RUFRENELRO

Directory

Orthodox holy sites of Europe

Relics of the saints of the undivided Church, relics of the Lord’s Passion and of the Mother of God, ancient monasteries — including those now kept in Catholic and Anglican churches. Choose a country.

Italy

Check access arrangements on the church’s website before travelling.

Bari

Relics of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker

The relics, translated from Myra in Lycia in 1087, rest in the crypt of the basilica. On Thursdays an Orthodox divine liturgy is celebrated there; the metochion of the Russian Church in Bari receives pilgrims.

Where
Basilica of San Nicola
Address
Largo Abate Elia 13, 70122 Bari · on the map
Nearest church
Patriarchal Metochion of Saint Nicholas in Bari, Corso Benedetto Croce 130

Rome

Tomb of the Holy Apostle Peter

The apostle’s tomb lies beneath the basilica’s high altar; the basilica also holds the relics of Saints John Chrysostom and Gregory the Theologian (partly returned to Constantinople in 2004).

Where
Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican
Address
Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Città del Vaticano · on the map
Nearest church
Parish of Saint Nicholas, Via Palestro 71

Rome

Tomb of the Holy Apostle Paul

The apostle’s sarcophagus lies beneath the papal altar; above it are the chains with which, by tradition, Saint Paul was bound.

Where
Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls
Address
Piazzale San Paolo 1, 00146 Roma · on the map
Nearest church
Parish of Saint Nicholas, Via Palestro 71

Rome

Relics of Saint Clement of Rome and Saint Cyril, Equal to the Apostles

Beneath the high altar rest the relics of the hieromartyr Clement, Pope of Rome, brought to Rome by Saints Cyril and Methodius. In the left chapel is the burial place of Saint Cyril († 869), enlightener of the Slavs.

Where
Basilica of San Clemente
Address
Via Labicana 95, 00184 Roma · on the map
Nearest church
Parish of Saint Nicholas, Via Palestro 71

Rome

Relics of Saint Alexis, the Man of God

Beneath the high altar rest the relics of Saints Alexis and Boniface; the church preserves the wooden staircase under which, by tradition, Saint Alexis lived.

Where
Basilica of Sant’Alessio on the Aventine
Address
Piazza di Sant’Alessio 23, 00153 Roma · on the map
Nearest church
Parish of Saint Nicholas, Via Palestro 71

Venice

Relics of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark

Translated from Alexandria in 828, they rest beneath the basilica’s high altar.

Where
Saint Mark’s Basilica
Address
Piazza San Marco 328, 30124 Venezia · on the map
Nearest church
Greek Cathedral of San Giorgio dei Greci (Patriarchate of Constantinople)

Venice

Relics of the Holy Martyr Lucy of Syracuse

The relics of the saint († 304) were translated from Constantinople in 1204; they rest openly in a glass reliquary in the right chapel.

Where
Church of San Geremia
Address
Campo San Geremia, 30121 Venezia · on the map
Nearest church
Greek Cathedral of San Giorgio dei Greci

Padua

Relics of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke

The apostle’s relics (apart from the head, kept in Prague) are in the left transept of the basilica. In 2000 a portion was given to the Church of Greece.

Where
Basilica of Santa Giustina
Address
Via Giuseppe Ferrari 2A (Prato della Valle), 35123 Padova · on the map
Nearest church
Parishes of the Moscow Patriarchate and the Romanian Church in Padua

Milan

Relics of Saint Ambrose of Milan

In the crypt of the basilica rest openly the relics of Saint Ambrose († 397) and the martyrs Gervasius and Protasius.

Where
Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio
Address
Piazza Sant’Ambrogio 15, 20123 Milano · on the map
Nearest church
Parishes in Milan

Turin

The Shroud of Turin

The Shroud is kept in a sealed case in a chapel of the cathedral; public expositions are rare and announced in advance.

Where
Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist
Address
Piazza San Giovanni, 10122 Torino · on the map
Nearest church
Parishes in Turin

Amalfi

Relics of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called

The relics, brought from Constantinople in 1208, rest in the crypt of the cathedral. Each year on 30 November and in May the flowing of myrrh from the relics is celebrated.

Where
Cathedral of Saint Andrew
Address
Piazza Duomo, 84011 Amalfi · on the map
Nearest church
Parishes in Naples

Salerno

Relics of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew

The apostle’s relics have been in the crypt of the cathedral since 954.

Where
Salerno Cathedral
Address
Piazza Alfano I, 84125 Salerno · on the map
Nearest church
Parishes in Naples

Ortona

Relics of the Holy Apostle Thomas

The apostle’s relics, translated from the island of Chios in 1258, rest in the crypt of the basilica.

Where
Basilica of Saint Thomas the Apostle
Address
Piazza San Tommaso, 66026 Ortona · on the map
Nearest church
Parishes in Pescara