E00770: A Greek Homily on Psalm 115, attributed to Basil of Caesarea, points out the contrast between the Old Testament attitude to the remains of the dead as abominable, and the Christian appreciation of relics as precious. He states that sanctifying grace is imparted by touching the bones of a martyr. Written in Kaisareia/Caesarea of Cappadocia (central Asia Minor) in the 370s.

Basil of Caesarea, Homily on Psalm 115 (dubious) (CPG 2910)

(…………………) Ὅτε Ἰουδαϊκῶς ἀπέθνησκον, βδελυκτὰ ἦν τὰ θνησιμαῖα· ὅτε ὑπὲρ Χριστοῦ ὁ θάνατος, τίμια τὰ λείψανα τῶν ὁσίων αὐτοῦ. Πρὸ τούτου ἐλέγετο τοῖς ἱερεῦσι καὶ τοῖς Ναζωραίοις τὸ, Οὐ μιανθήσεσθε ἐπ’ οὐδενὶ τεθνηκότι· καὶ τὸ, Ἐάν τις ἅψηται νεκροῦ, ἀκάθαρτος ἔσται ἕως ἑσπέρας· καὶ τὸ, Πλυνεῖ ἑαυτοῦ τὰ ἱμάτια. Νυνὶ δὲ ὁ ἁψάμενος ὀστέων μάρτυρος, λαμβάνει τινὰ μετουσίαν ἁγιασμοῦ ἐκ τῆς τῷ σώματι παρεδρευούσης χάριτος. (………………)

‘(................) When they died in Judaism, all things touched by death were abominable. But when death is for Christ, the remains of his holy ones are held precious. Before this, it was said to the priests and the Nazarites: ‘Do not defile yourselves with any dead body’; and also: ‘Whoever touches a dead body will be impure till evening’, and that ‘He must wash his garments’. But now whoever touches the bones of a martyr receives some partaking in sanctification by the grace abiding in that body. (....................) ‘

Text: Migne 1851. Translation: E. Rizos