In the Presence of the Holy Tunic: My Visit to Argenteuil

Yesterday, I visited the Holy Tunic of Jesus Christ at the Basilique Saint-Denys in Argenteuil, just outside Paris, on the very last day of its public exposition. I just posted a short video of the visit :)

According to tradition, this is the seamless garment mentioned in the Gospel of John (19:23–24), worn by Christ during His Passion. The Roman soldiers famously cast lots for it at the foot of the Cross, rather than tearing it apart.

The Tunic of Argenteuil is woven from a single piece of wool, without seam, exactly as described in Scripture. Its journey across history is remarkable: gifted in the 9th century by Byzantine Empress Irene to Charlemagne, who entrusted it to his daughter Theodrada, abbess of a convent in Argenteuil. Since then, it has been preserved—hidden during invasions, cut into pieces during the French Revolution to protect it, and later lovingly restored.

Today, it is shown to the public only once every fifty years. This year’s ostension, tied to the Jubilee Year of Hope, brought pilgrims from all over France and beyond.

Standing in the basilica, surrounded by silence, reverence, and the flickering of hundreds of prayer candles, I felt the sacred mystery—not just in the fabric, but in the faithfulness that preserved it, and in the deep sense of presence that filled the space.

These relics witness to something real: that He is still with us.