RELIC OF THE HOLY FACE WITH DOCUMENT
RELIC OF THE HOLY FACE WITH DOCUMENT
Worldwide shipping
ref: #RK00-525PERIOD : 19th century
DIMENSIONS : 34.5cm X 23.5cm
SIZE : 13.6" X 9.3"
According to ancient Christian legend, distinct from the Gospels, Veronica, a woman from Jerusalem, wiped the bloody forehead of Jesus as he climbed Calvary. This action left the image of the Savior, known as the Holy Face or Veil of Veronica, on a piece of cloth. The term "veronica" comes from the Latin "verus" meaning true and the Greek "eikon" meaning image, translatable as "true image". The Holy Face is different from the Shroud of Turin, linked to the burial of Christ's body.
On January 6, 1849, the canons of the Vatican Basilica and the faithful were praying before the Major Relics on display, including the Holy Face, pieces of the Holy Cross and the Spearhead that pierced Jesus' side. Suddenly, a marked improvement in the image on the "veronica" was observed, reforming the living face of Jesus Christ, consistent with Isaiah's description in the Old Testament.
Reproductions of the face, created during this exceptional event, are printed on linen canvases. These reproductions, having been touched to the original during the miracle, thus acquire a special aura. They are elevated to the status of second-class relics, carrying within them a sacred connection with the miracle and becoming objects venerated by believers.
The canons of the Vatican Basilica offered these relics bearing the red wax seal of the Chapter and a blue ink stamp marked 'Gratis' to prevent the sale of these "genuine icons", in order to respect the prohibition of simony. These reproductions were intended for secular or regular religious to propagate Christian devotion, not for profit.