And here in the attached pictures below we have the tomb and a relic of St. Valentine. While this might appear macabre to our modern sensibilities, ancient Christians often preserved and venerated the remains and belongings of beloved Christians and Christian leaders. These artifacts became known as holy relics. It was believed by these ancient Christians that touching, venerating, and praying before these ancient relics imparted divine power and grace. Miraculous healings and experiences are often attributed to these items by believers in this tradition. This tradition is based on how these early Christians viewed the following texts:
Elisha's Bones:
2 Kings 13:21 (ESV)
And as a man was being buried, behold, a marauding band was seen and the man was thrown into the grave of Elisha, and as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.
The woman with an issue of blood:
Mark 5:25-29 (ESV)
25 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, 26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 28 For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” 29 And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.
Clothing worn by the Apostle Paul (also known today in many churches as the origin of "prayer cloths"):
Acts 19:11-12 (ESV)
11 And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.