Reliquary Containing a Relic of Saint Adalbert of Prague, Bishop and Martyr (ex Ossibus from the bones)

  Reliquary Containing a Relic of Saint Adalbert of Prague Bishop and Martyr

(ex Ossibus – from the bones)

A rare and historically significant 19th-century sterling silver reliquary containing a sacred relic of Saint Adalbert of Prague (S. Adalberti Pragae Episcopi Martyris), one of the most important missionary bishops and martyrs of early Central European Christianity.

The relic consists of a bone fragment (ex ossibus) preserved beneath a glass cover and mounted on a rich red silk ground. A printed Latin label within the reliquary reads:

“S. Adalberti Prag. Ep. M.”

identifying the relic as belonging to Saint Adalbert, Bishop of Prague and Martyr.

The relic is carefully secured according to traditional ecclesiastical practice and enclosed within an elegant round sterling silver reliquary, designed to both protect and honor the sacred fragment.

The reliquary remains sealed with its original silk threads and red wax seal, confirming its integrity since the time of authentication.

The relic is accompanied by the original Latin authentica document dated 1898, officially certifying its authenticity and authorizing its veneration.

Specifications

Dimensions of the reliquary
Diameter: 3.5 cm

Material
Silver reliquary with glass cover and silk interior.

  Saint Adalbert of Prague

(c. 956 – 997)
Bishop, Missionary, and Martyr of Central Europe

Saint Adalbert of Prague, also known as Vojtěch, is one of the most important saints of Central European Christianity and a key figure in the Christianization of the Slavic lands.

He was born around 956 into a noble Bohemian family belonging to the powerful Slavník dynasty. As a young boy he was sent to study in Magdeburg, where he received an excellent ecclesiastical education under Archbishop Adalbert of Magdeburg, from whom he later took his Christian name.

In 983, he was appointed Bishop of Prague, becoming one of the earliest bishops of the region during the formative years of Christianity in Bohemia.

However, Adalbert soon encountered serious difficulties in his diocese. The society of the time still retained many pagan customs, and the bishop struggled against practices such as:

• slavery and the slave trade
• polygamy and concubinage
• resistance to Christian moral teaching

Disheartened by the hostility he encountered, Adalbert temporarily left Prague and joined the Benedictine monastery of Sant’ Alessio in Rome, where he lived as a monk.

At the request of the Pope and the rulers of Bohemia, he later returned to his diocese, though tensions remained.

Eventually, Adalbert devoted himself to missionary work among the pagan Prussian tribes along the Baltic coast.

In 997, while preaching the Gospel among the Prussians, he was captured and killed by pagan tribesmen, thus becoming a martyr for the Christian faith.

His martyrdom made a profound impact throughout Europe.

Soon after his death:

• Polish ruler Bolesław I the Brave ransomed his body
• his relics were placed in Gniezno Cathedral
• he was canonized in the year 999 by Pope Sylvester II

Saint Adalbert became one of the principal patron saints of:

• Bohemia (Czech lands)
• Poland
• Hungary
• Prussia

His missionary work played a crucial role in the spread of Christianity across Central and Eastern Europe.

Feast Day: April 23

  Archbishop Nicolaus Chilaridi

Archbishop and Apostolic Authority

The relic is accompanied by an official ecclesiastical authentica issued by Archbishop Nicolaus Chilaridi, who served as an archbishop within the Roman ecclesiastical hierarchy under the authority of the Holy See.

The document identifies him as:

“Nicolaus Chilaridi, Dei et Apostolicae Sedis gratia Archiepiscopus”
and Prelate Domestic of Pope Leo XIII.

As an archbishop and papal prelate, he held authority within the Church to authenticate and distribute sacred relics according to the strict canonical procedures established by the Holy See.

The authentica confirms that the relic:

• was taken from authentic sources (ex authenticis locis extracta)
• was carefully examined and recognized as genuine
• was placed within a reliquary and properly sealed
• was secured with red silk threads and an official wax seal
• was authorized for public veneration by the faithful

Such authentication documents were issued only after formal verification and were essential for guaranteeing the legitimacy of relics intended for devotional use.

  Devotional and Historical Significance

Relics of Saint Adalbert of Prague hold exceptional historical and spiritual significance due to his role as one of the great missionary bishops of medieval Europe.

His life represents:

• the Christianization of Central Europe
• the missionary expansion of the Church among Slavic peoples
• the witness of martyrdom in the service of the Gospel

This reliquary stands as both a sacred devotional object and a historical artifact connecting the faithful to one of the most influential saints of medieval Christendom.

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