{"product_id":"saints-cosmas-damian-relic-baroque-reliquary","title":"Monumental Baroque Altar-Reliquary with Major Relics of Saints Cosmas and Damian","description":"\u003ch2 dir=\"auto\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eMonumental Baroque Altar-Reliquary with Major Relics of Saints Cosmas and Damian\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eAn extraordinary eighteenth-century \u003cstrong\u003eBaroque altar-reliquary preserving exceptionally large relics of Saints Cosmas and Damian\u003c\/strong\u003e, the Holy Unmercenary Physicians and celebrated Christian martyrs. This monumental Catholic reliquary is accompanied by its \u003cstrong\u003eoriginal Roman ecclesiastical authentication dated 1780\u003c\/strong\u003e, issued under the authority of Dominicus Jordanus, Latin Patriarch of Antioch.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eAmong surviving eighteenth-century devotional works, few reliquaries combine such monumental artistic presence, remarkable provenance, and the exceptional rarity of the relics they preserve.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThis magnificent \u003cstrong\u003eBaroque altar-reliquary\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe relics are displayed within an elaborate architectural shrine richly carved in the \u003cstrong\u003eRoman Baroque tradition\u003c\/strong\u003e. 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eUnlike ordinary Catholic reliquaries containing minute fragments, this monumental shrine preserves \u003cstrong\u003eexceptionally large bone relics\u003c\/strong\u003e, making it an outstanding example of an ecclesiastical reliquary intended for public liturgical veneration rather than private devotion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe reverse of the shrine retains its \u003cstrong\u003eoriginal wax seals\u003c\/strong\u003e, preserving the integrity of the reliquary and its ecclesiastical history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eAccompanying the altar-reliquary is its \u003cstrong\u003eoriginal Roman ecclesiastical authentication dated 1780\u003c\/strong\u003e, issued in Rome under the authority of \u003cstrong\u003eDominicus Jordanus, Latin Patriarch of Antioch\u003c\/strong\u003e, confirming the authenticity and lawful ecclesiastical recognition of the sacred relics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2 dir=\"auto\"\u003eDimensions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAltar-Reliquary\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHeight: 65 cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWidth: 47 cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDepth: 17 cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2 dir=\"auto\"\u003eSaints Cosmas and Damian\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSaints Cosmas and Damian\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eTheir 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 \u003cstrong\u003eHoly Unmercenary Physicians (Anargyroi)\u003c\/strong\u003e, refusing earthly reward for their medical service.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eTheir 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eDuring 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eTheir cult spread rapidly throughout both the Eastern Byzantine Empire and the Latin West. Churches dedicated to \u003cstrong\u003eSaints Cosmas and Damian\u003c\/strong\u003e appeared in Rome as early as the sixth century, while monasteries, hospitals, and medical institutions throughout Europe were placed under their patronage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eTheir relics have been revered for centuries as powerful symbols of healing, mercy, charity, and unwavering fidelity to Christ.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2 dir=\"auto\"\u003eAn Exceptional Catholic Reliquary\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThis \u003cstrong\u003eeighteenth-century Catholic reliquary\u003c\/strong\u003e represents an exceptional combination of sacred history, Baroque craftsmanship, substantial saintly relics, and documented ecclesiastical provenance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe unusually large relics of \u003cstrong\u003eSaints Cosmas and Damian\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe accompanying \u003cstrong\u003e1780 ecclesiastical document\u003c\/strong\u003e provides important provenance for the relics and connects this extraordinary Baroque altar-reliquary with the Roman ecclesiastical tradition of the eighteenth century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2 dir=\"auto\"\u003eKey Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRelics:\u003c\/strong\u003e Saints Cosmas and Damian\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRelic Type:\u003c\/strong\u003e Major bone relics\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePeriod:\u003c\/strong\u003e 18th century\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStyle:\u003c\/strong\u003e Roman Baroque\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Monumental altar-reliquary\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaterial:\u003c\/strong\u003e Gilded and polychromed wood\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDocumentation:\u003c\/strong\u003e Original Roman ecclesiastical authentication dated 1780\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthentication:\u003c\/strong\u003e Issued under the authority of Dominicus Jordanus, Latin Patriarch of Antioch\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOriginal Features:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ecclesiastical wax seals\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 65 × 47 × 17 cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eA rare \u003cstrong\u003emonumental Catholic reliquary preserving substantial relics of Saints Cosmas and Damian\u003c\/strong\u003e, the Holy Unmercenary Physicians and traditional patrons of physicians, surgeons, pharmacists, and hospitals.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sacra Relics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58816698777935,"sku":null,"price":9300.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1035\/5556\/3855\/files\/photo_2026-06-27_17-33-37_2.jpg?v=1789769255","url":"https:\/\/sacrarelics.com\/products\/saints-cosmas-damian-relic-baroque-reliquary","provider":"Sacra Relics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}