Treasures of Reims CathedralMany Catholic cathedrals in Europe have a collection of precious objects

Treasures of Reims Cathedral

Many Catholic cathedrals in Europe have a collection of precious objects accumulated over the centuries.  Most of these items played a role in the cult of relics that elevated the church to a stop on the pilgrimage routes and brought a steady flow of income to fund building projects (and who knows what else).

Here we have (from the top) the Reliquary of the Holy Thorn, the Holy Ampulla followed by the reliquary in which it was kept. The ampulla held the oil used to anoint the kings of France.  Next is the Reliquary of the Resurrection that once held an alleged piece of Jesus’ tomb. Then there’s the Reliquary of Samson, so called because of the decoration at the bottom showing a man killing a lion. It did not contain a piece of the legendary Biblical hero, but such a preposterous claim would not be unusual.  

TheReliquary of the Talisman of Charlemagne held not only the talisman, which I described in a previous post, but still holds “fragments of Christ’s diaper, the Virgin’s robe, John the Baptist’s shroud, and a bone from Charlemagne’s right arm.”

The last photo shows “two offering loaves” made in the 19th century of silver and gilded silver.  I can only ask, “Why?” 

Photos by Charles Reeza