In the Basilica of St. Stephen, Budapest, an elaborate golden reliquary holds "The Holy Right." On display is the mummified right fist of St. Stephen, a revered saint who passed away roughly a millennium ago.
During the Saint's canonization in 1083, his body was exhumed and historical accounts report that his right hand remained intact while the rest of his body had decomposed. Recognizing its significance, the hand was detached and preserved as a cherished relic. Every year on August 20, St. Stephen's Day in Hungary, the hand is respectfully removed from its resting place and paraded around the city in commemoration of the saint.
Saint Catherine of Siena experienced visions of Jesus during her childhood. In 1461, she was canonized and today her head is displayed at Saint Dominic's Basilica in Siena, Italy.
Saint Catherine of Siena's hand is also exhibited at the Basilica, in addition to her head, in case that's not sufficient.
For a non-traditional Valentine's Day, consider visiting the Basilica di Santa Maria in Cosmedin, Rome. There you can pay homage to the saint's skull. Who says romance is dead?
However, it's unclear whether this skull is truly that of the patron saint of lovers. Numerous churches assert their possession of the saint's relics.
Still, if you're visiting the basilica why not also take the opportunity to visit the nearby, renowned Bocca della Verità ("Mouth of Truth").
According to legend, if you lie, the Mouth of Truth will bite off your hand. A visit to a saint's skull followed by getting a bite from a marble mask: what's not to like, right?
Saint Clare, who was a follower of Francis of Assisi, later established the Order of Poor Ladies. She's recognized as the patron saint of televisions and computer screens.
Renowned for her lovely hair, it's also preserved at the Basilica di Santa Chiara in Assisi, Italy, along with her other physical relics.
The Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, Turkey houses a glass reliquary that holds hairs from Muhammad's beard. These hairs were said to be cut by his barber, Salman the Persian, after his death.
Would you be interested in checking out a tooth that's said to continuously grow and possesses curative powers?
However, there's a twist: more than one location claims ownership of the relic. This specific enchanted molar, measuring 2 inches (5 cm) in length, is in a Buddhist temple in Rosemead, California. But the Temple of the Tooth in Sri Lanka also claims to have one.
But there's more! Singapore also claims to hold Siddhartha Gautama's remains at the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum. And if you thought the other tooth was long, the one housed here measures nearly 3 inches (7.5 cm)!
Januarius, a former bishop, died around 305 CE. He was recognized as a martyr and revered as a saint in both the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches.
Januarius' ancient blood is said to turn liquid when it's placed near his skull; a ritual that is still performed to this day.
The solid blood is also said to liquify on other occasions, such as when the Pope visited Naples.
Saint Anthony of Padua passed away in 1231. On later exhumation, it was discovered his tongue, jaw, and vocal cords had not decomposed. This miracle was attributed to his exceptional speaking abilities.
The tongue, along with other body parts, remains in Padua to this day. This illustration portrays the reliquary housing the preserved tongue of Saint Anthony.
These relics are actually taken on tour. This gold statuette contains the tongue, vocal cards, and floating rib of Saint Anthony as it visits Saint Mary's Basilica in Secunderabad, India.
In addition to the relic of Prophet Muhammad's beard, his footprint is also preserved in the Muslim world.
Muhammad's footprints are present at the previously mentioned Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, Turkey, as well as the Shrine of the Holy Footprint in Delhi, India, and the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem.
Camillus de Lellis, a respected Roman Catholic priest, devoted himself to the care of the sick and established the religious order of the Camillians. He earned sainthood in 1746 and was designated as the patron saint for the sick and those in the medical field.
The heart of Saint Camillus, known for his immense generosity, was carefully preserved after his passing. This precious relic is currently housed at the generalate house of the Camillian religious order, but it has also toured other countries, including the Philippines.
The Shroud of Turin is a piece of fabric made of linen that displays a man's negative image (where it is dark, it should be bright). This man is thought to be Jesus, and it is said to have served as his burial cloth. However, prior to the Shroud, there existed the Mandylion, which is also referred to as the Image of Edessa.
The Mandylion is a cloth containing the imprint of Jesus' face, regarded as the oldest representation of Christ worldwide.
The Mandylion is currently housed in the Redemptoris Mater Chapel, previously known as the Matilde Chapel, within the Vatican Palace.
The milk of the Virgin Mary is believed to have remarkable properties, stemming from its association with the son of God. It's associated with a miracle that took place in the 12th century.
According to legend, the Virgin Mary allegedly appeared to a monk named Bernard of Clairvaux and miraculously healed his eye infection by sprinkling milk into his mouth. The event, known as the Lactation of Saint Bernard, also bestowed wisdom upon him.
If you can't go back to the 12th century and witness the miracle yourself, you can still go to the Milk Grotto near Bethlehem. Legend has it that this is the place where Our Lady spilled a drop of milk, miraculously turning the stone white.
Source: (Grunge)
See also: History's most bizarre curses
Often regarded as sacred and/or believed to possess extraordinary qualities, over the centuries numerous religious relics have been preserved. These relics are highly valued and revered. Can you imagine a tooth that continues to grow or blood that has remained liquid for 1700 years? As incredible as that might sound, the Holy Right (the right hand of St. Stephen) displayed in Budapest, and Saint Catherine of Siena's head, shown in Siena, Italy, are examples of such oddities.
Intrigued? Click through the gallery to learn about fascinating religious relics, from around the world.
Mysterious religious relics from around the world
Ever wondered about talking statues and miracle blood?
LIFESTYLE Spirituality
Often regarded as sacred and/or believed to possess extraordinary qualities, over the centuries numerous religious relics have been preserved. These relics are highly valued and revered. Can you imagine a tooth that continues to grow or blood that has remained liquid for 1700 years? As incredible as that might sound, the Holy Right (the right hand of St. Stephen) displayed in Budapest, and Saint Catherine of Siena's head, shown in Siena, Italy, are examples of such oddities.
Intrigued? Click through the gallery to learn about fascinating religious relics, from around the world.