Opulent very large Baroque silver glass-fronted reliquary decorated by intricate flowers and an image of the Holy Spirit as a dove under a crown and containing an oval silver glass-fronted theca housing two substantial first-class relics of Saint Mary Magdalene. The relics affixed to the background of gold silk surrounded by the intricate paperolle ornamentation and identified on a paper cedulae labels as  S. Marie Magd. / Paeniten. (St. Mary Magdalene, Penitent). The reliquary is secured on the back with a perfectly preserved seal of an unidentified Bishop.

Spectacular large silver crystal-fronted reliquary decorated with intricate filigree wire floral ornamentation and housing significant historically important first-class ex ossibus (of the bone) relic of Saint John Chrysostom.  Substantial relic is affixed to the background of multicolored silk surrounded by paperole ornamentation and identified on a paper cedula label as S. Iohanes Criso[stomus]. On the back, over a protective pane of glass, the theca is secured with a perfectly preserved seal of red Spanish wax bearing an imprint with a coat of arms of an unidentified Catholic Bishop.

Spectacular large silver crystal-fronted reliquary decorated with opulent floral ornamentation and housing significant first-class ex ossibus (of the bone) relic of Saint Christopher.  Substantial relic is affixed to the background of red silk decorated with paperole ornamentation and identified on a paper cedula label as S. Christopha/ri M. (St. Christopher, Martyr). On the back, the theca is secured with a perfectly preserved seal of red Spanish wax bearing a faint imprint with a coat of arms of an unidentified Catholic Bishop.

Spectacular Russian Orthodox icon depicting the Severed Head of St. John the Baptist resting on a platter. An 18th-century central panel was embellished in 1803 by adding borders depicting parents of St. John the Baptist - St. Zechariah and St. Elisabeth and by covering the icon in an elaborate gilt silver cover with the halo further decorated with glass crystals. The inscription on the bottom part of the icon is the Orthodox hymn sung during liturgy dedicated to the Beheading of St. John. The icon's cover is stamped with a hallmark of a silversmith Yegor Antipiev in Moscow and 1803 date. 

Spectacular large silver crystal-fronted reliquary decorated with intricate filigree wire floral ornamentation and housing significant first-class ex ossibus (of the bone) relic of Saint Bartholomew, the Apostle.  Substantial relic is affixed to the background of red silk and identified on a paper cedula label as Ex Ossibus + St. Bartholoni Ap. (from the bone of St. Bartholomew, [the] Apostle). On the back, over a protective pane of glass, the theca is secured with a perfectly preserved seal of red Spanish wax bearing an imprint with a coat of arms of Monsignor Placido Zurla, O.S.B. Cam., († 1834), Cardinal Vicar of Rome.

Opulent large Baroque parcel-gilt silver reliquary decorated by intricate flowers and an image of the Holy Spirit as a dove under a crown and containing an oval silver crystal-fronted theca housing a substantial first-class relic of Saint Jerome, Doctor of the Church. The relics affixed to the background of multicolored silk surrounded by paperolle ornamentation and identified on a paper cedula label as  Ex Praecordis / S. Hieronymi / P. E. D. (from the inner parts of St. Jerome, Priest, Hermit, and Doctor of the Church). The reliquary is secured on the back with a perfectly preserved seal of an unidentified Bishop.

The depiction is based on the image of the miracleworking icon Axion Estin ("It Is Truly Meet") Mother of God in the main church of Karyes on Holy Mount Athos considered the protector of the Holy Mountain and its holiest object. Crowned Theotokos is flanked by full-figured descriptions of St. Panteleimon, the Holy Patron of Russian St. Panteleimon Monastery on Mount Athos and St. Eudokia of Heliopolis. On the back, the icon has a stamp of blessing from the Russian St. Panteleimon Monastery on Holy Mount Athos and a handwritten inscription with a dedication from hieromonk Flegont to his Goddaughter Eudoka, dated 1910.  

Provenance: Sotheby's New York 1993

Spectacular silver glass-fronted reliquary decorated with intricate filigree wire ornamentation and housing significant first-class ex ossibus (of the bone) relics of four Franciscan Martyr Saints of China and Indo-China Saint Gabriel Taurin Dufresse, Saint Ignatius Delgado y Cebrian,  Saint François-Régis Clet, and Saint Giovanni of Triora.  Substantial relics are affixed to the background of red silk surrounded by gilt wire and natural pearl ornamentation and identified on separate paper cedulae labels. On the back, under a protective cap, the theca is secured with a perfectly preserved seal of red Spanish wax bearing an imprint of a coat of arms of the Franciscan Order. The reliquary was most likely made shortly after the beatification of the Saints in 1900.

Fine Russian Orthodox icon depicting The Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God, Great Feast of the Eastern Orthodox Church (corresponding to the Western feast of the Assumption) which commemorates the "falling asleep" or death of the Mother of God, and her bodily resurrection before being taken up into Heaven. The Theotokos is depicted lying on a bier, surrounded by the twelve Apostles. At center, Jesus Christ is shown in a golden mandorla, swaddling the soul of the Virgin Mary. To either side of him are depicted the Hieromartyrs Dionysius the Areopagite and Ignatius the God-Bearer who, according to sacred tradition, are responsible for transmitting the account of the dormition. The buildings on the background represent Mary's house and the Temple of Jerusalem. On the lower center the assault of the High Priest is depicted in which the Jewish priest's hands were cut off by the Archangel Michael after he unsuccessfully tried to overturn Mary's brier.

Our Lady of Tikhvin (Tikhvinskaya) is one of the most celebrated and beautiful wonderworking icons of the Mother of God. Traditionally, it is said to be one of the icons painted by Saint Luke the Evangelist and is a contemporary of the Mother of God herself. The appearance of the icon is celebrated on June 26. The icon has a long history. During the Soviet oppression of the Orthodox Church, the original Theotokos of Tikhvin icon was brought to the USA for safekeeping. In 2004 it was transferred back to Russia to return to its home village of Tikhvin. In the iconographic sense, it is a Hodigitria type with the slightly inclined position of the Mother of God toward the Infant, Who is depicted on the left side of the image. The hand of the Mother of God is raised toward her breast as a sign of silent worship of her Son.