Relics of Saint Charbel

Where his relics are, what they are, and how the faithful venerate them

The relics of Saint Charbel are among the most sought-after in the modern Catholic world. His remains rest in a small mountain monastery in Lebanon, yet fragments of his bones and objects blessed at his tomb now travel to churches across several continents.

People often ask where his relics are, whether they can be seen outside Lebanon, and whether one can be bought. This is a careful answer to those questions, starting with what a relic actually means.

What a Relic Is

In Catholic understanding, a relic is a physical link to a holy person: their bodily remains, or something closely tied to them. Honoring relics is an ancient practice, reaching back to the early Christians who gathered at the tombs of the martyrs to pray.

The Church sorts relics into three classes. A first-class relic is a part of the saint's body, most often a small fragment of bone. A second-class relic is something the saint owned or used, such as a piece of clothing. A third-class relic is any object that has been touched to a first-class relic.

A relic is not a lucky charm and does not carry power of its own. It is a point of contact, a physical reminder that the saint was a real person who now lives with God, and that we can ask for their prayers. What honor we give the relic passes to the saint, and through the saint to God.

The Tomb at Annaya: The Primary Site

The center of everything is the tomb of Saint Charbel at the Monastery of Saint Maron in Annaya, Lebanon. His bodily remains are kept there, and this tomb is the primary relic and the primary place of devotion.

Saint Charbel Makhlouf died on December 24, 1898, and was buried at the monastery. His body was later found incorrupt across several examinations, and for decades it exuded a reddish, oil-like liquid. You can read the fuller account in our article on the incorrupt body of Saint Charbel.

Over time the body followed the natural course, and today his remains consist of his bones, kept at the monastery. The tomb draws pilgrims from around the world throughout the year, and the monastery keeps a large archive of favors and healings reported by those who have prayed there.

If you are considering a pilgrimage, our guide to visiting Annaya covers how to reach the monastery and what you will find when you arrive. No relic elsewhere replaces the tomb; it is the place the whole devotion flows from.

The Blessed Oil Is Not a Bodily Relic

Many people first encounter Saint Charbel through the blessed oil, and it is easy to confuse it with a relic. The two are related but distinct, and the difference is worth knowing.

The blessed oil is ordinary oil that the monks at Annaya sanctify by touching it to a relic of the saint. Because it has touched a first-class relic, it functions like a third-class relic and a sacramental, a blessed aid to prayer. It is not a fragment of the saint's body.

This is why the oil can be given out freely to countless pilgrims while first-class relics remain rare and carefully kept. For how the oil is prepared, used, and understood, see our article on the holy oil of Saint Charbel.

First-Class Relics Around the World

As devotion to Saint Charbel has spread, the monastery at Annaya has entrusted small first-class relics, fragments of his bone, to Maronite communities in other countries. This lets the faithful who cannot travel to Lebanon venerate a piece of the saint close to home.

The best-documented recent example is in Australia. In May 2024, Saint Charbel's Church in Punchbowl, in Sydney, received a first-class bone relic. Thousands of Maronites filled the streets on May 8 as pallbearers carried a replica of the saint's tomb, holding the relic, to its new home. The parish became one of the principal shrines to Saint Charbel outside Lebanon.

Relics also travel for shorter visits. Maronite eparchies and dioceses in various countries have hosted a relic of Saint Charbel for a day or a season, allowing parishes to gather for prayer and veneration before it moves on. These visits are arranged through the Church, and the relic always returns to its custodian.

It is wise to be careful about specific claims. Beyond a few well-publicized shrines like Punchbowl, the exact churches that permanently hold a first-class relic are not always easy to confirm. If you want to venerate a relic near you, the reliable path is to ask a Maronite parish or eparchy directly rather than trust an unverified list.

Why Relics Are Never Sold

One question comes up again and again: can you buy a relic of Saint Charbel? The answer is no, and the reason matters.

Church law forbids the sale of sacred relics in its strongest language. To sell or buy a spiritual thing is the sin of simony, named after Simon in the Acts of the Apostles who tried to purchase the gifts of God. First-class relics are entrusted, not traded.

What you may see for sale online are usually third-class relics, small cloths or cards touched to a relic, or blessed objects such as oil, medals, and images. These can be legitimate devotional items, though even here caution is wise, because the popularity of the saint has drawn sellers who overstate what they offer.

A genuine first-class relic reaches the faithful through the Church, as a gift and a trust. Any offer to sell you a bone relic of Saint Charbel should be treated as a warning sign, not an opportunity.

How the Faithful Venerate the Relics

Veneration is the honor the Church gives to the saints, and it is different in kind from the worship owed to God alone. When the faithful venerate a relic of Saint Charbel, they are honoring the saint and asking him to pray for them before God.

In practice this is simple. People pray before the relic, often touching or kissing the reliquary that holds it, and bring their intentions to the saint. At Annaya this usually means praying at the tomb; where a relic is present in a church abroad, it often means a time of Mass, prayer, and silence before it.

The healings and favors long associated with Saint Charbel are understood as the work of God, granted through the saint's intercession. The relic does not perform them. It draws the heart toward trust, the way touching the hem of a garment once did in the Gospel. Our overview of the miracles of Saint Charbel looks at this more fully.

Approached this way, a relic is a quiet gift. A fragment of bone, a whispered prayer, and a heart turned toward God through the intercession of a Lebanese hermit who sought nothing for himself. To learn more about his life, see our profile of Saint Charbel Makhlouf.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the relics of Saint Charbel?

In Catholic understanding, a relic is the physical remains of a saint or something closely connected to them. A first-class relic of Saint Charbel is a fragment of his body, most often a small piece of bone. A second-class relic is something he used or wore, such as a piece of his habit, and a third-class relic is an object that has touched a first-class relic. His remains rest in his tomb at the Monastery of Saint Maron in Annaya, Lebanon.

Where are Saint Charbel's relics?

The primary site is his tomb at the Monastery of Saint Maron in Annaya, Lebanon, where his bodily remains are kept and where pilgrims come to pray. This is the heart of the devotion. Small first-class relics, fragments of bone, have also been given by the monastery to certain Maronite churches and shrines in other countries so that the faithful abroad can venerate them.

Are there Saint Charbel relics outside Lebanon?

Yes. First-class relics have been entrusted to Maronite communities in several countries. One well-documented example is Saint Charbel's Church in Punchbowl, Sydney, which in May 2024 received a first-class bone relic placed in a replica of his tomb, becoming a major shrine to the saint. Relics also travel to parishes for temporary veneration during special visits, though the tomb at Annaya remains the central place of pilgrimage.

Can you buy a Saint Charbel relic?

No. Church law forbids the sale of sacred relics in its strongest terms, and buying or selling spiritual things is the sin of simony. Genuine first-class relics are never sold; they are entrusted by the Church to parishes and shrines. Items sold online as Charbel relics are usually third-class relics or blessed objects such as oil or medals, and any seller promising to sell a bone relic should be treated with caution.

How do the faithful venerate the relics of Saint Charbel?

Veneration is honor shown to the saint, not worship, which belongs to God alone. The faithful pray before the relic, touch or kiss the reliquary, and ask Saint Charbel to intercede for them. At Annaya this often means praying at the tomb itself; where a relic is present in a church abroad, the faithful gather for prayer, Mass, and quiet time before it. The relic is a point of contact that draws the heart toward God.