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Procession, Piety, and Politics: Three Medieval Rheno-Mosan Reliquary Shrines and the Cult Communities for Bishop-Saints Servatius of Maastricht, Eleutherius of Tournai, and Remaclus of Stavelot

Tekippe, Rita Wardein

Abstract Details

1999, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, History of Art.

Processions with reliquary shrines were surely highlights of medieval life and visual culture. For such events, the saints whose remains were housed in lavish containers, accompanied their cult communities, in ritual fashion, on many diverse occasions-in celebration, commemoration, petition, supplication, penitence, and thanksgiving. Transportation of a community's favorite saints' relics, always significant of their patronage and potential intercession, had particular meaning in the cases of bishop saints. Such patrons could continue as community leaders and, simultaneously, reinforce the symbolism of episcopal tenancy and bolster the stature of current office-holders.

Pictorial shrine programs imparted political messages linking bishops to apostles, and life in earthly communities to anticipated existence in the Heavenly Jerusalem. Such messages were enhanced by magnificent decoration of gold and jewels, with implications drawn from familiar scriptures of the Apocalypse. Design and form of relic containers by Rheno-Mosan artisans evolved to accommodate a patent regional penchant for pomp and ceremonial display in apparently frequent and customary transportation of favorite relics for a variety of communal ritual journeys, within and between burgeoning urban sites and pilgrimage centers.

While the use of lavish reliquaries was widespread in medieval Europe, the largest and the most sumptuous examples emerged in the Rhine-Meuse region in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, in an era when customs associated with the Corpus Christi cult first appeared in the same locale. A regional proclivity for opulent optical effect, as part of complex multi-media events is indicated, and a plethora of regionally adapted customs which included transportation of relics may be seen as part of the seedbed in which expanded community cult spectacle took root.

The role of large reliquary shrines as focal points in devotion and display is explored in relation to artistic impulse for creation of magnificent examples of metalwork. The extant reliquaries for Saints Servatius, Eleutherius, and Remaclus represent the pinnacle of a long tradition of cult expression through provision of lavish relic containers which display a medley of luxurious and costly materials and highly refined techniques, drawn into the service of Christian liturgical and extra-liturgical rites, along with a variety of other accoutrements.

Christine Verzar (Advisor)
686 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Tekippe, R. W. (1999). Procession, Piety, and Politics: Three Medieval Rheno-Mosan Reliquary Shrines and the Cult Communities for Bishop-Saints Servatius of Maastricht, Eleutherius of Tournai, and Remaclus of Stavelot [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1220460268

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Tekippe, Rita. Procession, Piety, and Politics: Three Medieval Rheno-Mosan Reliquary Shrines and the Cult Communities for Bishop-Saints Servatius of Maastricht, Eleutherius of Tournai, and Remaclus of Stavelot. 1999. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1220460268.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Tekippe, Rita. "Procession, Piety, and Politics: Three Medieval Rheno-Mosan Reliquary Shrines and the Cult Communities for Bishop-Saints Servatius of Maastricht, Eleutherius of Tournai, and Remaclus of Stavelot." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 1999. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1220460268

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)