Vatican reliquary theca with relic of St. Sebastian, Martyr, patron of athletes

Round glass-fronted yellow-metal reliquary theca housing the first-class ex ossibus (of the bone) relic of Saint Sebastian. The relic is affixed to a red silk ground and identified in Latin on a typeset cedula label as S. Sebastiani (Saint Sebastian [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 Monsignor Ugo Poletti, the Vicar General of Rome (1973-1997).

Saint Sebastian († c. 288) was an early Christian saint and martyr. According to Christian belief, he was killed during the Roman emperor Diocletian's persecution of Christians. He was initially tied to a post or tree and shot with arrows, though this did not kill him. He was rescued and healed by Irene of Rome, but shortly after his recovery, he went to Diocletian to warn him about his sins, and as a result he was clubbed to death. He is venerated in the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church as the patron saint of athletics, archery, and plagues. His Feast Day is commemorated on 20 January (Roman Catholic), and (Oriental Orthodox) and 18 December (Eastern Orthodox).