Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia holds relics of St. Arethas of Najran

In brief

The Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia in Manama houses the relics of St. Arethas of Najran, according to a statement from the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia press office. The relics are kept both in the Chapel of Our Lady of Arabia and beneath the cathedral altar.

St. Arethas and his companions were martyred in Najran in 523 after remaining faithful to Christ during a period of persecution. The presence of these relics beneath the altar follows an early Church custom of celebrating the Eucharist over the tombs of martyrs to symbolize the connection between the sacrifice of Christ and the witness of the saints. The chapel also contains a collection of relics from various other saints.