Churches: The Medici Chapel (Part 2 of 2) Reliquaries

While visiting the Medici Chapel, we saw a temporary exhibition in the crypt of the chapel.  The exhibition displayed many reliquaries created over the centuries, including many produced in Italy. 

Some background frst.  A reliquary is a container, or small shrine, for holding a relic of a saint or other religious object.  A typical relic is a bone of a saint.  Some believe that being in the presence of a relic while praying can leading to healing an illness or affliction.

Of course, whether a relic is genuine and whether it channels divine healing power is subject to disagreement.  Putting aside disagreement, reliquaries are often beautiful works of art and they and their contents are interesting artifacts of history. 

Here are some photos of reliquaries in the exhibition.

Saint Ambrose (lived 340-397) was a bishop of Milan and he visited Florence.

Saint Zenobius (lived 337-413) was the first bishop of Florence.  Several miracles are attributed to him.

Saint Stephen (died 36 A.D.) was martyred for his beliefs.

Saint Francis of Assissi (lived 1181-1226), founder of the Franciscan orders.

Saint Laurence (lived 225-258) was martyred for his beliefs.  Several miracles are attributed to him.

Thanks for joining our tour of the Medici chapel and crypt.