Elsevier

Journal of Cultural Heritage

Volume 16, Issue 2, March–April 2015, Pages 249-253
Journal of Cultural Heritage

Case study
Condition assessment of two early Christian martyrs’, St. Christine's and St. Augustine's relics with paleoradiological methods in Hungary

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.culher.2014.04.001Get rights and content

Abstract

Objectives

Condition assessment of the relics of the Early Christian martyrs St. Christine and St. Augustine enshrined in the St. Gotthard Parish Church of Mosonmagyaróvár, Hungary using radiological methods. The bodies are dressed up in ornate baroque style attires, the examination was conducted without opening the clothing. Our principle objective was to collect information on the general condition of the bodies, the internal characteristics of the skeletons and the attires with non-invasive methods.

Methods

Hundred and twenty-eight slice CT-scanner, conventional digital radiography.

Results

The preservation of the bones varies. The skeletons are incomplete, some elements were put together in non-anatomical position. Some kind of filling and reinforcement is proved in certain parts of the bodies.

Conclusion

The two bodies must have been assembled in the Baroque Era (17–18th c. AD). We got information on the condition and the attire of both bodies including skeletal preservation, the structure of the golden and silver embroidery and other decorations of the clothing. These radiographical images will provide crucial information in the course of the forthcoming conservation work conducted on the relics.

Summary statement

The scientific research of the holy relics are mainly connected Italian researchers and specialist from other countries, whom they cooperated with (Aufderheide, 2003; Fulchieri, 1996 [1], [2]). Perhaps the most well-known examination of the remains of St. Nicholas what Luigi Martino carried out in 1957 (Anatomical examination of the Bari relics, 2013 [3]). In Central Europe, including Hungary, this was the first radiological examination and analysis of the entire relics (full human remains).

Introduction

The remains of the martyrs St. Christine and St. Augustine were presented to archduchess Maria Christina of Habsburg-Lotharingen, daughter of Maria Theresia (queen of Hungary, empress of the Holy Roman Empire) and duke Albert Casimir of Sachsen-Teschen, (royal governor of Hungary) [4] by Pope Pius VI (1775–1799) in 1776. The ducal pair gained this papal favour as acknowledgement for having rebuilt the churches of Moson County after the Turkish demolition [5], [6].

According to the papal document of 30th March 1776, the bodies came from the cemetery of the St. Lawrence basilica (San Lorenzo Fuori le Mura, Catacomb of Cyriaca) found outside of the 18th c. AD Rome (“extra hanc almam Urbem”) [5]. The holy relics were placed in a wooden case covered in velvet and decorated with silk and golden fringes. The relics arrived to the ducal pair in this setting, they were later donated to the capuchin monks in Magyaróvár (Mosonmagyaróvár) and are now housed in the St. Gotthard Parish Church [5].

Since the beginning of Christianity, several martyrs known by the name of St. Christine and St. Augustine were recorded in religious history. The document of Pius VI does not provide details about the actual identity of the individuals. Identification attempts in the volumes of the Acta Sanctorum [7] also failed concerning the remains of the two saints of Mosonmagyaróvár. Since they are regarded as Early Christian martyrs, they probably lived in the 1–4th c. AD, but neither the dating nor their nationality is certain.

Section snippets

Materials and methods

The remains are dressed up in ornate baroque attires (Fig. 1a and b). Mould was observed on both the remains and the clothing. The skull of St. Christine was tightly wrapped with a veil (Fig. 1a). The skull of St. Augustine was observable showing good preservation (Fig. 1b). Both saints were crowned with a wreath. The ribs of St. Christine were placed outside of the attire and decorated with gemstones. Gloves were found on the hands of St. Augustine stuffed with a soft material resembling

St. Christine

Some bones of the skeleton are missing, the rest was reassembled. Both the calvaria and the facial bones are damaged. CT images show significant bone loss [11]. The slices reveal comminuted fractures affecting almost the whole skull (Fig. 2a and b). The veil tightly wraps the skull holding the cranial elements together, thus presumably has a structural function beside the decorating purpose (Fig. 1a).

Both ante-mortem and post-mortem tooth loss can be observed in the jaws. The cervical vertebrae

Conclusion

In the course of the radiological imaging procedure it became obvious that the removal of the clothing for direct macroscopic observation would have done irreversible harm to the remains, and crucial data would have been lost. With the help of non-invasive imaging technique, a comprehensive picture was obtained on the general condition and the state of preservation of the remains. Restorers will now have enough background information to lay out the most appropriate plan for the cleaning and

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