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. The
Latin-shaped cross has been incised with a
representation of Mary on the front and St.
Thomas on the reverse. 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.” Above the Virgin's head is the Greek
inscription “PANAGHA,” translated as, "All-holy,"
the Christ child is depicted in front of her, and
there are the busts of archangels Michael and
Gabriel at the ends of the arms of the cross. On
the reverse, St. Thomas stands with his hands
before his chest and is identified by the Greek
inscription above his head, “O AGHOC THOMAC,”
meaning, "the holy Thomas.” At the end of the
left arm is St. Peter, labeled in Greek “PETPOC,”
and at the end of the right arm is St. John,
labeled in Greek “HOANHC.” The forms of
figures have been abstracted. This suggestive
style heightens the spirituality of the work, for it
is the idea of the holiness of the figures that is
the focus, not their 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.
- (X.0057)
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