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Alcalá de Henares
Relics of the boy martyrs Justus and Pastor
The young brothers Justus and Pastor were martyred at Complutum (today Alcalá de Henares) around 304 under Diocletian. The Magistral Cathedral of the Holy Children stands on the place of their martyrdom, and their relics are kept in its crypt. The cathedral is open to visitors.
- Where
- Magistral Cathedral of Sts Justus and Pastor, crypt
- Address
- Plaza de los Santos Niños s/n, 28801 Alcalá de Henares · on the map
- Nearest church
- Nativity of the Mother of God Parish (Ecumenical Patriarchate), Paseo de la Estación 17, Alcalá de Henares
Barcelona
Relics of the Martyr Eulalia of Barcelona
St Eulalia of Barcelona, a young Christian martyred under Diocletian around 304, is the patron saint of Barcelona. Her relics rest in a 14th-century alabaster sarcophagus in the crypt beneath the high altar of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and St Eulalia. The crypt can be seen from the nave. Historical note: The relics were found in 878; several historians regard Saint Eulalia of Barcelona as a double of Saint Eulalia of Mérida.
- Where
- Cathedral of the Holy Cross and St Eulalia, crypt
- Address
- Pla de la Seu s/n, 08002 Barcelona · on the map
- Nearest church
- St Nectarios of Aegina Parish (Ecumenical Patriarchate), Carrer d'Aragó 299, Barcelona
Camaleño (Cantabria)
Relic of the True Cross (Lignum Crucis)
The monastery of Santo Toribio de Liébana in the Cantabrian mountains keeps the Lignum Crucis, the largest known fragment of the life-giving Cross, brought from Jerusalem, according to tradition, by St Turibius of Astorga (5th century). The relic, set in a gilded silver cross, is displayed for veneration in the Chapel of the Cross. The monastery is one of the Catholic Church's jubilee sites. Historical note: The fragment of the Cross has been venerated in the monastery since the Middle Ages; the tradition that Saint Turibius of Astorga brought it is local.
- Where
- Monastery of Santo Toribio de Liébana
- Address
- Monasterio de Santo Toribio de Liébana, 39586 Camaleño (Cantabria) · on the map
- Nearest church
- St Matthew Parish (Serbian Church), Travesía de Sagarminaga 3, Bilbao
León
Relics of St Isidore of Seville
St Isidore, Archbishop of Seville († 636), is one of the last great Fathers of the Church in the West, author of the Etymologies and president of the Fourth Council of Toledo. His relics, translated from Seville in 1063, rest in a reliquary above the high altar of the basilica of the Royal Collegiate Church of San Isidoro in León. The basilica is open for prayer; the museum and Royal Pantheon require a ticket.
- Where
- Royal Collegiate Church of San Isidoro
- Address
- Plaza de San Isidoro 4, 24003 León · on the map
- Nearest church
- Sts Joachim and Anna Parish (Ecumenical Patriarchate), Calle Divina Pastora 1–3, Valladolid
Madrid
Blood of the Great Martyr Panteleimon
The great martyr and healer Panteleimon suffered at Nicomedia in 305 under Emperor Maximian. The reliquary chapel of the Royal Monastery of the Incarnation in Madrid keeps an ampoule of his blood, which is reported to liquefy every year around 27 July, his feast day. The monastery belongs to Spain's Patrimonio Nacional and is visited on guided tours. Historical note: The relic has been kept in Madrid since the 17th century; the annual "liquefaction" of the blood is a local tradition.
- Where
- Royal Monastery of the Incarnation (Real Monasterio de la Encarnación)
- Address
- Plaza de la Encarnación 1, 28013 Madrid · on the map
- Nearest church
- Cathedral of Sts Andrew and Demetrios (Ecumenical Patriarchate), Calle Nicaragua 12, Madrid
Oviedo
Sudarium of Oviedo and relics of St Eulalia of Mérida
The Holy Chamber (Cámara Santa) of San Salvador Cathedral in Oviedo keeps the Sudarium, the cloth which by tradition covered the Saviour's head at the descent from the Cross and burial (cf. John 20:7), together with an ark of ancient relics. The cathedral also holds the relics of the martyr Eulalia of Mérida († 304), one of the most venerated saints of early Christian Spain. The Sudarium is shown for veneration on Good Friday and on 14 and 21 September. Historical note: The Sudarium is attested in Oviedo from 1075; the account of its origin in Jerusalem is a matter of tradition.
- Where
- San Salvador Cathedral, Cámara Santa
- Address
- Plaza de Alfonso II el Casto, 33003 Oviedo · on the map
- Nearest church
- Sts Joachim and Anna Parish (Ecumenical Patriarchate), Calle Divina Pastora 1–3, Valladolid
Santiago de Compostela
Relics of the Apostle James son of Zebedee
St James, son of Zebedee and brother of John the Theologian, was the first of the Twelve to be martyred, in Jerusalem around AD 44. According to tradition his relics were brought to Galicia; since the 9th century they have been venerated in a silver reliquary in the crypt beneath the high altar of the cathedral. The cathedral is the goal of the Way of St James; the crypt can be visited during cathedral opening hours. Historical note: The tradition of the finding of the Apostle James's relics in Galicia dates from the 9th century; its historicity is debated by scholars.
- Where
- Santiago de Compostela Cathedral
- Address
- Praza do Obradoiro, 15704 Santiago de Compostela · on the map
- Nearest church
- St John Chrysostom Parish (Serbian Church), Praza Luis Seoane 17, A Coruña
Valencia
Arm of St Vincent of Saragossa and the Holy Chalice
St Vincent, deacon of Saragossa, was martyred in Valencia in 304 under Diocletian and is venerated in both East and West. Valencia Cathedral keeps a relic of his arm and, in the Chapel of the Holy Chalice, an agate cup that tradition links with the Last Supper. The cathedral is open for prayer; the museum section requires a ticket. Historical note: Saint Vincent is venerated in the East as well; the tradition of the Holy Chalice is documented only from the late 14th century.
- Where
- Valencia Cathedral
- Address
- Plaza de la Reina s/n, 46003 Valencia · on the map
- Nearest church
- Sts Peter and Paul Parish (Ecumenical Patriarchate), Carrer del Músic Hipòlit Martínez 10, Valencia
Zaragoza
St Engratia and the Innumerable Martyrs of Zaragoza
St Engratia and her eighteen companions were martyred in Zaragoza in 304 under Diocletian, together with a multitude of the city's Christians whom tradition calls the “Innumerable Martyrs”. Their relics are venerated in the crypt of the Basilica of Santa Engracia, built over their burial place. Nearby stands the Basilica del Pilar, linked to the tradition of the Apostle James's preaching.
- Where
- Basilica of Santa Engracia, crypt
- Address
- Plaza de Santa Engracia s/n, 50004 Zaragoza · on the map
- Nearest church
- St Alexander Nevsky Parish (Moscow Patriarchate), Zaragoza
