Saint Anthony the Great, Abbot and Father of Monasticism — Bone Relic in Silver Reliquary
Saint Anthony the Great, Abbot and Father of Monasticism — Bone Relic in Silver Reliquary
Saint Anthony the Great, Abbot and Father of Monasticism — Bone Relic in Silver Reliquary with Original Authentica, 1897
A remarkable nineteenth-century reliquary containing a substantial bone relic of Saint Anthony the Great (c. 251–356), Abbot, Confessor, and Father of Christian Monasticism, preserved in a circular silver-coloured metal theca with its original ecclesiastical Authentica, issued in Mechelen, Belgium, on 9 May 1897.
The relic rests upon a richly textured golden fabric background, surrounded by delicate decorative paper ornaments. Its original Latin identification reads S. ANTONII ABB. — Saint Anthony, Abbot.
The circular reliquary measures 4 cm in diameter and 1.3 cm in thickness, with a substantial metal frame and protective glass. The reverse retains its original red ecclesiastical wax seal, bearing cardinalatial heraldry.
The accompanying Authentica was issued under the authority of the Cardinal-Archbishop of Mechelen, Primate of Belgium, and Cardinal-Priest of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme in Rome. The document bears its original embossed ecclesiastical seal and confirms the identification and ecclesiastical recognition of the relic.
Saint Anthony the Great, also known as Saint Anthony of Egypt or Anthony the Abbot, is among the most influential figures in the history of Christianity. Born in Egypt around AD 251, he renounced his possessions and withdrew into the desert to devote his life to prayer, fasting, and spiritual contemplation.
His extraordinary ascetic life inspired generations of monks and hermits, earning him the title Father of Monasticism. His spiritual struggles, teachings, and example were immortalized in The Life of Anthony, written by Saint Athanasius of Alexandria, one of the most influential works of early Christian literature.
Venerated throughout both the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches, Saint Anthony remains a universal symbol of spiritual perseverance, humility, and complete devotion to God.
Reliquary dimensions: 4 cm diameter × 1.3 cm thickness.
Relic: Bone fragment of Saint Anthony the Great, Abbot.
Authentica: Mechelen, Belgium, 9 May 1897.
Condition: Original nineteenth-century theca with decorative interior, protective glass, and original ecclesiastical wax seal.
An exceptional devotional relic of one of Christianity's most revered Desert Fathers, accompanied by its original nineteenth-century ecclesiastical documentation.