A review by patlo
Rag and Bone: A Journey Among the World's Holy Dead by Peter Manseau
4.0
One of the most unique non-fiction books I've ever read. It really made me think, and was at times silly, repulsive and odd.
A few years ago I had the occasion to travel to eastern Orthodox lands.
In Istanbul, our student group visited the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and in their church building are the relics of St John Chrysostum. It was a sacred moment for me, one who's never considered relics worth considering.
On another occasion day of that trip, our group was honored to be in a place where the Romanian Orthodox church was celebrating a holy day. At that celebration, relics of a national saint whose name I didn't catch, plus Constantine's mother Helena, and then plus St. Paul were present. I was part of the group allowed to file past. I didn't know they were present, and it was confusing, but seeing the depth of devotion of these Christians and their honoring of these relics was a powerful experience.
In the end, Manseau hits upon a truth: While we may think of faith as an abstact, spiritual thing, it's always got flesh and bone and hair and blood to it. And so should our understanding of how we honor those who've gone before.
A few years ago I had the occasion to travel to eastern Orthodox lands.
In Istanbul, our student group visited the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and in their church building are the relics of St John Chrysostum. It was a sacred moment for me, one who's never considered relics worth considering.
On another occasion day of that trip, our group was honored to be in a place where the Romanian Orthodox church was celebrating a holy day. At that celebration, relics of a national saint whose name I didn't catch, plus Constantine's mother Helena, and then plus St. Paul were present. I was part of the group allowed to file past. I didn't know they were present, and it was confusing, but seeing the depth of devotion of these Christians and their honoring of these relics was a powerful experience.
In the end, Manseau hits upon a truth: While we may think of faith as an abstact, spiritual thing, it's always got flesh and bone and hair and blood to it. And so should our understanding of how we honor those who've gone before.