The ceremonious transfer of relics is called translatio.
The first translatio of a whole body took place in Antiocheia in 354, when they brought the skeleton of the martyr Babylas to Daphne, in order to repress the Apollo-cult. In the Middle Ages the translatio was prohibited without the permission of the prince, the bishops or the synod. By doing so, they wanted to counteract a misuse of the trade with relics. In order to guarantee the authenticity of the relics, a written attestation by high authorities, the so-called authentic, was requested. It is often based on a long-lasting adoration, which, of course, does not exclude any forgery.
Translatio is also called:
1) in liturgy the postponement of
a celebration, when it is at the same day as a more important celebration
2) in historiography the transfer of power from one reign to another, especially
the transfer of the empire (translatio imperii) from the Romans to the Greek
(Konstantin the Great) and back to Franconia /the Germans (Charlemagne).
edited by: Maleen-Shirin Kranz
translated by: Marion Wagner
(18.8.2004/23.5.2005)