The relics of Saint Bartholomew, also known as Nathanael, are one of the most precious treasures of the Catholic Church. This saint is known to have been one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ and to have been horribly martyred by being flayed alive and crucified upside down. Her relics have been revered for centuries and are believed to have miraculous properties.
The relics of Saint Bartholomew were discovered in the 500s AD during the construction of a church in Rome. The remains were kept in a stone urn, which was placed in the altar of the church. However, in 983 Emperor Otto III ordered that the relics be transferred to the Church of Saint Bartholomew on the island of Tiberina, which had been built in his honor. Since then, the church has become an important place of pilgrimage for Christians.
The relics themselves are highly revered as they are believed to have miraculous properties. Pilgrims come from far and wide to touch or kiss the relic and ask for favors. The relics were also used for healing ceremonies and exorcisms.
Saint Bartholomew's most famous relic is his own skin, which is often depicted in Christian art. This relic is kept in a small box in the shape of a bust of Saint Bartholomew inside the church. The skin relic is generally seen as evidence of the cruelty of Saint Bartholomew's martyrdom and his devotion to the Christian faith.
Besides the skin, the relics also include bones and fragments of Saint Bartholomew's clothing. When the relics were transferred to the Church of Saint Bartholomew on the island of Tiberina, a relic of his skull was also transferred to the cathedral in Frankfurt, Germany.
A piece of Bartholomew's arm is also in the treasury of the Basilica of Saint Servatius in Maastricht in a joint reliquary with two relics of Saint Andrew.
The relics of Saint Bartholomew are still venerated today and attract thousands of pilgrims every year. Celebrations for his feast day on August 24 include masses, processions and prayers for the intercession of the saint. The relics of Saint Bartholomew are a testimony to the power of faith and veneration of saints in the Catholic Church.
