A shrine, from the Latin scrinium (‘box’; also used as a desk, like the French bureau) is originally a container, usually in precious materials, especially for a relic and often a cult image, and/or a holy or sacred place containing the same, dedicated towards a certain deity, saint, or similar religious figure. Secular meanings have developed by association, as noted below.

Religious shrines

Religious traditions which have founded public places of worship frequently called shrines include: Christian denominations, such as Anglicanism, Roman Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity (most Protestant denominations have historically opposed veneration of saints); Hinduism; Buddhism; Shinto; and Islam (mainly Shiah).

Muslims have differing opinions on shrines and the Intercession of saints:"And the mosques are for Allah (Alone): so invoke not anyone along with Allah" Sura Al-Jinn:18 (72:18)). The only major mosques according to Sunni Muslims are in the following order; 1- Masjid al Haram 2- Masjid al-Nabawi 3- Al-Aqsa Mosque (A mosque on the holy Temple Mount, which is a place visited by both Jewish and Christian pilgrims). Shi'ism maintains a tradition of venerating late religious leaders (as there is no hierarchical church, the bond is very personal; but often a 'successor', sometimes even a son, maintains a following) and/or martyrs (usually at their grave); thus the Persian word imamzadeh. There are also sunnite equivalents, as among the ascetic marabouts of West Africa and the Maghreb.

A Buddhist shrine is sometimes called a stupa, requiring a symbolic architecture.

In Shinto, small portable shrines are often carried in religious processions.

In the Roman Catholic Code of Canon law, canons 1230, 1231: "The term shrine means a church or other sacred place which, with the approval of the local Ordinary, is by reason of special devotion frequented by the faithful as pilgrims. For a shrine to be described as national, the approval of the Episcopal Conference is necessary. For it to be described as international, the approval of the Holy See is required." Shrines are therefore normally churches which for historical or other reasons have become the destination of pilgrimages.

Another use of the term "shrine" in colloquial Catholic terminology is a niche or alcove in most - especially larger - churches used by Parishioners when praying privately in the church. They were also called Devotional Altars, since they could look like small Side Altars. Shrines were always centered on some image of Christ or a saint - for instance, a statue, painting, mural or mosaic, and may have had a reredos behind them. However, Mass would not be celebrated at them; they were simply used to aid or give a visual focus to Parishioners' prayers. Side altars were Mass could actually be celebrated were used in a similar way to shrines by Parishioners. Side Altars were specifically dedicated to The Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph or other saints.

The word is also used to designate a small altar in a home or place of business, or a room or item of furniture which is furnished with religious symbols and used for private worship, as was common in the polytheist periods of Classical Antiquity. Devotions are generally to ancestral or tutelary spirits.

Secular shrines

By extension the term shrine has come to mean any place (or virtual cyber-place) dedicated completely to a particular person or subject.

Notable shrines

• The Shrine of Remembrance is a war memorial in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Australia
• The Shrine of Remembrance is a war memorial in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Roman Catholic

• basilica
• Shrines to the Virgin Mary

The list of those considered at least of national importance comprizes none in Africa, but on all other continents:

Europe

• Basilica Mariä Geburt in Mariazell, Styria

In Belgium:

• The shrine of Our Lady at Scherpenheuvel in Flanders

Two in Croatia:

• minor basilica of the Mother Mary of Bistrica
• National Shrine of St. Joseph on Dubovac in Karlovac

One in the Czech Republic:

• Katedrála sv. Víta, Václava a Vojtěcha Prague cathedral

Three in France:

• minor basilica (upper chucrh) of Our Lady of Lourdes
• Cathedral of Our Lady in Reims, wher the French kings were crowned
• National Shrine of Our Lady Help of Christians in Nice

In Germany:

• Shrine of the Three Kings at Cologne Cathedral

One in Ireland:

• the minor basilica of Our Lady of Knock Queen of Ireland ^* in Knock, Galway, Connachta

Two pontifical minor basilicas in Italy:

• The shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary cathedral at Loreto in Italy
• Pontifical Basilica of St. Anthony of Padua, conventual

One in Latvia:

• minor baslica of BVM Assumption in Aglona

One in Malta:

• the minor basilica of National Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of Ta’ Pinu Assumption in Għarb

Three minor basilicas in Poland:

• Shrine to the Blessed Virgin Mary at Czestochowa
• Wawel Cathedral of St. Stanislaus and St. Wenceslaus in Krakow
• JHS Divine Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki

The main shrine in Portugal:

• Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Fatima

Three minor basilicas in Spain:

• The shrine of the Apostle Saint James the Great at Santiago de Compostela in Spain, historically the third Catholic pilgrimage destination after Jeruzalem and Rome
• Santuario Nacional de la Gran Promesa Heart in Valladolid
• Mare de Déu de Montserrat ^* in Terrassa

Four in the UK:

• The shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Walsingham (England)
• The shrine of St Edward the Confessor in Westminster Abbey (England)
• The shrine of St Winifred at Holywell (Wales)
• Welsh National Shrine of Our Lady of Cardigan, Wales

North America

One in Mexico:

• minor Basílica of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe

Fifty five in the USA:

• The National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC in the United States
• The National Shrine of the Little Flower Catholic Church in Royal Oak, MI.
• Shrine of the North American Martyrs in Auriesville, NY.

Central America

One in Nicaragua

One in Panama

South America

Asia

Two in India:

• One international shrine, in Ernakulam – Angamaly, of the Syro-Malabar rite:
• furthermore Shrine Vailankanni Basilica Vailankanni in India

Fifteen in the Philippines.

Two in Sri Lanka.

Oceania

• in Sydney, St. Mary’s Cathedral, a minor basilica
• in Melbourne: St. Anthony’s National Shrine, National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and National Shrine of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux

Shinto

• Tsukudo Shrine (in Tokyo)

U.S. historic shrines

• The Alamo
• Fort McHenry
• Saint Anne Parish and Shrine in Fall River, Massachusetts
• Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island

See also

• Shriners (Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine) used to call their masonic assembly places temple (akin to shrine), but recently rebaptised them shriner centre
• Malaysian Chinese Gods

Sources and references

• GigaCatholic
• Hari Parbat

Shrines

Schrein | Schrijn