Relics – objects of contemplation in the church and beyond

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Relics are literally the «remains» of saints, or objects that came into contact with them. They play an important role in the Christian Church, especially since Christianity rose to state religion in the Roman Empire in the 4th century. At the heart of the cult of relics were the hopes of salvation associated with them: the saints bring about miracles through the presence of their remains. An essential aspect of how relics are handled is how they are displayed, which reflects the esteem and significance given to them. Richly decorated containers (reliquaries), often made of precious metal, underline the importance of the contents. Over time, an enormous variety of these forms of display has developed. The exhibition centres on examples from Catholic parishes in Thurgau, in a range of forms and from different periods. Relics in the narrowest ecclesiastical sense are complemented by «profane» relics, for example mementos of deceased relatives, whose hair, skilfully woven into ornaments and flowers, surrounds a photograph, or other keepsakes preserved with reverence.