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Reliquary

The reliquary is a liturgical object of great artistic and religious value. It is a rectangular, box-shaped reliquary with a sliding lid and a suspension ring that allows it to be hung. Its structure is made of gilded silver, a precious material that expresses the sacredness and the value of the relics kept inside. On the recto of the reliquary the scene of the Anastasis, that is the Resurrection of Christ, is depicted in repoussé, accompanied by the related inscription. On the verso, however, appears the Crucifixion, also in repoussé and with inscriptions typical of the medieval tradition. The high quality of the repoussé scenes and the inscriptions testifies to the craftsmanship and attention to detail. At the top and bottom of the reliquary there is a list of the relics contained within it, which belong to the Passion of Christ. Some of these relics, such as the sponge, the mantle, the reed, the lance and others, are preserved in a separate reliquary with an enameled Crucifixion. The iconography of the Crucifixion, in particular, recalls that worked in repoussé in the frame of the icon of the Monastery of Vatopedi on Mount Athos, noted for its refinement and symmetry. The common characteristics between the two works include the high quality of workmanship and the affinity between the two faces of the reliquary, which make it a significant example of medieval sacred art.