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Relic Repatriation

Is that you, Santy Claus?

On Wednesday, March 19, 2025, I was pleased to be present when three reliquaries containing the purported relics of St. Nicholas (the third-century bishop of Tyre and the real-life historical figure whose life and exploits became the basis of the mythic Santa Claus) were returned to the Italian government in an official ceremony. The ceremony finalized a long, strange trip (theirs and mine) which began 5 long years ago, during the Covid epidemic.

In March of 2020, I was contacted by an official from Heritage Canada after three Catholic reliquaries were seized by Canadian Border Services in March 2020, when a Winnipeg man attempted to import them into Canada from Italy. But a quick email opinion then turned into a lengthy, protracted process as the importer then contested their repatriation in court and Justice Canada turned to me for my expert testimony regarding their authenticity and religious and cultural value. My final, 34-page report, (see below for link to report) detailing my findings was frequently cited in Justice Lafrenière’s summary judgement (2023 FC 1663 (CanLII) | Canada (Attorney General) v. Koestel | CanLII) finding for the prosecution.

The March 19 ceremony provided the welcome closure to this strange episode. For one thing, it was my first chance to finally “meet” St. Nicolas’s relics (in person, as it were) because, due to Covid, my examination of them had to be conducted by Zoom, aided by long-suffering Border Control officials, who had to turn around, move, and shine lights on all three artefacts, at my direction. Finally getting to see them in person was a thrill. But the best part of all was to learn first-hand from Italian officials that the confiscated relics will be donated to the Basilica dedicated to St. Nicolas in Bari, Italy, where the motherload of St. Nicholas’s relics already repose.

Links to Media Coverage and Federal Report

Federal Report: Expert Report of Emma Anderson

CBC: Holy relics seized at border, returned to Italy after Winnipeg man bought them on eBay

CTV: Religious relics bought on eBay by Winnipegger returned to Italy

The Arts Bulletin: The Arts Bulletin – April 2025

Globe and Mail: Canada returns holy relics of Saint Nicholas – who inspired Santa Claus – to Italy after they were bought on eBay