The First Known Relics
The first relics described in the Judaeo-Christian tradition were kept in the Ark of the Covenant. In Exodus 16:33,34 Moses instructs Aaron to place a jar of manna in the Ark as a witness. Later the inscribed stone tablets bearing the ten commandments were put in the Ark (Exodus 25:16,21; Deut.10:1-5). Finally, Aaron’s rod that blossomed was put into the Ark (Numbers
17:10).
When observant Jews wear the short form of the commandments on their heads, or put them in a little scroll by the doors of their houses, they are effectively making their homes an extension of the Ark of the Covenant – something we have copied by making an icon corner.
Relics & Scripture
Anointing oils are among the first material means of blessing objects and people. In Exodus 30 v. 22 a recipe is given for an ointment of myrrh, cinnamon, aromatic cane and cassia, bound together with olive oil, to be used to anoint the ark of the covenant, the tent of meeting, and all the furniture, utensils and people ( Aaron and his sons) used for worship. Later, an oil of consecration is also used for Kings, and oil is used by the apostolic church to anoint the sick. A bread of the Presence is set aside as sacred.
Physical objects regularly mediate blessing in Old Testament times. Moses, Joshua and Elijah are all dab hands at moving water with a rod. Elijah blesses both oil and cornmeal, so that they do not run out during a famine: he also cures a leper by telling him to bath in the Jordan. At his death, he leaves his prayer shawl for Elisha, the Lord parts the waters of Jordan when Elisha strikes them with the shawl, and the school of prophets recognise the transmission of Elijah’s charism (2 Kings , Ch.2). Elijah lies on a dead child and the child is revived by the touch, and when some Israelites put a dead man in the grave of Elijah, the dead man came to life again as soon as his body touched the prophet’s bones ( 2 kings 13:20,21). In the Gospels, touching the body of Jesus of Nazareth frequently resulted in healing – “the whole multitude sought to touch him, for power (dynamis) went out from Him and healed them all” (Luke 6:18, 19). Dunamis is often translated miracles e.g. Acts 8:13, so be aware they are interchangeable. Healing also resulted from touching something Jesus wore, or which had passed through his hands e.g. the haemorrhaging woman touched his clothing (Luke 8:44) and the sick begged to touch the hem of his garment that they might be healed (Matt.14: 35,36). He cured the man born blind through a clay made with his spittle. Such a man, from such a tradition, could easily have sent a linen cloth to Abgar of Edessa, which cured him of his leprosy.
In the Acts of the apostles, the people are healed by Peter’s shadow! They brought out the sick and those tormented with evil spirits “that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. Also, a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem….and they were all healed.” (Acts 5:15,16). The sick were also healed by handkerchiefs and aprons which were touched to Paul’s body (Acts 19:11,12)
To be continued……..
