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Article: Saints, Preserved
- Article from:
- Macmillan Encyclopedia of Death and Dying
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 The Gale Group Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Saints, Preserved
The lives and deaths of saints have long occupied a distinctive place in Christian belief. Other religious traditions have also revered certain individuals as embodying their most admired virtues and having a special relationship with God. Christian saints, however, became such powerful figures that church authorities have had to balance carefully between supporting and moderating their influence. This influence includes the veneration of objects said to have been used by or associated with a saint and, even more precious, their physical remains.
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