Reliquary

European Christian reliquaries are frequently artistically worked metal or ivory receptacles for saint's bones, hair or memorabilia, sometimes depicting in relief the saint's portrait or illustrating the miracle performed which was most closely associated with his sanctity. Silvered, gilded or jewelled reliquaries were religiously and materially precious and many today are still paraded about the host churches' parishes. Reliquaries and their contents helped make credible the sacrifice of martyrs (that is, witnesses) to the faith which challenged the dreadful superstitions of the pagans. On the other hand, worship of relics and belief that they contained the saint's power became a new form of superstition itself.