Above is a reliquary showing a bone fragment (ex ossibus) of the greatest of the 19th century startsy, the humble Saint Seraphim of Sarov. He is also considered one of the most renowned Russian monks and mystics of the Orthodox Church; you can read more about him here. The bone fragment constitutes a first class relic and the reliquary was sealed by the Augustinians. One of the “ears” of the reliquary broke as I was handling it upon its arrival.
Seraphim is a great friend, having attained theosis, the true goal of every Christian, in his lifetime as evidenced by the story recounted by his student, Nicholas Motovilov. To the right is a picture of the icon that I have of Seraphim, for your edification. It was written recently by an iconographer in Bulgaria.
My dream is to have a kiot in which to place together, for display and veneration, both the relic and the icon of Saint Seraphim of Sarov.
