RELIQUARY OF SAINT GREGOIRE THE ILLUMINATOR - Lot 161

RELIQUARY OF SAINT GREGOIRE THE ILLUMINATOR Oval silver box with suspension ring, engraved on one side with the inscription Ս(ՈՒՐ)Բ ԳՐԻԳՈՐ ԼՈՒՍԱՈՐԻՉ (Saint Gregory the Illuminator) and on the other with the 7th letter of the alphabet Է which designates God ("I am", Exodus 3:14). Inside, protected by glass, are the relics of "S. Gregorii Arm[enorum]" (Saint Gregory of the Armenians) and "Sancte Joannes" (Saint John). The ossuary relics of St. Gregory the Illuminator (Գրիգոր Լուսաւորիչ) are located in Naples (Italy) in the church of San Gregorio Armeno. St. John's relics are probably those of St. John Chrysostom, honored in Constantinople by Armenian Catholics (Sourp Hovhannes Vosgueperan church in Taxim). Constantinopolitan work from the late 19th or early 20th century.