RELIC OF SAINT JAMES THE GREATER, APOSTLE

Rare oval silver reliquary with a glass front, containing a precious relic of Saint James the Greater, Apostle of Christ and one of the most venerated figures of early Christianity.
The relic, carefully laid upon a background of ancient red fabric, is identified by a handwritten label in Latin: “S. Jac. Maj. A”, the traditional abbreviation of Sanctus Jacobus Major Apostolus.
Surrounding the sacred fragment, a refined decoration in gilt paper forms a radiant halo alternating solar motifs and stylized points, evoking a luminous aureole intended to enhance the apostolic dignity of the saint.

The ensemble has remained in its perfect original condition, retaining its original glass, its ecclesiastical seal, and its silk sealing threads still perfectly intact, attesting that the reliquary has never been opened since its creation.

Authenticated relics of Saint James the Greater are particularly sought after, due to the exceptional role he played in the life of Christ: the first apostle to suffer martyrdom, witness of the Transfiguration, privileged companion of Jesus alongside Peter and John, and a foundational figure of early Christianity.
Venerated throughout Christendom, he became in the Middle Ages the focus of the greatest pilgrimage of the Western world: Santiago de Compostela, from which his cult radiated across all of Europe.

PERIOD : 18th century
DIMENSIONS : 3 cm × 2.5 cm
SIZE : 1.2" × 1"

Saint James the Greater, a fisherman from Galilee who became an apostle, distinguished himself by his fervor, his closeness to Christ, and his witness unto martyrdom under Herod Agrippa around the year 44. His luminous figure, associated with the spiritual path of the Camino, embodies faith, courage, and the constant call to inner transcendence that has marked millions of pilgrims for more than a millennium.