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RELIC OF SAINT IRENAEUS OF LYON

RELIC OF SAINT IRENAEUS OF LYON

Regular price €760,00 EUR
Regular price Sale price €760,00 EUR

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ref: #RK00-834

Rare silvered bronze reliquary with glass front, containing a precious first-class relic EX Ossibus of Saint Irenaeus, martyr. The sacred fragment, presented on a red fabric background, is authenticated by a handwritten Latin label bearing the inscription: Ex Oss. S. Irenaei M.” (Ex ossibus Sancti Irenaei Martyris).

Surrounding the relic, a magnificent radiant decoration in gold leaf forms a luminous halo, emphasizing the holiness and witness of the martyr. This finely cut ornamentation harmoniously frames the fragment and enhances the interior composition.

The ensemble is housed in an oval silvered bronze case, fitted with its original suspension loop. The original glass is in very good condition.
Very important: the reliquary still retains its red ecclesiastical wax seal, perfectly legible, as well as its silk sealing threads, entirely intact, attesting that it has never been opened since its canonical sealing. Such a state of preservation is exceptional for an object of this type from the 18th century.

Certified relics of Saint Irenaeus, martyr remain rare: his cult, rooted since early Christian antiquity, led to the very early dispersion of his relics, most of which are today preserved in ecclesiastical collections or sanctuaries.

PERIOD : 18th century
DIMENSIONS
: 4 cm × 3.5 cm
SIZE
: 1.6" × 1.4"

Saint Irenaeus of Lyon, born in the 2nd century in Asia Minor, was one of the greatest theologians of early Christianity. A disciple of Saint Polycarp—himself a disciple of the Apostle John—he faithfully transmitted apostolic teaching. Having become Bishop of Lyon, he worked to restore the Church after the persecution of 177 and defended the faith against Gnostic doctrines. His major work, Against Heresies, remains a cornerstone of Christian theology. Irenaeus emphasized the unity of the Church, the coherence of Scripture, and the central role of the incarnate Christ. He died around 202 and is venerated as a martyr according to tradition. In 2022, he was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church under the title Doctor Unitatis.

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