A reliquary is a receptacle for keeping or
displaying sacred relics. For Christians, relics
were objects connected with saints or the actual
physical remains of saints. The veneration of the
sacred relics of martyrs is a practice known to
date from at least as early as the 2nd century.
The Crusades led to an influx of relics from the
Middle East and reliquaries became popular
items of adornment used for protection by
crusaders and the wealthy elite who could afford
such luxuries. Although the practice of
veneration was defended both by the 13th
century theologian St. Thomas Aquinas and by
the Council of Trent in the 16th century, the
veneration of icons has always had a greater
importance in the Eastern Orthodoxy.
This beautiful Byzantine reliquary cross once
housed the relics of a Christian martyr. In fact,
the two halves of the cross are still sealed.
Perhaps the remains of a saint still remain
inside? This possibility makes the cross even
more sacred and special. Given the outstanding
condition of the reliquary (notice that the
suspension loop is still intact) and considering
that when gently shaken, one can hear a faint
rumbling inside, this possibility is quite high.
While this chance makes the cross that much
more exciting, it should not take away from the
remarkable beauty of the reliquary itself. The
Latin-shaped cross has been incised with a
representation of Mary. The Virgin is shown with
her arms outstretched in prayer, bent upward
towards the heavens. This specific pose is
known as the Virgin Orans, meaning “Praying
Virgin.” The forms of figure have been
abstracted, especially regarding her facial
features. This suggestive style heightens the
spirituality of the work, for it is the idea of the
holiness of the Virgin that is the focus, not her
physicality. The reverse of the cross has been
inscribed with a series of letter, possibly relating
to a prayer or standing for a passage from the
Bible. The sacred, protective energies of this
spectacular reliquary cross continue to radiate
outwards, still as potent and powerful as the day
it was first worn.
- (FJ.6763)
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