12 FEB - OUR MOTHER OF ARGENTEUIL (FRANCE)

 In the Gospels, Christ’s executioners played dice over his tunic that tunic was found in the fourth century by St. Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine. 

    It was then kept at Constantinople until the 8th century. The Empress Irene of Byzantium offered Charlemagne the Holy Tunic at his coronation as Emperor of the West. 

    The Emperor then gave the relic to the priory of Argenteuil when his daughter, Theodrade, became Abbess. 

    In 850 the Normans plundered the village of Argenteuil but the tunic was hidden in a wall before their arrival. When the Abbey was rebuilt in 1003, the relic was restored. 

    During the French Revolution, the Benedictine priory was destroyed, and the relic then given to a Parish Church for safekeeping. 

    In 1793, a Priest found it necessary to cut it into pieces and bury them in his garden to protect them from profanation. 

    In 1795, after the Priests imprisonment had ended, the Holy Tunic appeared again and the different fragments were sewn back together. 

    The Holy Tunic was displayed again in the 19th century and pilgrimages resumed. The last solemn exposition of the tunic took place during the Easter holiday in 1984. 

    The seamless garment worn by Christ on Calvary was exhibited to the public for a very brief time from March 25 to April 10, 2016.





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