Reliquary Box Crucifix Pendant with Relic of Saint Bartolomé.

Reliquary Box Crucifix Pendant with Relic of Saint Bartolomé.

Metal Cross open by loosening screw on top and sliding open Reliquary Cross.

Italy 1950s

Size: 5 cm L x 2 cm W x 0.5 cm H

Bartholomew was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus according to the New Testament.

In 264, the saint's relics arrived in Lipari, during the bishopric of Saint Agatho, until they were partially dispersed by the Arabs in the 9th century. In 410, the remains were taken to Maypherkat, which, due to the large number of relics gathered there by Bishop Maruta, was called Martyropolis.

In 507, Emperor Anastasius I brought them to Dara, in Mesopotamia. In 546, they reappeared in Lipari, and in 838, in Benevento, where the relics of the saint were always jealously guarded, even in dangerous situations, such as when Emperor Otto II of Saxony demanded the delivery of the sacred relics in 983. On that occasion, according to sources, the body of Saint Paulinus, bishop of Nola, was deceived into handing him over. The emperor laid siege to the city, finally managing to conquer it and take the saint's relics (at least some of them) and returned to Rome, where he had a basilica dedicated to Saint Bartholomew built on Tiber Island to house the remains.