Relic of Saint Theophanes the Confessor (Ex Ossibus)

Relic of Saint Theophanes the Confessor (Ex Ossibus)
With Original Archiepiscopal Authentication – Milan, 1890

An exceptionally rare and substantial relic of Saint Theophanes the Confessor, one of the most revered defenders of Orthodox Christianity during the Iconoclastic controversy of the Byzantine Empire.

The relic consists of a remarkably large bone fragment — identified as an entire vertebra — preserved in its original circular theca and accompanied by an official Latin authentication document issued in Milan in 1890.

Dimensions of the reliquary:

• Diameter: 5 cm
• Thickness: 3 cm

The size and integrity of the relic make it particularly extraordinary among 19th-century authenticated relics.

The Reliquary & Relic

The relic is enclosed in a circular metal reliquary with:

• Convex glass front
• Deep red silk interior
• Handwritten label: “S. Theophanis Conf.”
• Traditional silk ligatures
• Intact red ecclesiastical wax seal on the reverse

The relic itself is a large vertebral bone fragment, unusually complete and visually impressive. Relics of this size — especially from early Byzantine confessors — are rarely encountered on the market and were typically reserved for important ecclesiastical institutions.

The intact seal confirms the reliquary has not been opened since its official authentication.

Saint Theophanes the Confessor (c. 758–818)

Saint Theophanes was a Byzantine monk, chronicler, and staunch defender of the veneration of holy icons during the period of Iconoclasm. Born into a noble family in Constantinople, he renounced wealth and political status to embrace monastic life.

He became abbot of the monastery of Megas Agros and is best known for his theological steadfastness during the second wave of Byzantine Iconoclasm under Emperor Leo V.

Because he refused to renounce the veneration of sacred images, Theophanes was arrested, imprisoned, and subjected to harsh treatment. Though he endured severe suffering, he did not yield his convictions. Ultimately exiled to Samothrace, he died as a result of the hardships inflicted upon him.

He is honored with the title “Confessor” — a designation given to saints who suffered persecution for the faith but were not executed. In the Eastern Church, he is also celebrated as a chronicler of immense historical importance, as his Chronographia remains a major source for early medieval Byzantine history.

Saint Theophanes Represents:

• The defense of sacred tradition
• Fidelity under imperial persecution
• The triumph of orthodoxy over political pressure
• The intellectual and spiritual strength of Byzantine monasticism

His relics have been venerated in both Eastern and Western Christian traditions.

Archiepiscopal Authentication – Milan, 1890

The accompanying document was issued under the authority of Aloisius Nazari di Calabiana (Luigi Nazari di Calabiana, 1808–1893), Archbishop of Milan.

Archbishop Nazari di Calabiana governed the Archdiocese of Milan — one of the most historically significant sees in Christendom — during a period of profound political and ecclesiastical transformation following Italian unification.

He was known for his administrative rigor and strict adherence to canonical procedure, particularly in matters concerning the authentication and safeguarding of sacred relics.

The document certifies:

• The authenticity of the relic (ex ossibus Sancti Theophanis Confessoris)
• Its legitimate extraction from recognized sources
• Proper enclosure and sealing
• Authorization for public veneration
• Official archiepiscopal seal and signature
• Issuance in Milan in April 1890

Authentication from the See of Milan — historically associated with Saint Ambrose — confers significant ecclesiastical weight and credibility.

Historical & Collecting Significance

• Exceptionally large relic (entire vertebra)
• Saint of major Byzantine theological importance
• Official Milanese authentication (1890)
• Intact original wax seal

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