Bidspirit auction | Byzantine Christian Reliquary Cross (”Cross-Shaped

Byzantine Christian Reliquary Cross (”Cross-Shaped Reliquary”), 7th–11th Century AD. Bronze Pendant Box. mm. 76 long. - Descriptions of the type : Crucified Christ / Theotokos (the Virgin Mary). Holy relic : An object believed to possess special spiritual or miraculous qualities. Relics may consist of remains of a saint or objects that came into contact with a saint. Such relics were typically preserved in churches, although wealthy individuals could sometimes acquire them for private devotion. Some relics were placed inside cross-shaped reliquaries of this type.