Kokosnussreliquiar
The Relics of the Coconut
The coconut reliquary is first mentioned in an inventory in 1558. It is not until the 1622 catalogue that the relics themselves are described in detail.
Alongside the relic of Christ’s blood (housed within the figure of the Lamb), a total of 48 relics are listed in connection with the coconut. The sheer number is unusual in itself, as is the concentration of multiple relics associated with Christ and the Virgin Mary. The relic of Saint Paul—significant for Münster—is not singled out for special mention. The list concludes with a reference to "Bishop Willehad, our patron." While there was never a Bishop Willehad in Münster, there was one in Bremen.
About a century prior to the compilation of this relic catalogue, many treasures in Münster Cathedral had been destroyed by the Anabaptists. It is possible that relics salvaged from the rubble were gathered together inside the coconut reliquary. Alternatively, the relics may have originated from endowments made for the cathedral's reconstruction and refurnishing.
Of Lions and Lambs
Would you have recognized the crowning figure as a lamb without a hint? If not, that is hardly surprising. This lamb was originally a lion. Several rock-crystal flasks shaped like lions have survived; they originated in North Africa and the region of present-day Iraq. For the coconut reliquary, the lion’s head was turned around and reattached, secured by a gold collar. The tail was also modified.
It now represents the Lamb of God bearing the banner of victory (Latin: *Agnus Dei*). This is a symbol of the risen Jesus Christ. It is therefore not surprising that the lamb figure housed a relic of the blood of Jesus.