Document - ARMENIAN HERITAGE - 6x Rare Relic Documents /...

Description: Offered for auction is a highly rare and historically coherent collection of six (6) original ecclesiastical certificates of authenticity (authenticae) for holy relics, dating from 1750 to 1803. The Extraordinary Armenian Provenance: This museum-quality collection represents an incredible cross-cultural bridge. While the documents were officially issued in Latin by high-ranking Church dignitaries in Rome and Venice, they have been systematically cataloged on the reverse side in Armenian script (including inscriptions for St. Sebastian, St. Andrew, St. Simon, St. Thomas, and the great Eastern Church Father St. Basil of Caesarea). This points with near-absolute certainty to an origin within the famous Armenian Catholic Monastery of the Mechitarists on the island of San Lazzaro degli Armeni in the Venetian Lagoon. This is an exceptional piece of shared Armenian-European heritage, preserved together as one intact archive for over two centuries. The collection consists of the following six double-sided documents: 1. Rome (April 1750 / March 19, 1751) – Cardinal G.A. Guadagni (Cardinal-Vicar of Rome): Issued during the official Holy Year 1750 of Pope Benedictus XIV. Concerns relics of St. John the Baptist and St. Sebastian. Features a highly rare handwritten correction indicating a precious silver reliquary (Thecam Argenti). Preserves a sharp relief seal showing the combined Guadagni and Carmelite coat of arms. Reverse features an Armenian annotation for St. Sebastian. 2. Rome (1750) – Cardinal G.A. Guadagni: Second document from the Holy Year, also featuring the handwritten silver reliquary note (intra Thecam Arg.) and the mandatory papal anti-simony clause Gratis ubique. 3. Rome (November 14, 1803) – Bishop G.B. Menochio (Papal Sacristan): Concerns relics of St. John the Baptist and St. Apostle Andrew. Also includes the handwritten silver correction (thecam arg.). Preserves the official Augustinian relief seal and original signatures of the Bishop and Secretary D. Consalvi. Reverse features an Armenian annotation for St. Andrew. 4. Venice (January 19, 1791) – Bishop I.D. Juras (Bishop of Pula): Concerns a bone relic (ex ossibus) of St. Catherine (Virgin & Martyr). Signed by the Venetian secretary A. Alfarè. Reverse features an Armenian annotation for St. Luke. 5. Venice (May 31, 1794) – Bishop I.D. Juras: Concerns the relic of St. Simon the Apostle, with a historical reference to his predecessor Bishop M.G. Torres (1766-1778). Reverse features an Armenian annotation for St. Simon. 6. Venice (May 20, 1795) – Bishop I.D. Juras: Concerns the relic of St. Thomas the Apostle, with an explicit reference to the provenance from the deceased Bishop J.M. Civran of Chioggia. Signed by the Venetian secretary G. Stefani. Reverse features an Armenian annotation for St. Thomas. (One of the documents also bears the Armenian archival note for St. Basil of Caesarea). Condition: All six documents are in good, honest, and authentic condition for their respective ages (220 to 275 years old). Printed and handwritten with iron gall ink on heavy handmade paper. The paper shows natural signs of age that underscore its authenticity, including beautiful age patination (foxing), original folds, and light water stains and small holes in the paper in some areas. There is characteristic ink bleed-through on the reverse side. Traces of the original red sealing wax are visible in the folds and margins. Please note: This lot includes the six paper documents only; the physical reliquaries are not included. An exceptional opportunity for international collectors of manuscripts, Church history, rare ephemera, and Armenian historical heritage.

Estimate:£295.11

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