Altars and relics

"Thus in the train of the impious heresy of the defamers of Christians, many other impieties appeared.  Just as those heretics removed the sight of venerable icons from the church, they also abandoned other customs, which should now be renewed and which should be in vigour in virtue of both written and unwritten legislation.  Therefore we decree that in venerable churches [(σεπτοὶ ναοὶ | venerabilis templa)] consecrated without relics of the holy martyrs, the installation of relics should take place along with the usual prayers.  And if in future any bishop is found out consecrating a church without relics, let him be deposed as someone who has flouted the ecclesiastical traditions."

     Second Council of Nicaea (787), Canon 7, as trans. Tanner (vol. 1, p. 144-145).

     1596:  "In 1596 Church law required a sepulcher for every altar" (NCE2 1, 315 < Bliley, Altars according to the Code of Canon Law (1927), 41 < Pontificale Romanum Clementis VIII (below)).    

     Corpus juris canonici 

     Code of canon law (Codex juris canonici (1982- )), Can. 1237 §2:  "The ancient tradition of placing relics of martyrs or other saints under a fixed altar is to be preserved, according to the norms given in the liturgical books [(Antiqua traditio Martyrum aliorumve Sanctorum reliquias sub altari fixo condendi servetur, iuxta normas in libris liturgicis traditas)]."

     Image:  Enclosure of the relics, "Consecration of the altar [(Consecratio altaris)]," Pontificale Romanum Clementis VIII (Rome:  [1596] 1595), p. 359 (pp. 322- ).