Monumental Baroque Altar-Reliquary with Major Relics of Saints Cosmas and Damian
Monumental Baroque Altar-Reliquary with Major Relics of Saints Cosmas and Damian
Monumental Baroque Altar-Reliquary with Major Relics of Saints Cosmas and Damian
An extraordinary eighteenth-century Baroque altar-reliquary preserving exceptionally large relics of Saints Cosmas and Damian, the Holy Unmercenary Physicians and celebrated Christian martyrs. This monumental Catholic reliquary is accompanied by its original Roman ecclesiastical authentication dated 1780, issued under the authority of Dominicus Jordanus, Latin Patriarch of Antioch.
Among surviving eighteenth-century devotional works, few reliquaries combine such monumental artistic presence, remarkable provenance, and the exceptional rarity of the relics they preserve.
This magnificent Baroque altar-reliquary houses substantial bone relics of Saints Cosmas and Damian, the celebrated twin brothers, physicians, miracle-workers, and martyrs whose names have been venerated throughout Christendom for over seventeen centuries.
The relics are displayed within an elaborate architectural shrine richly carved in the Roman Baroque tradition. Executed in gilded and polychromed wood, the altar is adorned with intricate openwork foliage, scrolling acanthus ornamentation, and sumptuous embroidered decorations surrounding the sacred relics.
Unlike ordinary Catholic reliquaries containing minute fragments, this monumental shrine preserves exceptionally large bone relics, making it an outstanding example of an ecclesiastical reliquary intended for public liturgical veneration rather than private devotion.
The reverse of the shrine retains its original wax seals, preserving the integrity of the reliquary and its ecclesiastical history.
Accompanying the altar-reliquary is its original Roman ecclesiastical authentication dated 1780, issued in Rome under the authority of Dominicus Jordanus, Latin Patriarch of Antioch, confirming the authenticity and lawful ecclesiastical recognition of the sacred relics.
Dimensions
Altar-Reliquary
- Height: 65 cm
- Width: 47 cm
- Depth: 17 cm
Saints Cosmas and Damian
Saints Cosmas and Damian rank among the most beloved saints of both the Eastern and Western Churches. According to ancient Christian tradition, they were twin brothers born in Arabia during the third century and educated as physicians.
Their fame spread throughout the Roman Empire because they practiced medicine without payment, healing rich and poor alike out of Christian charity. For this reason they became known as the Holy Unmercenary Physicians (Anargyroi), refusing earthly reward for their medical service.
Their healing ministry united physical medicine with Christian charity. Numerous miracles were attributed to them during their lifetime, and many more were reported after their martyrdom. Medieval pilgrims sought their intercession for illnesses of many kinds, while physicians, surgeons, pharmacists, and hospitals adopted them as heavenly patrons.
During the persecution of Emperor Diocletian, Cosmas and Damian were arrested for publicly professing the Christian faith. Ancient accounts relate that they endured imprisonment, torture, and numerous attempts at execution before finally receiving the crown of martyrdom by beheading around the year 303 AD.
Their cult spread rapidly throughout both the Eastern Byzantine Empire and the Latin West. Churches dedicated to Saints Cosmas and Damian appeared in Rome as early as the sixth century, while monasteries, hospitals, and medical institutions throughout Europe were placed under their patronage.
Their relics have been revered for centuries as powerful symbols of healing, mercy, charity, and unwavering fidelity to Christ.
An Exceptional Catholic Reliquary
This eighteenth-century Catholic reliquary represents an exceptional combination of sacred history, Baroque craftsmanship, substantial saintly relics, and documented ecclesiastical provenance.
The unusually large relics of Saints Cosmas and Damian distinguish this work from smaller private devotional reliquaries. Its monumental architectural form, original wax seals, and surviving Roman ecclesiastical authentication make it a remarkable example of historic Christian devotional art.
The accompanying 1780 ecclesiastical document provides important provenance for the relics and connects this extraordinary Baroque altar-reliquary with the Roman ecclesiastical tradition of the eighteenth century.
Key Details
Relics: Saints Cosmas and Damian
Relic Type: Major bone relics
Period: 18th century
Style: Roman Baroque
Type: Monumental altar-reliquary
Material: Gilded and polychromed wood
Documentation: Original Roman ecclesiastical authentication dated 1780
Authentication: Issued under the authority of Dominicus Jordanus, Latin Patriarch of Antioch
Original Features: Ecclesiastical wax seals
Dimensions: 65 × 47 × 17 cm
A rare monumental Catholic reliquary preserving substantial relics of Saints Cosmas and Damian, the Holy Unmercenary Physicians and traditional patrons of physicians, surgeons, pharmacists, and hospitals.