Heavenly Bodies, Book About the Catacomb Saint Skeletons of Europe

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Cover of Heavenly Bodies by Paul Koudounaris, showing the skull of a catacomb saint adorned with gold and jewels

Heavenly Bodies: Cult Treasures and Spectacular Saints from the Catacombs by art historian Paul Koudounaris is a book about the catacomb saints, richly decorated skeletons that are found in many Catholic churches in German-speaking regions of Europe.

The skeletons, which originated in the Roman catacombs, were sent abroad by the Vatican during the Counter Reformation in the 16th and 17th centuries in an effort to replace religious relics that had been lost during the Protestant Reformation. The book includes Koudounaris’ photographs of the catacomb saints, taken during his research in Europe.

We previously posted about Koudounaris’ book on ossuaries and charnel houses, The Empire of Death.

E.D.W. Lynch

E.D.W. Lynch

Writer and humor generalist on the Internet and on Facebook.

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