The precious reliquary of the 11 Martyrs of Damascus, donated to Pope Pius XI on the occasion of their beatification in 1926, is the work of the Bethlehem artist Yousef Zogbi. It will be used for the canonisation in St. Peter's Square on 20 October. Thanks to the General Postulation for the Cause of Saints of the Order of Friars Minor, this richly detailed work can be appreciated in its beauty and significance. 66 centimetres high and 29 centimetres in diameter, it resembles a canopy. There are four arches supporting the dome, at the base of which is the Latin inscription: ‘You are Peter and on this stone I will build my church’. At the top of the dome, a lantern with ten columns holds a small chalice with a host. Four medallions with the monogram of the Name of Jesus, Mary and the Cross of Jerusalem decorate the exterior. A large central six-pointed star and four rosettes adorn the interior. The centre of the reliquary is designed in the shape of a monstrance displayed on the altar. Every detail recalls the martyrs' faith in the Eucharist, which comforted them at the moment of martyrdom. Opposite: St. Peter's Basilica and two inscriptions. On the right the Nativity scene, on the left the Resurrection and behind a decorative panel. The artist's sensitivity formed the centre of the reliquary where the relic of the future holy martyrs is placed, with triumphal rays, surrounded by praying angels; a noble shield with the Sacred Heart; a seraphim; the dove of the Holy Spirit and, finally, the Cross. On the back, a delicate little door allows access to the relic. This relic is in the Vatican Lipsanotheca and is one of the most precious, in terms of design and finish, donated to the popes over the centuries. Read More