RELIC OF SAINT JAMES THE LESS, APOSTLE

Rare oval silver reliquary with a glass front, containing a precious relic of Saint James the Less, Apostle of Christ and first Bishop of Jerusalem. The relic, carefully laid on a background of ancient red fabric, is identified by a handwritten label in Latin: “S. Jac. Min.A”, the traditional abbreviation for Sanctus Jacobus Minor Apostoli.. Surrounding the sacred fragment, a radiant decoration in gilded paper—alternating solar motifs and stylized petals—evokes a luminous halo that underscores the saint’s apostolic dignity.

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

Authentic relics of Saint James the Less are particularly sought after due to the essential role he played in the early Church. According to tradition, a cousin of Christ, witness to the Resurrection, leader of the first Christian community in Jerusalem, and a martyr around the year 62, he was a central figure of early Christianity. His veneration spread very early throughout the Mediterranean world, and his relics were preserved with great care in a few important sanctuaries.

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

Saint James the Less, a discreet yet foundational apostle, was distinguished by his humility, intense life of prayer, fidelity to the Law and to the Gospel, and his decisive role at the Council of Jerusalem. Known as “the Just,” he was respected by both Christians and many Jews of his time. His martyrdom—after being thrown from the Temple and then stoned—sealed his testimony of faith and made him one of the invisible yet essential pillars of the emerging Church.