The Oil of Saints, also known as the Manna of the Saints, is "an aromatic liquid with healing properties"[1] or "holy water (very much like myrrh)"[2] which "is said to have flowed, or still flows, from the relics or burial places"[3] of certain Christian saints, who are known as myroblytes while the exudation itself is referred to as myroblysia[4] or myroblytism. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, some icons are also believed to release such oil.[1]
According to Michael Ott, the term also refers to "the oil in the lamps that burn before the shrines of saints" or "the water that flows from the wells near their burial places", or "the oil and the water which have in some way come in contact with their relics."[3]
- ^ a b Kurian, George; Nelson, Thomas (2001). Nelson's Dictionary of Christianity. Thomas Nelson. ISBN 9781418539818.
- ^ Wheeler, Joe (2010). Christian Encounters: Saint Nicholas. Thomas Nelson. p. 54. ISBN 9781595553768.
- ^ a b Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
- ^ Konstantakopoulou, Angeliki (18 Mar 2015). "Pure Soul in Unclean body: Some Remarks on Christian-Islamic Divergences". Turkish Historical Review. 6 (1). Brill: 38–75. doi:10.1163/18775462-00601002.