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1793 Vatican documented reliquary with relics of 2 Saints: St. Protus (Pratt) & St. Hyacinth, brothers and hermits

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Large oval glass-fronted silver reliquary theca housing the first-class ex ossibus (of the bone) relics of Martyr Saints Protus and Hyacinth. The relics are affixed to a red silk ground surrounded by gilt paperolle ornamentation and identified in Latin on a  manuscript cedulae labels as S. Prothi M. //S. Hiacynt. M. ( Saint Protus, Martyr // Saint Hyacinth, Martyr). On the back, the theca is secured with a perfectly preserved seal of red Spanish wax bearing an imprint of a coat of arms of Fr. Francesco Saverio Cristiani O.E.S.A. († 1800), Titular Bishop of Porphyreon in a capacity of the Sacristan of the Apostolic Palace during the pontificate of Pope Pius VI (p. 1775-1799). The theca is accompanied by the original matching authentics document issued and signed by Bishop Cristiani in 1793. 

Saints Protus (Protatius, Proteus, Prothus, Prote, Proto or Saint Pratt) and Hyacinth (Hyacinthus, Hyacinthe; Jacinto; or Giacinto) (†257) were Christian martyrs during the persecution of Emperor Valerian. Tradition holds that Protus and Hyacinth were brothers who served as chamberlains to Saint Eugenia, and were baptized along with her by Helenus, Bishop of Heliopolis. Devoting themselves zealously to studying sacred scripture, they lived with the hermits of Egypt and later accompanied Eugenia to Rome. There, they were arrested for their Christianity by Emperor Gallienus (260–268). Refusing to deny their faith, they were first scourged and then beheaded. The chronographia mentions their graves in the Coemeterium of Basilla on the Via Salaria, later the Catacomb of St. Hermes. Their feastday is commemorated on September 11 by the Roman Catholic Church and December 24 by the Byzantine Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches.

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ID#:
252-RSCR-75
Size:
58 x 47 mm
Age:
ca. 1793
Origin:
Vatican
Materials:
silver, crystal, pearls, paper, Spanish wax
Price:
$3,500
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