"The tradition of placing relics in altars goes back to the persecution of Christians in Rome. As early as 125 A.D., Christians crept into the catacombs below the city of Rome to celebrate Mass. Early priests chose the tombs of Christian martyrs as altars." 

Taken from www.churchofsaintmary.org

The relics in our altar belong to St. Martin and St. Placidus, both martyrs for the faith.  The relics were revealed in April 2020 during the renovation of the church.  Both relics were in a small box covered by a small stone in the top of the altar which was plastered in.  After the relics were revealed and identified, the box was placed back in the altar and the stone was resealed with black grout.

St. Placidus, the martyr was said to have been killed by pirates or possibly under the persecution of Emperor Diocletian.  It is believed that he was killed with 30 other martyrs on that day.  His feast day is October 5.

St. Martin I was pope from 649-655.  He was arrested by the Emperor Constans II for his staunch defense of the faith against the Monothelitism heresy.  After his arrest, he was exiled to Cherson, a region that today includes much of western Turkey.  He died shortly after his exile and his feast day is celebrated on April 13.

St. Placidus and St. Martin, pray for us!