Silver Reliquary with Relics of Saint Lawrence, Martyr and Deacon

Silver Reliquary with Relics of Saint Lawrence, Martyr and Deacon

+ Episcopal Authentication Document, 1845

(ex ossibus – from the bones)

Dimensions of the reliquary: approx. 2.5 × 2.3 cm

This finely preserved silver reliquary contains an authenticated bone relic (ex ossibus) of Saint Lawrence, one of the most revered martyrs of the early Christian Church. The relic is mounted on a deep red silk ground, traditionally reserved for martyrs, and protected beneath its original glass cover. A handwritten paper label identifies the saint, and the reliquary remains sealed in accordance with canonical norms.

The relic is accompanied by its original Latin authentication document, issued in 1845, complete with signature, embossed seal, and wax closure, confirming the relic’s ecclesiastical legitimacy and uninterrupted provenance.

Saint Lawrence (†258) – Martyr and Deacon of Rome

Saint Lawrence served as one of the seven deacons of Rome under Pope Sixtus II during the reign of Emperor Valerian. Entrusted with the care of the Church’s treasury and the poor, Lawrence became a symbol of Christian charity and fearless faith.

According to ancient tradition, when ordered to surrender the Church’s riches, Lawrence presented the poor, sick, and widowed, declaring them the true treasure of the Church. For this act of defiance, he was condemned to death and martyred in 258 AD, famously enduring execution on a gridiron.

Saint Lawrence is venerated as:

• Patron saint of deacons, cooks, and the poor
• One of the most universally honored martyrs in both the Eastern and Western Churches
• A symbol of courage, humor in suffering, and unwavering fidelity to Christ

His cult spread rapidly across Europe, and relics of Saint Lawrence were treasured from Late Antiquity onward, making authenticated relics particularly significant.

Ecclesiastical Authentication – Stephanus Missir, 1845

The accompanying document was issued by Archbishop Stephanus Missir, Archbishop of Irenopolis, acting by special apostolic faculty granted under Pope Gregory XVI.

Archbishop Missir was a prominent 19th-century church prelate entrusted with:

• The recognition, authentication, and sealing of sacred relics
• Issuing formal letters of authenticity (authenticae) in Latin
• Applying episcopal seals in red wax to guarantee inviolability

The document explicitly attests that:

• The relic was extracted from an authentic source
• It was canonically examined
• It was placed into a sealed silver reliquary
• It was authorized for public veneration within churches and private chapels

Such documents were essential to safeguard the integrity of relics and remain a cornerstone of serious ecclesiastical collecting.

Summary

Saint: Saint Lawrence, Martyr and Deacon of Rome

Relic type: ex ossibus (bone)

Reliquary: Silver, sealed, original glass and silk mount

Date of document: 1845

Issuing authority: Archbishop Stephanus Missir

Condition: Very good, intact seals and documentation

Provenance: Fully authenticated, ecclesiastical origin

This reliquary represents a rare and historically important devotional object, uniting early Christian martyrdom with 19th-century ecclesiastical tradition and documentation.

------ Ask for authenticity documents in private messages at info@saintsrelics.com ------