Relic of Ætherius - Reliquary - Bone, Textiles, Wood - 18th century

Very rare 18th century paperole reliquary containing a 9. 5 cm bone-like relic with the inscription Ætherius. Ætherius or Etherius of Lyon was metropolitan bishop of Lyon, successor of Prisque († circa 586) , who died in 602. He is a Catholic and Orthodox saint, celebrated locally on 7 October. He belonged to the senatorial aristocracy, and before his episcopate was an officer of King Gontran's court, of which he was one of the closest advisers. His predecessor Nizier († 573) , who enjoyed his company, would have predicted that he would succeed him, but only secondarily. It was Gontran who initially refused him this succession, despite the desire expressed by the people of Lyon. During their reign, Prisque and his wife Suzanne, whom he had kept by his side, manifested their hatred of Bishop Nizier and persecuted his former acquaintances. Etherius, when Gontran had allowed him to succeed Prisque, honoured Nizier's memory, organised his cult, and, in particular, shortly after his advent, had an abridged Life of Saint Nizier, or Eulogy of Saint Nizier, drawn up. A resting bed that belonged to the saint, in particular, became a miraculous object. Etherius was related to Austregesile (or Outrille) , also an officer at the court of Gontran, who had approached him, a much-heard counsellor, to obtain permission from the king to enter the clergy. As soon as he became bishop, Éthère called Austrégésile in Lyon, ordained him a priest, and made him the abbot of the chapter serving the church that became Saint-Nizier Basilica, giving him a wine estate called Albiacus. In 589, there was a mutiny in the Holy Cross Abbey of Poitiers, founded by Queen Radegonde († 587) : forty sisters, led by Clothide, daughter of Caribert I, and Basine, daughter of Chilpéric I, left the convent, demanding the resignation of Abbess Leubovère; Clothilde went to find her uncle Gontran. Back in Poitiers, the rebels barricaded themselves in the Basilica of Saint-Hilaire with an armed male troop. The metropolitan Gondégésile of Bordeaux personally came to excommunicate them, but he and the group of bishops and clerics who accompanied him were severely molested by the companions of the rebels and had to run away, sometimes with their heads bloodied. Bishop Gondégésile then wrote, on behalf of the group, to his Burgundian colleagues assembled in the palace of King Gontran, who responded with a letter reproduced by Grégoire de Tours, Etherius of Lyon being the first signatory. Dimensions: 15. 7 × 10. 4 × 2 cm Good condition given its age, not cleaned, slight fluctuations of the decorations. No glass. See detailed pictures to get a proper idea of its condition. Very neat and secure shipping, insured and tracked with signature required upon receipt.