Reliquary theca with relic of Saint Mark, the Evangelist

An oval crystal-fronted silver pendant reliquary theca housing a precious first-class ex ossibus (of the bone) relic of Saint Mark, the Evangelist. The relic is displayed on the ground of gold silk and identified in Latin on an ornate manuscript cedula label as Ex Oss. S. Marci Evan. (from the bone of Saint Mark, Evangelist. On the back, the reliquary is secured by a perfectly preserved seal of red Spanish wax bearing an imprint with a coat of arms of the Archdiocese of Milan. 

Saint Mark the Evangelist (†68) was a key figure in the early Christian Church. Born around 12 AD in Cyrene, Libya, to Jewish parents of Levite descent, he later moved to Jerusalem. He accompanied Apostles Paul and Barnabas on missionary journeys and served as a close disciple and interpreter of Saint Peter, whose teachings form the basis of his Gospel. Tradition holds that Mark founded the Church of Alexandria in Egypt, becoming its first bishop. He was martyred around 68 AD in Alexandria. His Gospel, the shortest and likely the earliest, powerfully proclaims the life and ministry of Jesus. He is considered the patron saint of Venice, notaries, lawyers, barristers, attorneys, stained glass workers, prisoners, captives, interpreters, secretaries, pharmacists, and lions. His feast day is commemorated on April 25.