There are many different shrines in the Christian world. Some of the most revered of them are the relics of the saints of God. These shrines are especially loved by Orthodox people.
The main reason for venerating the relics of saints is the very fact of the Incarnation. The Lord Jesus Christ took on a human body, sanctified human corporeality. Now it is no longer possible in any way to agree with the ancient pagan assertion that the body is the prison of the soul.
According to the Holy Scriptures, a person can be the temple of the Holy Spirit. This suggests that the saints of God received special divine grace, which made the entire human person holy. Thus, we can say that not only souls, but also bodies can be holy. That is why Orthodox Christians have such a special reverent attitude towards the relics of saints.
Veneration and reverent respect for the relics of the saints is expressed not only in the worship and kissing of the shrine, but also in the careful storage of the relics, the erection of numerous temples and chapels above them, as well as the establishment of various church celebrations for the acquisition of shrines. In addition, it is necessary to note the special practice of investing relics in the holy antimension, which is located on the holy throne in the altar of an Orthodox church.
It should also be noted that in the Orthodox tradition there is a veneration of the so-called secondary relics. A reverent touch and kiss can be directed not only to the body of a saint, but also to the remains of his clothing. For example, believers experience a special feeling of reverence and awe from touching the Belt of the Most Holy Theotokos or particles of the clothing of other saints. Even in the first centuries of Christianity, the apostle Paul's bands and handkerchiefs were used to heal diseases and drive out demons from people.
Nowadays, there is also a lot of evidence of miracles that happened to people after touching the relics of saints. Many believers received and receive what they ask for in prayer before the relics.
Thus, we can note the main reasons for the veneration by Orthodox believers of the relics of the saints of God: the prayer memory of the saint himself, expressed in reverent worship of the relics; the believer's desire to partake of divine grace from the relics of the saint, as well as the believers' hope to receive miraculous help in various bodily and mental ailments.
