The collection was largely curated by Father Johann Martin Gartner, who rescued thousands of relics from secularization efforts in Europe during the 1800s.
The shrine holds relics associated with nearly every saint recognized by the Catholic Church, including fragments from the True Cross.
The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Many reliquaries in the collection date back to the mid-19th century and were imported specifically from Germany.
The shrine maintains a specific registry of the provenance for each relic contained within the walls.
The Maria Stein Shrine of the Holy Relics houses the second-largest collection of Catholic relics in the United States. Founded in 1875 by the Sisters of the Precious Blood, the site serves as a permanent repository for over 1,100 relics of saints. The main Chapel of Relics displays these artifacts in elaborate nineteenth-century reliquaries. The complex includes a museum detailing the history of the congregation and their missionary work in Ohio. The grounds feature a heritage trail and several outdoor prayer spaces. It remains a site of active pilgrimage and historical preservation within the Roman Catholic tradition.
The interior of the Chapel of Relics, specifically the detailed altar and surrounding reliquary cases.
Check the official website for scheduled guided tours if you want a deep dive into the provenance of the collection.
Explore the outdoor Stations of the Cross path on the north side of the grounds.
Visit the gift shop for unique locally crafted religious items and historical books.
Avoid arriving during private funeral services or large retreat events which may limit access to specific chapel areas.
Closed on major federal holidays and occasionally for private religious retreats.
Maintain a quiet, respectful demeanor; modest clothing is expected as this is a site of active religious devotion.
