Reliquary Of The Holy Martyrs Of Japan – 18th Century

Reliquary of the Holy Martyrs of Japan – 18th century

Description

A rare reliquary containing three relics of Japanese martyrs, arranged under glass in a traditional display.

The handwritten inscriptions read:
Ex Oss. S. Pauli Miki M. (Saint Paul Miki, martyr)
Ex Oss. S. Jacobi Kisai M. (Saint James Kisai, martyr)
Ex Oss. St. John Gotô, Martyr of Japan

These three saints belong to the group of the famous Twenty-Six Martyrs of Japan, who were crucified in Nagasaki on February 5, 1597, during the persecutions against Christians. Canonized in 1862 by Pope Pius IX, they are among the most venerated figures in the history of Christianity in Japan.

The Saints Depicted

Saint Paul Miki (1564–1597): a Japanese Jesuit, he continued to preach the Christian faith even on the cross and remains the most famous of Japan’s martyrs.

Saint James Kisai (1533–1597): a Japanese Jesuit brother, known for his deep piety and his faithfulness even unto martyrdom in Nagasaki.

Saint John Gotô (1578–1597): a young Japanese catechist, executed at the age of only nineteen for refusing to renounce his faith.

This is a particularly interesting reliquary due to its combination of three relics from the principal Japanese martyrs—a set sought after both for its historical significance and its rarity on the market for ancient relics.

Condition:

Good condition with a consistent antique patina. Ecclesiastical seal intact.

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