rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryreliquarySacred relic container
noun

reliquary

REL-ik-wair-ee/ˈrelɪkweri/

A container for sacred remains or religious relics.

The silver reliquary holds a small fragment of a saint's bone.

An ornate Christian reliquary with a cross finial and a clear glass compartment displaying a small bone fragment on red velvet, making both the sacred function and the container visible.
Etymology
reliquFrenchrelic
+aryFrenchassociated with, serving for

Relique names the sacred object that a reliquary holds. Its ancestry connects relics with “remains,” especially a martyr’s remains, explaining why the container is specifically associated with sacred preservation.

In context

Chronicle - Medieval History Documentaries140:23
internationally renowned as a building-sized reliquary, custom-made to house the most important relics in medieval Christendom.
Hundred Years' War: The Bloodiest War In Medieval History

More examples

  • The museum displays several medieval reliquaries behind glass.
  • Worshippers carry the reliquary through town during the annual procession.
  • A carved wooden reliquary protects the sacred remains.

Forms

reliquary · reliquaries

Similar words

shrine
May denote an entire sacred site, not just a container.
casket
A small ornamental box, not necessarily used for religious relics.