Aachen cathedral restores shrine to St Corona

A shrine made over 100 years ago with the alleged remains of Saint Corona is currently being restored in the famous Cathedral of Aachen in Germany.

In parts of Germany and Austria some consider Saint Corona a patron saint against the spread of epidemics.

However, Birgitta Falk, head of Aachen Cathedral Treasure Chamber, told the Associated Press in an interview that this was a bit of a "generalization".

Falk explained that Saint Corona "is invoked against cattle epidemics" in some southern German and Austrian regions, and that this association has been applied to the worship of the Saint overall.

Falk also explained that the name given to the virus and the name given to the Saint were both derived from the Latin word for "crown", so that the similarity in names was not due to a direct link between the Saint and the terminology associated with the current pandemic.

According to legend, Corona the Saint had been only about 16 years old when she died a Christian martyr about 1,800 years ago, Falk said.

The Cathedral Treasury in Aachen had planned to put it on display for the public this summer, but this is now still to be confirmed due to the ongoing restrictions on gatherings.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.