Question 69 · Mary, the saints, images and prayer

Did they honor relics of the martyrs?

What the sources show

Martyrdom of Polycarp c. 156 · Gaius of Rome (quoted by Eusebius) c. 200Honored

By 156 the church of Smyrna gathered Polycarp's bones, "more precious than costly stones", and met at the spot each year on the day of his death. By 200 Rome showed visitors the apostles' tombs. ¹²

Augustine of Hippo c. 400 · Church of England 1571

Fourth-century churches were built over martyrs' bodies, with sacrifice offered to God there (Augustine). The Reformers rejected the cult of relics. ³⁴

The answers given:

ApostolicBefore NicaeaNicaea and afterMiddle AgesReformation to today

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Before Nicaea

150–325

156c. AD

Honored

Martyrdom of PolycarpMartyrdom of Polycarp 18.2–3

So we afterwards took up his bones, more precious than costly stones and more tested than gold, and laid them where it was fitting. There, as far as we can, gathering in gladness and joy, the Lord will allow us to celebrate the birthday of his martyrdom, in memory of those who have already contended and to train and prepare those who will.

The earliest evidence for honoring a martyr's remains and keeping his "birthday" (the day of death). The previous chapter insists Christ alone is worshiped; the martyrs are loved as disciples (17.3).

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200c. AD

HonoredKnown through a later writer

Gaius of Rome (quoted by Eusebius) fl. c. 200 ADDialogue with Proclus, in Eusebius, Church History 2.25.7

I can show you the trophies of the apostles. For if you will go to the Vatican or to the Ostian Way, you will find the trophies of those who founded this church.

Monuments over the apostles' graves in Rome, about 200.

Full English of this work is being translated

Nicaea to Chalcedon

325–451

400c. AD

Honored

Augustine of Hippo 354–430 ADAgainst Faustus the Manichaean 20.21

The Christian people celebrate the memorials of the martyrs with religious solemnity, both to stir up imitation and to share in their merits and be helped by their prayers; but in such a way that we set up altars not to any martyr, but to the God of the martyrs, even at the martyrs' memorials. For what bishop, standing at the altar where the holy bodies rest, ever said: We offer to you, Peter, or Paul, or Cyprian? What is offered is offered to God, who crowned the martyrs.

Altars stood over the martyrs' bodies, but the sacrifice was offered to God.

Full English of this work is being translated

Reformation

1500–1700

1571AD

Rejected

Church of EnglandThirty-Nine Articles Article XXII

The Romish Doctrine concerning Purgatory, Pardons, Worshipping, and Adoration, as well of Images as of Reliques, and also invocation of Saints, is a fond thing vainly invented

The Anglican Articles reject the "worshipping and adoration" of relics, as Calvin's Treatise on Relics (1543) had.

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Witnesses not in the library yet

These writers also matter for this question. Their texts will join the timeline above once they are translated.

426
Augustine of Hippo, City of God 22.8
Miracles at the shrine of Stephen's relics in Africa.
406
Jerome, Against Vigilantius 5–8
Defends honoring relics.
787
Second Council of Nicaea, Canon 7
Every altar must hold relics.

How this page was made

Every early quote was read in its Greek or Latin and translated for this page by Claude (Opus 5.5) on 13 October 2026. Each line names the printed edition it was read from. A quote marked indirect does not state the answer outright; read its note. A writer's silence is never counted as an answer.