Saint George the Martyr Relic – 1917 Jerusalem Certificate, Ex Ossibus

A historic Catholic relic identified as Saint George the Martyr, one of the most venerated saints in Christian tradition, renowned for his courage, steadfast faith, and witness to Christ.

This devotional piece is accompanied by an ecclesiastical certificate dated 19 May 1917, issued in Jerusalem under the name of Philippe Maria Camassei, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.

The handwritten Latin inscription identifies the relic as Ex ossibus Sancti Georgii, Militis, Martyris — “from the bones of Saint George, soldier and martyr.”

The relic is enclosed in an ornate, gold-tone reliquary featuring decorative scrollwork, a glass viewing window, and a green-and-red background surrounding the relic fragment. The internal label reads S. Georgii M. M., identifying Saint George as a martyr.

Saint George has been honoured for centuries throughout the Catholic and wider Christian traditions. His image is often associated with courage, fidelity, and the triumph of faith in the face of persecution. This antique devotional object combines a traditional reliquary with an early twentieth-century ecclesiastical document, making it an interesting piece for collectors of Catholic devotional artefacts and religious history.

Item Details

• Saint: Saint George the Martyr

• Identification on certificate: Ex ossibus Sancti Georgii, Militis, Martyris

• Meaning: From the bones of Saint George, soldier and martyr

• Certificate date: 19 May 1917

• Place of issue: Jerusalem

• Ecclesiastical authority named: Philippe Maria Camassei, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem

• Reliquary: Ornate gold-tone metal case with glass front

• Approximate size: Approximately 3 cm across, based on the ruler in the photographs

• Included: Relic in its reliquary and the accompanying certificate shown in the photographs

Condition

The certificate shows age-related toning, folds, and visible wear, including damage along the left edge. The reliquary also shows signs of age and handling. Please review all photographs carefully; they form part of the item description.

Historical Documentation

The relic is identified by the accompanying 1917 ecclesiastical certificate and the label inside the reliquary. The certificate uses the phrase ex ossibus. No independent scientific examination has been conducted to verify the material or provenance of the relic fragment.

A distinctive historic devotional object for collectors of Catholic relics, antique reliquaries, and ecclesiastical documents.