Very large First-Class Relic of Saint John the Baptist

Very Large First-Class Relic of Saint John the Baptist

Original Episcopal Authentica — 1898

A remarkable antique reliquary theca containing an exceptionally large first-class bone relic of Saint John the Baptist, the Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptizer of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

The relic is identified by its original Latin cedula:

"S. Joannis Bap. Prec."
"Saint John the Baptist, Precursor."

The substantial bone fragment is displayed beneath glass against a richly decorated gold textile ground. The reverse of the reliquary preserves its original red silk securing threads together with the intact episcopal wax seal, confirming that the relic has remained unopened since its official authentication.

Saint John the Baptist

Saint John the Baptist holds a unique place in Christian history as the Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptizer of Jesus Christ. Born to the priest Zechariah and Saint Elizabeth, he was chosen by God to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah. Living an ascetic life in the wilderness of Judea, he preached repentance and called the people to conversion before baptizing Christ in the waters of the River Jordan.

His fearless proclamation of truth ultimately led to his imprisonment and martyrdom by beheading under the order of King Herod Antipas.

Saint John is among the very few saints whose birth and martyrdom are both celebrated in the Church's liturgical calendar. Revered from the earliest centuries by both the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches, his relics have always ranked among the most treasured and significant in Christian devotion because of his unique role in the earthly life and Baptism of Christ.

Bishop Ignazio Maria Sellitti

The reliquary is accompanied by its original episcopal Authentica, dated 9 September 1898. The document bears the name and episcopal arms of Ignazio Maria Sellitti, Bishop of Melfi and Rapolla.

Born in Lecce in 1807, Bishop Sellitti was appointed Bishop of Melfi and Rapolla in 1849 and governed the diocese for more than three decades. His episcopate spanned one of the most important periods of nineteenth-century Italian history, including the years of Italian unification.

The accompanying certificate explicitly identifies the relic as:

"ex sacris ossibus Sancti Joannis Praecursoris Domini in Baptismo"
"From the sacred bones of Saint John, the Forerunner of the Lord in Baptism."

The document further records that the relic was enclosed within a round metal theca, secured according to ecclesiastical practice with red silk thread and the official episcopal seal.

An exceptionally important museum-quality Christian relic distinguished by its unusually large first-class bone fragment, its perfectly preserved sealed reliquary, and its complete original nineteenth-century episcopal documentation.

Saint: Saint John the Baptist, Prophet & Forerunner of Christ
Relic: Very Large First-Class Bone Relic (Ex Ossibus)
Date of Authentica: 9 September 1898
Reliquary: Round Metal Theca, Ø 4 cm
Authentication: Original Episcopal Authentica and Wax Seal of Bishop Ignazio Maria Sellitti