A precious theca containing a considerable number of relics of apostles and other saints has been donated to St George’s basilica by Rev. Fr Joseph Gauci, one of the priests of the parish.

The theca previously belonged to the late bishop of Gozo Mgr Joseph Pace. Bishop Pace gave it as a present to Fr Gauci who, as parish priest of St George’s, had assisted the bishop during the long illness that led to his death in 1973.

The beautiful, antique, Italian wooden framed reliquary, measuring 10cm by 12cm, contains rare relics, of both the first and second class order.

Right in the centre of the theca two wedges of wood from the True Cross are enshrined, and they are surrounded by a slice of vestment of the Blessed Virgin Mary and an unidentified relic of St. Joseph, relics of the Blessed Virgin’s parents, Joachim and Ann and a shard from the Flagellation Column of the Lord.

All the apostles and evangelists feature in the theca. St Peter and St Paul hold pride of place at the top of the outlying circle of relics. The rest of the ring is taken up by the relics of St Andrew, St James, St John, St Bartholomew, St Philip, St Matthew, St Thomas, St James the Lesser, St Simon, St Jude and St Matthias.

An inner circle of relics refer to St John the Baptist, St Mark and St Luke, St Mary Magdalen, St Nicholas, St Lawrence, St Brigid, St Ignatius of Loyola, St Francis of Sales and St Aloysius Conzaga.

Bishop Pace’s theca used to be kept in the private chapel of Palazzo Bondi, his official residence in Victoria. Fr Gauci kept the theca at his home until he donated it to St George’s. Fr Gauci is one of the eminent benefactors of the basilica.

Unbroken wax seals and threads are all in place and testify to the authenticity of the theca. The relics enshrined in the theca are beautifully decorated with gilded rolled papers and gold thread. An inscription in ink designates every relic.