The Severed Right Hand of St. Maximus the Confessor (Orthodox Catholic Caucus)

Mystagogy ^ | 01-21-2016 | John Sanidopoulos

[NRx]

During the reign of the monothelite Emperor Constans II (630-668), Saint Maximus the Confessor was exiled three times, but before the third time an incident took place that earned him the title of "Confessor". To put an end to his teaching and writing about the Orthodox faith against Monothelitism, the Emperor ordered that his tongue be cut out and his right hand severed. Then as he was carried off to his third exile from Constantinople to the Caucasus, it was ordered that his severed members be hung around his neck as he was paraded through Constantinople. Saint Maximus reposed in exile in 662.

By God's Providence, this severed right hand of Saint Maximus has been preserved and is kept as a great treasure in the Monastery of Saint Paul in Mount Athos since the twelfth century. It is the only known relic of Saint Maximus.

[NRx]

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[cloudmountain]

Relics are MOST interesting, aren't they?

http://infallible-catholic.blogspot.com/2012/04/miraculous-image-of-our-lady-of.html

It's said that in Mexico's Guadalupe Cathedral the cloak, worn by the poor Indian she appeared to, with Mary's image on it is still in good shape.
I saw it myself about twenty years ago.

Her image is of a rather darkish brown woman. She is also wearing a black sash, which pregnant women did in his culture.

From that site:

"The "Tilma" (a kind of cloak worn by native Mexicans) of Juan Diego that bears the miraculous Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a coarse fabric made from the threads of the maguey cactus fiber which usually lasts no more than 20 to 30 years, and yet the fabric has maintained its structural integrity - without cracking or fading, or any sign of deterioration for nearly 500 years.
It consists of two pieces of coarse cloth fibers of about 1.70 by 1.05 meters (69.99 by 41.3 inches) held together in the center by a seam of thread made of the same material and is typical of the cloaks used by the Nahuas in the 15th and 16th centuries called "Ayates." The seam is visible up the middle of the figure, turning aside from the face.
For centuries the Tilma was exposed to the rigors of all natural elements without any kind of protection against infrared and ultraviolet radiations from the tens of thousands of candles near it and the humid condition, dusty and salty air around the Basilica.
Despite the constant contact of hands and kisses of thousands of pilgrims who venerated the Image and the continuous manual handling of the Tilma including the many different objects that touched it during the countless times it was subjected to scientific examinations, the Tilma remained in a state of perfect condition.
No explanation was also offered by scientists as to why the Tilma is repellent to insects and dust.