The invention relates to a sealing system (1) between two components (2, 3) that can move relative to one another for sealing a high-pressure side (H) against a low-pressure side (N). In a sealing arrangement (9) provided in a first annular groove (4), one or more pressure relief elements (10a, 10b) are arranged upstream at the high-pressure side in second annular grooves (14a, 14b). The pressure relief elements (10a, 10b) each comprise a second sealing ring (15a, 15b) with flat pressure gradients. The hydrodynamic leakage rate for each pressure relief element (10a, 10b) is selected such that a certain hydraulic pressure prevails in each intermediate space (Za, Zb), thus resulting in a pressure cascade in the intermediate space.; The sealing system (1), according to the invention, comprises, in addition to the hydrodynamic feed capabilities of the sealing rings (5, 15a, 15b), a hydrostatic relief facility via connecting channels (17a, 17b) provided in the pressure relief elements (10a, 10b), said connecting channels acting as non-return valves and generating a pressure relief of an intermediate space (Zb) when the pressure of the intermediate space is increased above the pressure of the following intermediate space at the high-pressure side plus a corresponding pressure increase variable.