Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-05-16
Argcntcuil's Holy Coat.

llS hOiN CptII NOM DtIuS tAulDltSu cu
Argenteuil, small town to the north
west of Paris famous for its asparagus
beds and fig trees, is declared to be the
veritable seamless garment or tunic
(sGdia) which the Saw ur wore at the
crucifxion. The story related concern
ing it is briefly as follows. 1t was pur-
chased by the Disciples after the cruci-
fxjon and concealed in 3 church in
Galatia. Az the time Of the Persian in
vasion OF Asia Minor it was preserved
from destruction by one Simeon and by
him handed over at Jail;, to St. Helena,
the mother of the Emperor Copstan-
tine Finally it was given by the En-
press Irene TO Charlemagne, who pre-
sented it about 500 A. D. to the Con-
vent of Argenteuil, of which one of his
daughters was abbess.
The sctual condition of the famous
relic is very imperfect. The whole OF
the left sleeve is missing and large
piece has been taken out Of the same
side. The tunic is about five feet long
by three ana a halt broad. 1t is baud
woven and made of camel's hair, very
similar to the dalmatias now worn by
officiating priests. As seen in the cas-
ket in which it reposes it appears to be
almost black, but when looked at in
tue light it has a red tint like that
of dried rose. The shrine with
il which it is kept is carried in pro-
cession through the church every after
noon from Ascension Day to Whit Mon
day, the congregation being afterward
admitted to view it in the vestry, but
an exhibition of the tunic in its entire
ty is very rare event. The garment
is placed under seal by the bishop of
Versailles, in whose diocese Argenteuil
is, and he alone has authority, with the
sanction of the Pope, to open the casket.
The last time that this was done was
nearly forty years ago, when Pope
Plus IN desired to have a small frag-
ment OF the tunic, two other small
pieces being cut out oft at the same
time.
Argenteuil is not the only town which
boasts of possessing garment worn by
The Redeemer. A score of other places
claim 10 be favored in the same way.
of these rival coats the most famous is
that of Treves, which is said to have
come into the hands of the EN-
press Helena during her travels
in Palestine and to have been
given 10y her in the early part of
the fourth century 10 the church at
Treves. The rivalry between the
champions Of the two relics was settled
for time by an authoritative declara-
ton that three garments were probably
worn on this solemn occasion--a tun!c
rear the skin, robe and cloak-and
that Argenteuil was quite within its
rights in exhibiting one of them. In
1891, however, on the occasion Of the
exhibition of the Treves coat, the con-
troversy broke out again with renewed
vigor. The Bishop of Versailles then
sent representatives to Treves for the
purpose ofcomparing the two treasures,
and after comparison it was decided
that both relics were genuine, but be-
longed to different years of Christ's
existence. Yreves, it is held, possesses
one OF the outer garments (the sjmbd or
chetoaeth) worn by our Lord, but Ar
genteuil has the tunic which was worn
next the body at the cruciiiXion and
for which the Roman soldiers cast lots.