Late 19th century silver oval theca housing on the background of red silk the first class ex ossibus (of the bone) relic of Saint Phillip, the Apostle. The relic is titled on ornate paper cedula as Ex Oss. S. Philippi, Apostol. The back of the theca is secured by a seal of red Spanish wax with a coat of arms of Guglielmo Pifferi (+1910) O.S.A., titular Bishop of Porphyreon and papal sacristan in charge of care of the sacred items - items that belong to the Holy Father and the papal chapels in the Vatican.
St. Philip the Apostle was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus who preached in Greece, Syria, and Phrygia. In the Roman Catholic Church, the feast day of Philip was traditionally observed on 1 May, the anniversary of the dedication of the church dedicated to them in Rome (now called the Church of the Twelve Apostles). The Eastern Orthodox Church celebrates Philip's feast day on 14 November. He is a patron of Cape Verde; Hatters; Pastry chefs; San Felipe Pueblo; and Uruguay.