holy relic; sacred relic
Refers to physical remains or personal effects of a saint or venerated person, often kept as objects of religious veneration. Common in Christian contexts but also used for Buddhist relics.
Holy relics are enshrined in that church.
Debate continues over the authenticity of the relic.
Compound of 聖 (holy, sacred) and 遺物 (relic, remains). The term is a direct translation of the Western concept of 'holy relic', likely coined in the context of Christian missionary work in Japan.