Veronica

Related Category: Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches: General Terms and Concepts

(vərŏn´ĭkə) [Lat., probably connected with Greek Berenice], relic preserved in St. Peter's Church, Rome. It is said to be a veil that a woman used to wipe the face of Jesus as he was on the way to Calvary. The cloth retained the print of his face. The woman, often called Veronica, is not listed in official calendars of saints. The relic is commonly called Veronica's veil.