Nail (relic)

The Holy nails are one of the major relics of Christ Catholic Church. These nails should have been nailed to the cross, Jesus Christ. The Holy nails are in direct relation to the suffering and blood of Christ and enjoy this reason a special devotion.

History

According to legend, Jesus Christ was struck with the Holy nails to the cross. After the Descent from the Cross, the nails to have been buried together with the cross. The Finding of the Holy nails is passed down through records bishop Gelasius of Caesarea and Rufinus of Aquileia. Thus let Helena, mother of Constantine the Great, looking in the Holy Land for items that were directly related with the suffering and death of Christ. Together with the Holy Cross to the nails have been found in 325 and have been identified by a miracle of light in the presence of Helena and not historically verifiable Bishop Judas Cyriacus of Jerusalem. Helena sent the nails together with a portion of the cross of her son Constantine the Great. One of the nails he had incorporated into his iron crown, the others in the reins of his bridle. Later on, the Holy Nails went on through donations to other owners. Total charge 29 to 34 sites claim to ownership Holy nails. Some of these nails could come from the wooden structure of the cross itself, as the footrest, the seat peg, or the titulus crucis INRI panel. Another part of the Holy nails are probably touching relics, so added nails that had touched one of the Holy Nails of Christ. Among others, Bishop Charles Borromeo of Milan make eight nails after the nail Milan and distribute. Another reason for the large number saint nails is that they may not come from the cross of Christ but from the passion of the other martyrs, and that in part, the nails were cut and were worshiped even tiny filings of the Holy nails and incorporated into relics or reliquaries. Another part of the Holy nails is of indeterminate origin.

Whereabouts

Relics of the nails can be found today in different places.

Duomo of Monza

The iron crown, the crown of the Lombards in the Cathedral of Monza contains an iron ring, according to the legend of one of the nails was forged out of the cross of Christ.

Bamberg Cathedral

The Bamberg nail relic is preserved in the so-called nail Chapel in Bamberg Cathedral. As the nail came to Bamberg is not known. The relic was first mentioned in 1260 in a bill and has since been proven in the Bamberg Cathedral. The nail has a length of about 11 cm, head and point are canceled. In 1652, to be his sight back after touching the sacred nail a peasant born blind.

Carpentras

A nail from the reigns of Constantine the Great to be in the Cathedral of the southern French town of Carpentras. These reins can be found on the city arms again.

Colle di Val d' Elsa

Another nail is kept in the 972 first mentioned Romanesque church Pieve dei Santi Ippolito e Cassiano a Conèo in the Italian village of Colle di Val d' Elsa.

Cathedral of Milan

Under the vaulted top of the Duomo in Milan a holy cross nail is kept in a separate tabernacle, which is brought out once a year to worship.

Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, Rome

In the Roman pilgrimage church of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme are a saint nail next to small parts of the cross of Christ, the Christ Kreuztitulus and other relics. The nail has a four-sided, moderately thick shaft, which tapers towards the tip. The tip is broken off and the nail has a length of about 12 cm, with peak figure would be about 16 cm. The head is convex. This is similar to the nail from the Trier Cathedral soonest.

Cathedral of Trier

According to legend, owns the Trier Cathedral since the 4th century a site donated by Empress Helena Saint nail. Archbishop Egbert of Trier ( 977-933 ) made ​​by a goldsmith make a magnificent reliquary, which began the nail precisely. The reliquary is decorated on all sides with precious stones and enamel plates. The outer shape of the reliquary are the shape of the nail again and thus counts as speaking reliquary, which gives the illiterate viewer information about its contents. The reliquary has a hinged lid, which makes it possible to touch the relic or to show the faithful. The relic was kept in Andrew's portable altar and carried in processions and shown at Heiltumsweisungen, where she is said to have repeatedly healed the blind. In addition, the relic of the Holy nail was used in Eidelsleistungen.

Treasury Vienna

After the copy of a document to this nail of Emperor Conrad III. be handed over to Pope Innocent II. The first definite mention of the Vienna nail relic was performed in a travelogue of the Saxon envoy Johann Sebastian Müller from 1260. Was long regarded that in the Holy Lance incorporated nail from the cross of Christ was from the Imperial Regalia of the Holy Roman Empire, but contains the lance may only have a small particle from one of these nails. The relic is kept in the treasury at Vienna.

Authenticity of the Holy Nails

The authenticity of the Holy Nails is the subject of numerous discussions. After de Lorenzi is in the Holy nails of Rome and Trier, the largest probability of their authenticity. Against the authenticity of the Holy nails speaks, among other things their uncertain tradition, history and not consistently detectable way the individual nails. As a further counter-arguments can be given that room works were executed in ancient times mostly wooden bars or dowels and iron was a relatively precious commodity, which were again most likely use after use in the crucifixion and not simply buried with the wooden cross.