"For the first time in nearly eight centuries, the general public was able to see the remains of one of the Catholic Church's best-known saints. The patron saint of Italy's remains have been resting in a stone sarcophagus for centuries. On Saturday, the coffin was ceremoniously transferred from the crypt to the lower church of the Basilica of St Francis of Assisi. The display will last one month and end on March 22."
"A new crypt was built for the sarcophagus in the lower church of the basilica. In celebration of the 800th anniversary of his death, the saint's remains are on display in a plexiglas case near the altar of the lower church. Visitors are permitted to touch the outer case of the display. Celebrations in Italy will continue after the display ends. October 4, which is the feast day of St Francis, has been reinstated as a public holiday."
Pilgrims and visitors queued in Assisi to view Saint Francis of Assisi's remains, now on full public display for the first time in nearly 800 years. The saint's bones, long kept in a stone sarcophagus, were moved from the crypt to the lower church of the Basilica of St Francis of Assisi and placed in a plexiglas case near the altar. The month-long exhibition runs until March 22 and has attracted nearly 400,000 registered attendees. Visitors are allowed to touch the outer case. Francis, born around 1181, founded the Franciscan Order after renouncing his wealth. Celebrations in Italy will continue, and October 4 has been reinstated as a public holiday.
Read at www.dw.com
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