Suite Of Four Remarkable Reliquary Monstrances - Circa 1700

It is rare to find a series of four monstrances for sale and it is equally rare to present reliquaries of this size. Finally, the presence of notable relics still constitutes a remarkable curiosity. These three specificities and the age of this suite make it… an exceptional piece. Unity of place and time for these four reliquaries, each of them in fact honors a Holy Roman Martyr, namely, Saint Bacchus, Saint Sergius, Saint Theodore and Saint Alexander. Saint Sergius and Bacchus of Rasafa are two Roman soldiers, close, it is said, to the Emperor Maximian.
They refused to take part in a sacrifice in honor of the Roman gods and equally refused to deny their Faith. They were both martyred. Saint Theodore Tiro, another Roman soldier, received the title of megalomartyr. Finally Saint Alexander is also a victim of the first centuries.
Each central relic is surrounded by six minor relics, also mainly Martyr Saints, in an elegant work of paper, pearls and silver threading.
This unity leads me to present to you this inseparable whole, true Glory to the first Christians, who often, at the risk of their lives, defended Christ and our then emerging religion.

???????Three angels each protect these reliquaries, making twelve angels in total, suggesting that this series is complete.
On the back of these four numbered pieces are inviolate wax seals on which we find three drops of water and a crescent moon.
Dimensions of 122 cm high by 37 wide and 22 deep. Some gaps (notably a summit cross) and the quality of this set would justify repair of the gilding. Probably Italian work, around 1700.