Caroline Conway '08

Divine Research

We conducted research on the relic of St. John the Divine’s right hand, which is believed to be the hand that baptized Christ. It is contained and preserved in an elaborate gold and jewel-encrusted box, housed in a monastery in Montenegro. However, with such grave importance, this relic has traveled from Constantinople to Russia, Berlin, and even Yugoslavia. We looked at the history of this relic both during and after the Middle Ages and examined the changes in its meaning and function from medieval to modern times.

While looking through manuscripts, journals, articles, and historical and biblical references, we depicted the relic from the earliest occurrence of the hand leaving St. John’s body. Through the process, I learned about the patience and effort it takes to solidify the outcome, while continuing the process of developing my research skills.