Did Early Christians Keep Relics of the Saints?

Yes. There is clear second-century evidence that Christians carefully preserved the remains of martyrs.

One of the strongest examples is the Martyrdom of Polycarp.

Polycarp

Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, was martyred in the second century.

The account of his martyrdom describes Christians recovering his bones, regarding them as precious and placing them in an appropriate location.

The community also hoped to gather to commemorate the anniversary of his martyrdom.

Primary source:

https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0102.htm

Did they worship Polycarp?

No.

The same account explicitly distinguishes Christian devotion to martyrs from the worship Christians give to Christ.

That distinction matters enormously.

Catholic veneration of saints is not supposed to be divine worship.

What does this establish?

The text gives early evidence for:

• reverence toward martyrs;
• preservation of their physical remains;
• commemoration of martyrdom anniversaries;
• a distinction between honoring martyrs and worshiping Christ.

It does not prove every later Catholic practice involving relics.

It demonstrates that reverence for the bodily remains of holy Christians is not simply a medieval invention.

Ask the deeper question

Why would Christians so close to the age of persecution treat a martyr's remains this way?

Explore Saints and Martyrs in the Early Church →