In religion, a
relic usually consists of the physical remains of a saint or the personal effects of the saint or venerated person preserved for purposes of
veneration as a tangible memorial. Relics are an important aspect of some forms of
Buddhism,
Christianity,
Hinduism,
Shamanism, and many other religions.
Relic derives from the
Latin reliquiae, meaning "remains," and a form of the Latin verb
relinquere, to "leave behind, or abandon." A
reliquary is a
shrine that houses one or more religious relics.