ]], is reportedly in the [[Basilica di Santa Prassede|Basilica of Saint Praxedes]] in Rome.

===Bodily relics===
{{further|Relic of the Holy Blood}}
Christian teaching states that [[Ascension of Jesus|Christ ascended into heaven corporeally]]. Therefore, the only parts of his body available for [[veneration]] are those obtained prior to the Ascension. At various points in history, a number of churches in Europe have claimed to possess the [[Holy Prepuce]], Jesus' [[foreskin]] from his [[Circumcision of Jesus|Circumcision]]; tears shed by Christ when mourning Lazarus; the blood of Christ shed during the crucifixion; a milk tooth that fell out of the mouth of Jesus at the age of 9; beard hair, head hair, Christ's nails.<ref>[[Jacques Collin de Plancy|Jacques Albin Simon Collin de Plancy]]. [https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File%3ADictionnaire_critique_des_reliques_et_des_images_miraculeuses%2C_T2.pdf&page=53 Dictionnaire critique des reliques et des images miraculeuses, T. 2. 1827. / Jésus-Christ /  P. 43-80.]</ref><ref>[[Émile Nourry|P. Saintyves]]. [https://archive.org/details/lesreliquesetles00sain/page/106/mode/2up Les reliques et les images légendaires. — Paris: Mercure de France, 1912. — / Les reliques corporelles du Christ / P. 107—184.]</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of artifacts significant to the Bible]]
* [[Life of Jesus in the New Testament]]

== Citations ==
{{Reflist}}

== General sources ==
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* {{citation | last = Houlden | first = James Leslie | title = Jesus in History, Thought, and Culture | publisher = ABC-Clio Inc | location = Santa Barbara| year = 2003 | isbn = 978-1-57607-856-3 }}
* {{citation |last=Nickell |first=Joe |author-link=Joe Nickell |title=Relics of the Christ |publisher=[[University Press of Kentucky]] |location=[[Lexington, Kentucky|Lexington]] |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-8131-2425-4 |url=https://archive.org/details/relicsofchrist00joen }}
* {{citation | last = Ruffin | first = Bernard | title = The Shroud of Turin: the most up-to-date analysis of all the facts regarding the Church's controversial relic | publisher = [[Our Sunday Visitor]] | location = Huntington | year = 1999| isbn = 978-0-87973-617-0|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M35HX5bNI4QC}}
* {{citation | last = Wilson | first = Ian | title = Holy Faces, Secret Places | publisher = Doubleday | location = London | year = 1991 | isbn = 978-0-385-26105-0 | url = https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780385261050 }}

==Further reading==
* {{cite journal|url=http://webs.ono.com/sepulcro2004/datacion.pdf |author=Bella, Francesco |author2=Carlo Azzi  |title=14C Dating of the 'Titulis Crucis' |journal=Radiocarbon |volume=44 |issue=3 |year=2002 |publisher=University of Arizona |pages=685–689 |access-date=2012-09-10|doi=10.1017/S0033822200032136 |bibcode=2002Radcb..44..685B |doi-access=free }}
* {{cite journal |title=Discrepancies in the radiocarbon dating area of the Turin shroud |author=Benford, M. Sue |author2=Joseph G. Marino |date=July–August 2008 |url=http://chemistry-today.teknoscienze.com/pdf/benford%20CO4-08.pdf |journal=Chemistry Today |volume=26 |issue=4 |access-date=2012-09-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304150614/http://chemistry-today.teknoscienze.com/pdf/benford%20CO4-08.pdf |archive-date=2012-03-04 }}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.acheiropoietos.info/proceedings/FernandezWeb.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120105235504/http://www.acheiropoietos.info/proceedings/FernandezWeb.pdf |url-status=usurped |archive-date=January 5, 2012 |author=Fernández Sánchez, José Luis |title=The Sudarium of Oviedo and the Shroud of Turin. A question of authenticity |work=Proceedings of the International Workshop on the Scientific approach to the Acheiropoietos Images, ENEA Frascati, Italy |date=4–6 May 2010 }}
* {{cite book|chapter-url=http://columbiauniversity.org/cu/arthistory/faculty/Klein/Sacred-Relics-and-Imperial-Ceremonies.pdf |chapter-format=[[PDF]] |author=Klein, Holger A. |year=2006 |chapter=Sacred Relics and Imperial Ceremonies at the Great Palace of Constantinople |editor=F. A. Bauer|title=Visualisierungen von Herrschaft |pages=79–99 |series=BYZAS |volume=5 |isbn=9789758071265 |oclc=71787023}}

==External links==
* [http://www.shroudstory.com The Shroud of Turin Story: A Guide to the Facts]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20190321014936/http://www.innoval.com/C14/ Possibly the Biggest Radiocarbon Dating Mistake Ever]

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