RELIQUARY, RELIC OF SAINT LUCIA

Rare bronze reliquary with a glass front containing the relic of Saint Lucy. The relic is fixed in the center of a decoration decorated with silver threads. It is identified in Latin on a handwritten label as: S. Lucy. VM (Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr). A red cloth background provides contrast and highlights the relic; this color, omnipresent in the Christian liturgy, symbolizes the blood of Christ and his redemptive sacrifice.

The red wax seal affixed by the Church not only guarantees the authenticity of the relic, but also that the reliquary has not been opened and that the relic has not been handled since it was closed. It thus ensures its intact preservation, providing complete certainty as to its provenance and integrity.

PERIOD : 18th century
DIMENSIONS : 3 cm X 2 cm
SIZE : 1.2" X 0.8"

Saint Lucy of Syracuse (283-304) was a Christian virgin and martyr, venerated as the patron saint of the blind and those suffering from eye diseases. Born into a noble family, she devoted her life to God and refused marriage, which angered her suitor. Denounced as a Christian under the persecution of Diocletian, she suffered many tortures before being executed. According to tradition, her eyes were torn out, but God miraculously restored them. Her name means "light", and she is often depicted with a lamp or eyes resting on a tray. Her feast day, celebrated on December 13 , marks the beginning of the festivities of light in several countries, particularly in Scandinavia. Saint Lucy embodies unwavering faith and courage in the face of adversity.