Reliquary theca with relic of St. Agatha of Sicily, Martyr, Patron of nurses & rape victims

Oval glass-fronted brass reliquary theca housing first-class ex ossibus (of the bone) relic of ​Saint Agatha of Sicily. The relic is affixed to a red silk ground surrounded by silver wire and gilt paperolle ornamentation and identified in Latin on a manuscript cedula label as S. Agata V,M. (Saint Agatha, Virgin & Martyr). On the back, under the protective cap, the theca is secured with a seal of red Spanish wax bearing an imprint of a coat of arms of Fr. Antonio Cantoni (†1781), Bishop of Faenza, Italy (1742–1767) and Archbishop of Ravenna, Italy (1767–1781).

Saint Agatha of Sicily (†251) is venerated as a saint and martyr in the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, and Oriental Orthodox Churches. Agatha was born in Catania, part of the Roman Province of Sicily, and was martyred c. 251. She is one of several virgin martyrs who are commemorated by name in the Canon of the Mass. She is a holy patron of bellfounders; breast cancer; bakers; Catania, Sicily; protection from natural disasters; fire; earthquakes; volcanic eruptions; jewelers; nurses; rape victims; single laywomen; sterility; torture victims; nurses; wet nurses; as well as Sicily; San Marino; and Zamarramala, Spain. Her feast day is commemorated on February 5th.