Holy Tunic displayed in France for veneration of faithful

March 29, 2016

The Holy Tunic of Christ, a relic venerated in Argenteuil, France, since the Middle Ages, has been displayed for the veneration of the faithful at the Basilica of Saint Denys.

Amid concerns about a possible terrorist attack, 100 policemen were present at the exposition of the relic on Good Friday. Between 150,000 and 200,000 people are expected to visit the basilica during the 16 days it is displayed.

The relic is typically exposed only twice a century, most recently in 1984, with the next exposition scheduled for 2034. Bishop Stanislas Lalanne of Pontoise decided to display the relic at this time because the extraordinary jubilee of mercy, the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the diocese, and the 150th anniversary of the construction of the basilica all take place in 2016.

 

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Further information:

• Sainte Tunique du Christ
• Pâques : une relique exposée à la basilique d'Argenteuil (FranceTV)
• Un’eccezionale ostensione (L’Osservatore Romano, p. 6)