Catacomb saints
Katakombenheilige are unknown persons from the time of early Christianity, whose bones were removed between the 16th and 19th century in large numbers from the catacombs in Rome. Typically, such relics are richly decorated with gold, precious stones and embroidery.
History
In Iconoclasm and iconoclasm of the 16th and 17th century Catholic church buildings were systematically robbed of their relics. Then ordered the Holy See, that thousands would exhumed bones from the catacombs of Rome. As soon as some of these bones were probably people of greater Christian meaning, in some it may, however, have acted to early Christian martyrs. Part one has identified the catacomb with other saints of the same name and with their history. The relics was posthumously assigned a name, and they have been sent north of the Alps, especially in the German-speaking areas.
Although were not allowed to be sold relics, but they charged for the costly transport and the decoration of the bones fees. This " relics trade " only came to a halt in 1860, as the canon law forbids trade in relics.
The desire to possess relics of martyrs, was very large, especially in monasteries or parishes. In order to get relics, you had to call to ask for information about his life and death on a Kurialprälaten in Rome. If the church office turned positively to this request, a catacomb was opened in Rome, taken from the relic and created by a Kurialbischof a certificate of authenticity.
The transportation of the relics, including grave goods across the Alps took place on pilgrims to Rome. This first gathering of the holy body called illation, a certificate was an apostolic notary also created. Another task was the search for a Convention, who made the decorating of the relics. There, in front of witnesses were the seals which were attached in Rome before the illation, broken. The bones were then cleaned and put together in a reliquary. In many bodies of all bone pieces were not obtained, so that later, bones were carved from wood. Were used for jewelry precious fabrics, precious stones and gold wires.
If the written permission of the bishop arrived, an appointment the solemn transfer (translation ) has been set. These took place in solemn procession predominantly. The shrines were then exposed for the veneration of the people at the cafeteria of an altar.
Examples of Katakombenheilige
- Parish Church of St. James Achslach: St. Hilary
- Monastery church Alder Bach: St. Valerius
- Birgittenkloster Altomuenster: Sts. seven martyrs, including Alexander and Maximilian
- Augustinian Canons Dietramszell: Sts. Demetrius and Marcellinus
- Freiburg im Breisgau: Patron Saint Alexander from the Priscilla Catacombs
- Benedictine monastery Geisen field ( at Pfaffenhofen ): St. Dionysius
- Cistercian monastery Good cell ( in Biberach ): St. martyr Juliana
- Kempten, Basilica of St. Lawrence: Sts. Innocent and Honorius
- Kempten- Lenzfried, St. Magnus: St. Constantius
- Benedictine monastery Kühbach ( at Aichach ): St. Leo from the Priscilla Catacombs
- Munich, St. Petersburg: St. Munditia
- Benedictine Neumarkt- Sankt Veit: St. Lucius
- Raitenhaslach: Sts. Ausonius, Concordia and Fortunata
- Regensburg, Kloster Sankt Emmeram: Sts. Maximianus and Calcidonius
- Landshut -Seligenthal: St. Antoninus
- Soegel, castle chapel Clemenswerth: St. Fructuosus
- Waldenburg: St. Romula in the parish of St. Magnus
- Drossendorf: St. Valentina
- Reichersberg: relics of St.. Claudius (1668 collected from Calixtus Catacombs )
- Seitenstetten: St. Benedicta
- Bremgarten, Church of St. Nicholas: St. Synesius
- Herznach, St. Nicholas: St. Felician
- Muri Abbey: St. Leontius from the St. Callistus catacombs
- Stan's, St. Peter and Paul: St. Remigius
- Wil in the canton of St. Gallen: St. Pancras
- Train, Church of Saint Oswald: St. Christina
- Horni Jiřetín, Church of the Assumption: Sts. Justina and Donatus