Statue of St. Bartholomew

Origin
Bartholemew was an Apostle alternatively identified as Nathanael and was one of the disciples to witness Jesus appearing on the Sea of Galilee after Resurrection. Some think he went on missionary tours into India, Armenia, Mesopotamia and Ethiopia.

Density Miracle
The people of Lipari celebrated his feast day annually, traditionally taking the solid silver and gold statue from inside the Cathedral of St. Bartholomew and carry it through the town. On one occasion, when taking the statue down the hill towards the town, it suddenly became very heavy and had to be set down. When the men carrying the statue regained their strength, they lifted it a second time. After another few seconds, it got even heavier. They set it down and attempted once more to pick it up. They managed to lift it but had to put it down one last time. Within seconds, walls further downhill collapsed. If the statue had been able to be lifted, all the townspeople would have been killed.

During World War II, the Fascist regime looked for ways to finance their activities. The order was given to take the silver statue of St Bartholomew and melt it down. The statue was weighed, and it was found to be only a few grams. It was returned to its place in the Cathedral of Lipari. In reality, the statue is made from many kilograms of silver and it is considered a miracle that it was not melted down.

Effects
When picked up, it allows the user to alter the density of their selves and nearby objects in the environment. It can cause sudden increases in the density and gravitational effects on objects, causing them to collapse under their own extreme weight.