Art detective recovers the ‘Blood of Christ’ relic

It was 10:30 pm on a Friday when Arthur Brand got the delivery he was nervously expecting. His doorbell rang, and when he opened the door no one was there. Instead, a cardboard box was waiting for him at the door in the dark.

In that box he said was one of the most sacred artefacts ever stolen from the Catholic Church: the "Precious Blood of Christ" relic.

"My heart was beating in my chest," the Dutch art detective told AFP in an interview about the recovery of the stolen treasure.

Brand is dubbed the "Indiana Jones of the Art World" for his remarkable recoveries of stolen art, including the "Hitler's Horses" bronze statues, a Picasso painting and a ring that once belonged to Oscar Wilde.

At 52, he is one of the most famous art sleuths in the world, trusted by both thieves and police for his unprecedented access to the criminal trade in stolen art.

But getting his hands on the "Precious Blood of Christ" relic was a particularly special experience for him.

"As a Catholic myself, this is about as close to Jesus and the legend of the Holy Grail you can get."

"It was a religious experience," he said.

When he opened the box, he discovered what he hoped he would: the relic perfectly intact.

The ornate container, about 30 centimeters high, has two metal bulbs inside and is said to hold drops of Jesus' blood collected in the Holy Grail during the crucifixion.

It is held in a heavily gilded copper box with encrusted precious stones and depictions of Christ on the cross and other saints.

The holy relic is believed to date back to the death of Christ and has been a source of worship for Catholic pilgrims for more than 1,000 years.

It was held by the Fecamp Abbey in France's Normandy region...